What is it about?
The efficacy of synthetic gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue in improving the folliculogenesis of ducks has not been established. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of oral administration of GnRH analogue as luteinizing hormone releasing hormone A2 (LHRH-A2) on expression of relevant genes, egg production, changes of hormone levels and an ovarian follicle development in ducks. Five hundred ducks at 220 days old were randomly allotted to five groups, where each bird received daily in food 0, 5, 10, 15, or 20 lg LHRH-A2 for 60 days. In all treated groups, a non-significant increase in the level of GnRH receptor was noticed as compared to the corresponding control. Interestingly, the egg product in the 10 and 15 lg LHRH-A2 groups was profoundly increased (P < 0.05) if compared to 0 and 5 lg LHRHA2 groups or control. A reduction in circulating prolactin (PRL) levels occurs concurrently with an increase in progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) particularly in 5, 10 and 15 lg LHRH-A2 groups. Maximal apoptotic percentage for the granulosa cells was obtained in 20 lg LHRH-A2 group as compared to control or 5, 10 and 15 lg treatment groups. Finally, these data suggest that the oral administration of 10 and 15 lg LHRH-A2 may induce ovarian cycle and play vital gonadotrope role during the folliculogenesis process in ducks. This study also demonstrated a need to concentrate further research on the potential effect of GnRH during the early period to improve the reproductive performance.
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Why is it important?
The results suggest that LHRH-A2 is involved in the regulation of follicular development and increase egg production in ducks. Also, the results demonstrate that LHRH-A2 may play an important gonadotrope function during the folliculogenesis process in ducks. Interestingly, a dose of 10 or 15 lg LHRHA2 mixed with feed/bird/day may be the optimal dosage. Further studies on optimization of the GnRH dosage, schedule, and possible secondary consequences of the presence of GnRH in the egg yolk are needed.
Perspectives
Furthermore, such an approach and procedure could be extended to other species of economic importance such as chicken, geese, and quails.
Full Professor Ahmed R. G.
Division of Anatomy and Embryology, Zoology department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Egypt.
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Patterns of folliculogenesis in ducks following the administration of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone 1 (GnRH) analogue, Journal of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, June 2012, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.jgeb.2011.12.002.
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