Tamm-Horsfall Protein Expression in Urine of Buffaloes at the Estrus and Diestrus Stages of Estrous Cycle

Abstract

Background: Identifying buffaloes in estrus is crucial for enhancing the efficiency of reproduction as silent heat is a major concern in this species. Review of literature indicated the role of Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP) is associated with the physiological events around the estrus stage. Hence, the present study was aimed to quantify the expression level of THP in urine of buffaloes to ascertain its suitability as a marker for identifying buffaloes in estrus. Methods: The grouping of animals as mid-diestrus (Group-I/G-I/Control group), regular estrus (Group-II/G-II) and silent estrus (Group-III/G-III) buffaloes was done using a combinatorial approach. The expression of THP in the urine of three groups of animals was quantified by western blot. Result: The results of the present study revealed higher levels of urinary THP in G-II animals when compared to G-III and G-I animals, although it was statistically non-significant (p greater than 0.05). The present study revealing for increased urinary expression of THP in G-II and G-III animals when compared to G-I animals probably construes the antimicrobial role of THP in the female reproductive tract and its role during estrus to prevent microbiota population beyond the physiological levels. For THP to be considered as biomarker for detecting buffaloes in silent heat there is need for further studies involving large number of animals. Nonetheless, an easy method has been developed that facilitated THP detection and quantification in urine of buffaloes by western blot.