Abstract
<p>The study determined the level of plasma β-endorphin and cortisol concentrations in peripheral blood circulation of buffalo cows suffering from reproductive disorders (dystocia and retained placenta) and weakness body condition score during periparturient period. Twenty multi-parous Egyptian buffalo cows at late pregnancy period were used for two months before parturition. β-endorphin concentrations were higher in buffalo suffering from reproductive disorders groups. Whereas, β-endorphin concentrations were 134.9±4.8 for retained placenta, 121.3±4.9 for dystocia, 114.2±8.4 for weakness and 113.5±6.5 pg/ml for control. In the closer period around parturition both of plasma β-endorphin and cortisol followed the same trend toward a gradually increased values during -2,-1days and zero time in all groups. A concomitant trend was noticed in β-endorphin and cortisol concentrations in postpartum period with reduce values were observed in all groups after parturition continued for month or more. Buffalo suffering from reproductive disorders were showed a high relative values in β-endorphin and cortisol concentrations. A significant differences (P&lt;0.01) were observed between the experimental groups. Generally, buffaloes suffering reproductive disorders had a clear impact on blood plasma β-endorphin concentration around parturition process.</p><p>The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between various reproductive disorders as a stress factors with plasma β–endorphin and cortisol in buffalo cows around parturition and changes in these parameters could be used as an objective measure of the stress associated labour. Stress has been hypothesized to be a cause of impaired reproductive efficiency. Stress may cause an overproduction of beta-endorphins and free radicals</p>
Highlights
The periparturient period, defined as the period immediately before and after calving, is a challenging time for dairy cattle that must cope with physiological, metabolic and endocrine changes, as well as a variety of environmental and management-related stressors
Studies have verified that the incidence of metabolic and production-related diseases including milk fever, mastitis, fatty liver disease, ketosis, metritis, hypomagnesemia and abomasal displacements are highest during the periparturient period and complications from dystocia and retained placenta commonly occur (Ribeiro et al 2013)
Β-endorphin and cortisol rapidly elevate in response to stress in cattle. β-endorphins are neuropeptides derived from Proopiomelanocortin which is found in the anterior pituitary gland and placenta mRNA (Scott et al 1993; Ettema & Santos 2004)
Summary
The periparturient period, defined as the period immediately before and after calving, is a challenging time for dairy cattle that must cope with physiological, metabolic and endocrine changes, as well as a variety of environmental and management-related stressors. These challenges likely contribute to the high incidence of disease observed during the weeks following parturition. The synthesis of βendorphin can be occurred by immune system cells which possess mRNA transcripts for Proopiomelanocortin and T-lymphocytes, and in ovarian follicles, but the relatively low levels found in reproductive tissues indicate that it exerts autocrine or paracrine effects in the ovary (Hamada et al 1995). It would be beneficial to investigate whether dystocia, retained placenta and Low body condition score stimulate β– endorphin and cortisol releasing or not
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