Effect of Gonadotrophin (Pergonal®) on Haematological and Serum Biochemical Parameters of Mature Ouda Rams Treated for Sperm Production
Abstract
Twelve Ouda rams aged 2 – 2.6 years and weighed between 40.21 – 40.32kg were randomly distributed into 3 groups of 4 animals with one ram per re plicate in a completely randomized design and used to determine the effect of Pergonal® on haematology and serum biochemistry. These groups were assigned to 3 levels of Pergonal® injection as treatments. The injections were 0.00i.u, 49.50i.u, and 99.00i.u Pergonal® represented as T 1 (control), T 2, and T 3, respectively. All the treatments were administered by intramuscular injections. The injections were divided into three doses each and administered intramuscularly in the thigh for three consecutive days. T he results of the study showed that apart from Alanine transaminase and eosinophils , the haematological and serum biochemical parameters and immune status of ouda rams may be affected when 49.50i.u or more of Pergonal are used for induction of spermatogenesis. These parameters should be constantly monitored during pergonal administration in ouda rams.
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Introduction
The Ouda sheep is a large long-legged breed with a convex facial profile found in the Sudan Savannah zone especially in the North Western part of Nigeria. It has a characteristic pie-coat colour pattern of an entirely black or brown head and fore quarters and white hind quarters. The ears are large, long and droopy. Mature males have horns while females are normally polled (hornless). It has thin tail; the rump is short and extremely sloppy. Mature rams measure 30-60kg, while the females can weigh 30-45kg (Oni, 2002).
In order to carry out any sustainable improvement in livestock, there should be methods of ensuring the repeatability and multiplication of desired traits in subsequent generations. Reproduction is a process by which an organism gives rise to a new member of its species. It is a vital factor in determining the efficiency of animal production and its performance is closely related to profitability in livestock enterprise (Iheukwumere et al., 2008). In view of the increasing use of livestock for specialized production, there is need for more practical and better control methods of reproduction.
Sperm formation involves the use of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) (Iheukwumere et al., 2004). Most of these preparations of FSH and LH are very expensive. Some of them require cold chain storage and often deteriorate because of inadequate storage and handling (Herbert et al., 2000).
Diclair®, also known as Humegon or Mentrophin and with similar constituents as plusset® is a gonadotrophin preparation lyophilized in vials containing a mixture of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone in a ratio 1:1 (Dixon and Hopkins, 1996). Follicle stimulating hormone and LH in Diclair® play vital role in the initiation of spermatogenesis. The hormone preparation is cheap, readily available and does not require cold chain storage (Iheukwumere, 2005).
It has not been determined if the administration of the hormone preparation for spermatogenesis and semen production would induce any side effects on the blood parameters of treated rams. This study was therefore carried out to determine the effect of Pergonal® administration on haematology and serum biochemistry of mature Ouda rams.
Conclusion
From the results of this study it can be concluded that Gonadotrophin (Pergonal®) had no deleterious effects on haematological and serum biochemical parameters of Ouda rams. Though most of the values obtained fall within the normal ranges for adult sheep, the variations observed suggest the need to constantly monitor blood profile of Ouda rams under Pergonal treatment for sperm production.