Changes in hormones of the somatotropic axis associated with postpartum reproductive infections in Murrah buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

Abstract

: This study was designed to investigate the risk association of hormones of the somatotropic axis with postpartum infections/ disorders in Murrah buffaloes. A total of six (n=6) healthy pregnant Murrah buffaloes and 23 symptomatic buffaloes with symptoms indicative of metritis (n=5), endometritis (n=6) mastitis (n=8), and retained placenta (RP) (n=4) were selected from the ICAR-NDRI Cattle herd. Blood samples were collected from each healthy buffalo on days -21, -14, -7, 0, +7, +14, +21 relative to calving. Blood samples were collected from unhealthy buffaloes twice on alternate days as and when the symptoms of reproductive abnormalities were noticed. The results revealed that the plasma growth hormone was significantly (P<0.05) elevated in buffaloes exhibiting symptoms of metritis (7.40±0.96 ng /mL), mastitis (9.23±1.60 ng /mL), and RP (6.63±0.80 ng/mL). Similarly, plasma insulin level was significantly higher (P<0.05) in buffaloes infected with endometritis (1.53 ±0.21 ng/ml), mastitis (1.32 ±0.26 ng/mL), and RP (1.24 ±0.15 ng/mL). But, the plasma IGF-1 was significantly lower in buffaloes exhibiting symptoms of metritis (128.43±5.38 ng/mL), endometritis (112.65 ±4.38 ng/ mL), and mastitis (123.61 ±3.99 ng/mL) except in RP (122.21±5.10 ng/mL) than normally calved buffaloes (123.80±4.96 ng/ mL). From the experiment, it could be inferred that the levels plasma growth hormone, insulin, and IGF-1 differed significantly among buffaloes with and without postpartum infections and could be used for the risk assessment of postpartum infection in buffaloes.