Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-m42fx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-21T14:28:51.697Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effect of constant-release melatonin implants on the onset of oestrous activity and on reproductive performance in the ewe

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

L. A. Durotoye ,
R. Rajkumar ,
C. M. Argo ,
R. Nowak ,
G. E. Webley ,
M. E. McNeil ,
N. B. Graham  and
R. G. Rodway
L. A. Durotoye
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT
R. Rajkumar
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT
C. M. Argo
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT
R. Nowak
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT
G. E. Webley
Affiliation:
Institute of Zoology, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY
M. E. McNeil
Affiliation:
Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow Gl 1XL
N. B. Graham
Affiliation:
Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow Gl 1XL
R. G. Rodway
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT
Get access

Abstract

Various types of constant-release melatonin implants were designed and administered to adult ewes during seasonal anoestrus. Implants were given between May and July in a series of four experiments. Treatment of ewes with melatonin implants resulted in advancement of the onset of oestrous activity. Melatonin treatment also resulted in improved reproductive performance, increased numbers of lambs born per ewe bred and caused more multiple births. Results from this study show, therefore, that constant-release melatonin implants administered during late spring or early summer advance the onset of the breeding season and improve reproductive performance in ewes.

Keywords

breeding seasonewesmelatoninreproductive performance
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 52 , Issue 3 , June 1991 , pp. 489 - 497
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Arendt, J., Symons, J. M., Laud, C. D. and Pryde, S. J. 1983. Melatonin can induce early onset of the breeding season in ewes. Journal of Endocrinology 97: 395–400.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Arendt, J. 1985. The pineal hormone melatonin in seasonal and circadian rhythms. In Circadian Rhythms in the Central Nervous System (ed. Redfern, P. H., Campbell, I. C., Davies, J. A. and Martin, F. R.). Macmillan Press.Google Scholar
Bittman, E. L. and Karsch, F. J. 1984. Nightly duration of pineal melatonin secretion determines the reproductive response to inhibitory day length in the ewe. Biology of Reproduction 30: 585–593.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Crocker, K., Dunstan, E., Reeves, J., Williams, A., McPhee, S., Ayton, B., Wagg, M., Pollard, T., Parker, J., Foole, M., Ritar, A. and Staples, L. 1987. Field studies of the use of melatonin implants to improve lambing percentage in spring-joined Merino and cross-breed ewes. Proceedings of Australian Society for Reproductive Biology, Abstr. 21.Google Scholar
Durotyoe, L. A., Argo, C. M., McNeil, M. E., Graham, N. B. and Rodway, R. G. 1988. Early lambing and increased lambing percentage with slow-release hydrogel melatonin implants. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility. Abstract Series I, p. 47.Google Scholar
Earl, C., McPhee, S., William, A., Dunstan, E., Tilbrook, A., Ayton, B. and Staples, L. D. 1987. Effect of melatonin treatment on the early reproductive performance of Angora bucks and doe. Proceedings of the 19th Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Reproductive Biology, Abstr. 25.Google Scholar
English, J., Poulton, A. L., Arendt, J. and Symons, A. M. 1986. A comparison of the efficiency of melatonin treatment in advancing oestrus in ewes. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 77: 321–327.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Haresign, W., Peters, A. R. and Staples, L. D. 1990. The effect of melatonin implants on breeding activity and litter size in commercial sheep flocks in the UK. Animal Production 50: 111–121.Google Scholar
Kennaway, D. J., Gilmore, T. A. and Seamark, R. F. 1982a. Effect of melatonin feeding on serum prolactin and gonadotrophin levels and on the onset of seasonal oestrous cyclicity in sheep. Endrocrinology 110: 1766–1772.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kennaway, D. J., Gilmore, T. A. and Seamark, R. F. 1982b. Effects of melatonin on circadian rhythms of plasma melatonin and prolactin in sheep. Endocrinology 110: 2186–2188.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lincoln, G. A. and Ebling, F. J. P. 1985. Effects of constant-release implants of melatonin on seasonal cycles in reproduction, prolactin secretion and moulting in rams. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 73: 241–253.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McNeil, M. E. and Graham, N. B. 1988. Prolonged uniform release of melatonin from a poly(ethyleneoxide) hydrogel-based reservoir implant. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Controlled Release of Bioactive Material, 15, Controlled Release Society, p. 44.Google Scholar
Nett, T. M. and Niswender, G. D. 1982. Influence of exogenous melatonin on seasonality of reproduction in sheep. Theriogenology 17: 645–653.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nowak, R. and Rodway, R. G. 1985. Effects of intravaginal implants of melatonin on the onset of ovarian activity in adult and prepubertal ewes. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 74: 287–293.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nowak, R. and Rodway, R. G. 1987. Length of melatonin exposure and onset of ovarian activity in anoestrous ewes. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 80: 343–347.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nowak, R., Rajkumar, R. R., Webley, G. E. and Rodway, R. G. 1990. Effect of prolonged exposure to exogenous melatonin on the onset of and end of the breeding season and on the growth rate of ewe lambs. British Veterinary Journal 146: 17–23.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Poulton, A. L., Symons, A. M., Kelly, M. I. and Arendt, J. 1987. An intraruminal soluble glass/melatonin bolus for optimisation of seasonal breeding in ewes. Biology of Reproduction 36: Suppl. 1, p. 110. (Abstr.)Google Scholar
Poulton, A. L., Brown, D. C., Thomas, E. M., Kelly, M. I., Symons, A. M. and Arendt, J. 1988. Use of an intraruminal soluble glass bolus containing melatonin for early lamb production. Veterinary Record 122: 226–228.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rajkumar, R. R., Argo, C. M., McNeil, M. E., Graham, N. B. and Rodway, R. G. 1988. Advancement of the breeding season in ewes given slow-release hydrogel melatonin implants. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility. Abstract Series 1, p. 46.Google Scholar
Rodway, R. G., Rajkumar, R. R., Argo, C. M., Webley, C. E., McNeil, M. E. and Graham, N. B. 1987. Use of a slow-release melatonin implant to advance the breeding season in sheep. Journal of Endocrinology 122: Suppl., p. 45.Google Scholar
Seamark, R. F., Kennaway, D. J., Matthew, C. D., Fellnberg, A. J., Philliou, G., McIntosh, J. E. A., Dunstan, E. A. and Obst, J. M. 1981. The role of pineal gland in seasonality. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, Suppl. 30, pp. 15–21.Google Scholar
Symons, A. M., Arendt, J., Poulton, A. L. and English, J. 1987. Induction of early seasonal sensitivity to melatonin in Suffolk-cross ewes. Chronobiology International 4: 219–223.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wallace, J. M., Robinson, J. J., Wigzell, S. and Aitken, R. P. 1988. Effects of melatonin on the peripheral concentrations of LH and progesterone after oestrus and on conception rate in ewes. Journal of Endocrinology 119: 523–530.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Webley, G. E., Mehl, H. and Willey, K. P. 1985. Validation of a sensitive direct assay for melatonin for investigation of circadian rhythms in different species. Journal of Endocrinology 106: 387–394.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Webley, G. E. and Luck, M. R. 1986. Melatonin directly stimulates the secretion of progesterone by human and bovine granulosa cells in vitro. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 78: 711–717.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wigzell, S., Robinson, J. J., Aitken, R. P. and McKelvey, W. A. C. 1986a. Melatonin reverses the breeding season of both non-lactating and lactating ewes. Society for the Study of Fertility, Winter Meeting, Nottingham, Abstr. 82.Google Scholar
Wigzell, S., Robinson, J. J., Aitken, R. P. and McKelvey, W. A. C. 1986b. Effect of the oral administration of melatonin at two times of the year on ovarian activity in ewes. Animal Production 42: 448–449 (Abstr.).Google Scholar