Original scientific paper

Monitoring of early pregnancy and early embryonic mortality by ultrasound and determination of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins and progesterone in cows

Nikica Prvanović orcid.org/0000-0002-5834-5672 ; Clinic for Obstetrics and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Antun Tomašković ; Clinic for Obstetrics and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Juraj Grizelj ; Clinic for Obstetrics and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Predrag Kočila ; Čakovec Veterinary Station, Croatia
Marko Samardžija ; Clinic for Obstetrics and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The aim of study was to investigate the role of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAG) in early pregnancy, as well as the possibility of using PAG and ultrasound as diagnostic tools in the diagnosis of embryonic mortality. Our research included 73 Simmental cows, 3-7 years old, which calved every year. According to ultrasound findings (on the 17th, 24th, 35th and 45th day following AI), the cows were divided into 3 groups: pregnant cows (n = 34), non-pregnant cows (n = 18) and cows which had suffered embryonic mortality (n = 21). Blood samples were collected every 72 hours between the 12th and 45th day following AI and levels of progesterone and pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAG) were determined. Statistical analysis of variance for progesterone at days 12, 21 and 35 following AI showed significant differences between pregnant cows and both the non-pregnant and embryonic mortality groups (P>0.05). PAG variance analysis at days 24, 30 and 34 following AI showed highly significant differences (P>0.01) between the non-pregnant and both the embryonic mortality and pregnant groups. On the other hand, variance analysis showed that mean values for PAG at days 40 and 45 following AI were highly significantly different (P>0.01) between the pregnant and both the nonpregnant and embryonic mortality groups. The conclusion emerged that it is impossible to determine embryonic mortality merely on the basis of progesterone profile, but it is easy to distinguish pregnant from non-pregnant cows, supposing cows to be more than 21 days pregnant. It is very easy and accurate to distinguish non-pregnant cows from cows that have suffered early embryonic mortality. Furthermore, 98% of the cows in our research which had experienced embryonic mortality, lost their embryos 17-24 days after AI, visible in a drastic decrease in PAG seven and half to nine days later. Using PAG for pregnancy diagnosis enables us to prove the existence of live, vital embryos in utero 24 days after conception.

Keywords

cow; pregnancy-associated glycoproteins; progesterone; early pregnancy; embryo mortality

Hrčak ID:

45256

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/45256

Publication date:

16.6.2009.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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