The Effectiveness of Intrauterine Treatment with Momordica charantia L. on Some Hormone Parameters in Repeat Breeder Cattle

Abstract

Background: Repeated breeding is a substantial problem in dairy cattle affecting reproductive efficiency. The goal of the current study was to see how intrauterine treatment of phytotherapeutic plant extract affected some hormonal indicators and conception rates in dairy cattle with fertility issues. Methods: In the study, 40 repeat breeder (RB) cattle were randomly divided into two groups. Forty ml (0.25 g/mL) Momordica charantia L. (MC) extract was administered intrauterine to cattle in group I (n=20) and 40 ml of pure olive oil was administered intrauterine to cattle in group II (n=20) at a time. The control group, group III (n=20), was composed of healthy heifers. Endometrial smear samples were taken from all RB cattle for cytological examination before the treatment and all were stained with Giemsa. Estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) levels were assessed by collecting blood samples starting from intrauterine treatment on days 0, 7 and 14. After the last blood sample was collected, the estrus cycles of all cattle were synchronized through a double dose of PGF2α administration at 14-day intervals. GnRH was administered with single insemination at the 60th hour following the second PGF2α treatment. Result: Subclinical endometritis was determined in 82.5% (33/40) of RB cattle. Pregnancy rates in group I, group II and group III were determined as 55%, 35% and 35%.respectively.(P greater than 0.05). There was no significant difference in E2 values according to time and between groups. For P4, there were also no significant differences between three time-dependent measurements, but there was a difference in the 7th and 14th days of the groups (P less than 0.01). For IGF-1, significant differences were found between the three time-dependent measurements of the groups (P less than 0.001). In conclusion, it was observed that the MC extract treatment, especially in RB with SCE, can improve the pregnancy rate by positively affecting the increase in IGF-1 which is a key element of the extremely complex endocrine system.