Exploring the impact of exogenous Kisspeptin-10 on ovarian follicular development and estrus behaviour in Lakhimi cows of Assam

Abstract

The present study was carried out to assess the influence of exogenous intravenous kisspeptin-10 on the follicular dynamics, hormonal profile, and expression pattern of KiSS1 and KiSS1R of Lakhimi cows of Assam during the estrus period. Cows were examined every alternate day during the estrous cycle using a linear array ultrasound scanner and profiled in an ovarian map. The follicular wave patterns were mostly (66.7%) 2-wave cycle and 33.3% with 3-wave cycle in both treated and control group of cows. Kisspeptin-10 induced an early emergence of follicular waves with more follicular count and accelerated growth of dominant follicle in both 2 and 3 waves in treated group compared to the control. Significant augmentation of serum concentration of progesterone (10th day), LH (day 1) and estradiol (on the day before estrus) in treated cows was observed, however the hormonal dynamics were similar to other mammals Administration of Kisspeptin-10 has elicited a significant rise in the serum kisspeptin level with gradual increase of the transcripts encoding Kiss1 and Kiss1R genes (highest on 3rd day of estrous cycle) and declined gradually till day 11. Both the transcripts encoding Kiss1 and Kiss1R genes were gradually increased from day 17 and were higher two days before the beginning of the next estrous cycle. Intravenous administration of exogenous Kisspeptin-10 can be promising approach to augment the ovarian follicular dynamics in regards to early onset of wave, follicular numbers and diameter, to explore the optimum fertility in indigenous cows, Lakhimi.