Introduction

Determination of the reproductive status is one of the most important factors for effective management and efforts to use assisted reproductive techniques depend on the knowledge of the basic reproductive physiology of a given species (Schwarzenberger et al., 1996). Several studies had been made to determine ovulation time in mares including the clinical and ultrasonographical examinations (Townson and Ginther, 1987; Sevinga et al., 1999; Abou El-Roos and El-Maghraby, 2000 and Watson et al., 2000). Ovulation was also predicated in oestrus mares by serial measurements of peripheral estrogen and progesterone concentrations (Barkhuff et al., 1993). The maximum diameter of the follicle in mare was determined by detection of conjugated estrogens in blood (Koskinen et al., 1990); also, they estimated serum progesterone before ovulation. Meanwhile, Naber et al. (1999) detected the blood steroids of pregnants (early and late gestation) in Arabian mares.

The growth of the dominant follicle was associated with certain intra-follicular E1-17β and P4 levels in mares (Gerard et al., 1999). Meanwhile, ovarian activity of cyclic mares was monitored by measurement of P4 and E1-17β in plasma (Watson et al., 2000) and in follicular fluids (Bogh et al., 2000) in transitional mares. The ovarian endocrine activity in the mare can be evaluated through the use of faecal steroids or their metabolities (Barkhuff et al., 1993). Estrogens are end products of steroid metabolism and, therefore, the compounds in plasma and faeces are similar (Schwarzenberger et al., 1996). Meanwhile, the faecal estrogens in relation to reproductive status in mare were demonstrated by Bamberg et al. (1984); they were also demonstrated in cows (Mostle et al., 1984), in buffaloes (Ismail et al., 1987), and also in primates (Heisterman et al., 1993).

Determination of the preovulatory faecal estrogens peak proved to be less successful as compared to pregnancy determination in mares (Sist et al., 1987 and Barkhuff et al., 1993). The faecal progesterone metabolites consist of several 5∝-, 5β-pregnances and progestagens 20∝-G (Schwarzenberger et al., 1992, 1993, 1996 and Messina et al., 1998). They reported also that the faecal progesterone metabolites in the mare belong to the 5∝-pregnances progestagens. However, the faecal 20 ∝-hydroxy-progesterone concentration can be used to evaluate cyclic activity in mares (Messina et al., 1998). The present work aimed to monitoring the ovarian dynamics and pregnancy status using both transrectal ultrasonography and analysis of steroids in the plasma (P4 and E1-17β) and faeces (20∝-G and E1-17β) of Arabian mares.

Material And Methods

Animals

Methods

Sampling

Hormonal assay

Statistical analysis

Results

The plasma P4 and E1-17β, also the faecal 20∝-G and E1-17β levels during the pre and post ovulatory period are shown in Table 1 and Figure 1. The continuous significant (P<0.05) increase in follicular size starting from day –7 (16.50±1.0 mm) until reaching its larger size at 0-day of ovulation (40.12±1.4 mm) was accompanied by a continuous significant (P<0.05) decrease in the concentration of plasma P4 and increase in the concentration of plasma E1-17β, starting from day –7 (0.98±0.19 ng/ml and 24.00±2.00 pg/ml, respectively). The minimum level of P4 (0.18±0.05 ng/ml), and the maximum level of E1-17β (78.75±4.20 pg/ml) were detected at 0-day of ovulation. A similar trend was observed for the faecal 20∝-G content that show decrease in its value starting from day –7 (196.85±15.67 ng/gm) reaching its minimum level at second day post ovulation (82.67±7.29 ng/gm). Meanwhile, the faecal E1-17β content was reaching its maximum value on day 1 after ovulation (187.50±6.27 pg/gm).

Following ovulation, the plasma levels of P4 and E1-17β showed a continuous increase, while the faecal 20∝-G and E1-17β showed a continuous decrease in their profiles. Meanwhile, the concentrations in plasma P4 and faecal 20∝-G increased starting from the 3rd day post ovulation, while plasma and faecal E1-17β decreased starting from the 2nd day post ovulation.

The plasma P4 and E1-17β and faecal 20∝-G and E1-17β levels in pregnant and non-pregnant mares are showed in Table 2 and Figure 2. The levels of P4 in plasma and 20∝-G in faeces were significantly increased (P<0.05) at days 14 up to 45 of gestation than those recorded during ovulation (0-day) in non-pregnant mares. Meanwhile, the levels of E1-17β in plasma and faeces was significantly (P<0.05) increased at days 21 up to 45 of gestation than during 14th day of gestation and in non-pregnant mares.

Figure 1

Table 1: Estimation the levels of progesterones and estradiol-17β profiles in the plasma and faecal samples during pre- and post-ovulatory period in Arabian mares (Mean±S.E.)

Figure 2

Figure 3

Table 2: Estimation the levels of progesterones and estradiol-17β profiles in the plasma and faecal samples during early gestation period in Arabian mares (Mean±S.E.)

Figure 4

Discussion

The hormonal profile is a reliable clinical investigation method of oestrus and pregnancy detection using analysis of progesterone and estradiol-17β in mares (Schwarzenberger et al., 1992). Meanwhile, the analysis of steroid hormones in plasma and faecal samples offer the potential of addressing many timely, integrative problems in reproduction and conservation biology (Wasser et al., 1991). Our results provide evidence that plasma accompanied with faecal steroid analysis may be important for understanding the reproductive status in Arabian mares. However, the route of excretion of steroid hormones and its metabolites varies considerably among species, and also between steroids within the same species. Steroid concentrations in faeces exhibit a similar pattern to those in plasma, but have a lag time, which depending upon the species, can be from 12 to more than 48 hours (Schwarzenberger et al., 1992, 1996). In most non-domesticated species, repeated blood sampling is not possible and, therefore, non-invasive faecal steroid evaluations are also used. Thus faecal samples are the most practicable choice beside to the plasma for this purpose.

In the present study, there was increase in follicular size starting from day –7 until reaching its larger size at day of ovulation, that accompanied by a continuous decrease and increase in the concentrations of plasma P4 and E1-17β, starting from day –7. The minimum and maximum levels of P4 and E1-17β reached at day of ovulation, respectively. Similarly, faecal 20∝-G content showed a decrease in its value starting from day –7 reaching its minimum level at 2nd day post ovulation, meanwhile, the faecal E1-17β content was reaching its maximum value on day 1 after ovulation. Following ovulation, the plasma P4 and faecal 20∝-G levels showed a continuous increase (starting from the 3rd day post ovulation), and decrease in the profiles of plasma and faecal E1-17β (starting from the 2nd day post ovulation). With increasing the follicular size from <30 mm to >30 mm diameter, there was a significant increase in the concentration of plasma E1-17β and decrease in the concentration of plasma P4 (Illera et al., 1993). However, production of estrogen by the large follicles is consistent with the oestrus-like uterine echotexture which seemed approximately related to the growing phase of large follicle (Koskinen et al., 1990). A high relation between the ultrasonography findings and hormonal concentration, showing the increase of E1-17β and the decrease of P4 concentration, corresponding to the days of the oestrus cycle at which the experiments were performed (Pieron and Ginther, 1985 and Townson and Ginther, 1987). In addition, the incidence of diestrous ovulations in mares is considerably higher (Stabenfeldt et al., 1972), presumably because some breeds have more follicular activity and secretion of estrogen during the first half of dioestrus. This come in agreement with the findings in this study where the secretion of E1-17β extended up to the second day post ovulation. Results from faecal hormone analysis indicated a useful characterizing and retrospectively predicting oestrus cyclicity and the occurrence of ovulation. Furthermore, cyclicity and ovulation were also confirmed by the rise and fall of the progestagens and E1-17β excretion during the pre- and post-ovulatory periods (Wasser et al., 1991).

For the study of ovarian activity in mares, several investigators have measured the concentration of P4 in blood (Allen and Porter, 1987, Eckersall and Harvey, 1987, Elmore et al., 1988). There is agreement that concentrations below 1 ng/ml plasma (Ginther, 1979) are indicative for oestrus or missing luteal activity. After ovulation, the values of P4 increase within 24-36 h, and remain high until day 14 or 15. Thereafter, in nonpregnant mares the values decrease rapidly to the low oestrus values. The plasma P4 and E1-17β concentrations were similar to those found by others in the late luteal and follicular phases of the oestrus cycle of the mare (Plotka et al., 1972, Eckersall and Harvey, 1987, Elmore et al., 1988). Moreover, large quantities of steroids are excreted in faeces largely because the principal means of excreting cholesterol (the progenitor of most steroids) is through the gastro-intestinal tract via bile (Adlercreutz et al., 1979). For this reason, some steroids and their metabolites may be excreted in faeces at concentrations that reflect biological events. The previous results indicated that the excretion of steroids into the gut is mainly through bile (Schwarzenberger et al., 1996), but they have also shown that a small proportion of the circulating steroids is secreted through the mucosa of the large intestine (Shill et al., 1990). Furthermore, steroids might be unevenly distributed in the faecal balls of horses (Palme et al., 1996).

The levels of P4 in plasma and 20∝-G in faeces was significantly increased at days 14 up to 45 of gestation than those recorded during at ovulation in non-pregnant mares. Meanwhile, the levels of E1-17β in both plasma and faeces was increased at days 21 up to 45 of gestation than those estimated during 14th day of gestation as well as in non-pregnant mares. However, faecal progesterone metabolites and estrogen determination proved to be reliable indicators for pregnancy diagnosis in the species in which the foeto-placental unit is the source of large quantities of estrogens (Schwarzenberger et al., 1996). The differences in these two variables between pregnant and nonpregnant mares reflect the first luteal response to pregnancy and could be an expression of the maternal pregnancy recognition mechanism (Sevinga et al., 1999). During the oestrus cycle and pregnancy, P4 is produced by corpus luteum and its metabolities circulated in the peripheral plasma and may be excreted via faeces (Desanlniers, 1989), that could be used for monitoring the growth, maintenance and regression of corpus luteum, and thus, as a tool to confirm oestrus cyclicity and possible pregnancy. However, faecal progestagen values increased at luteal phase within 10 days after fertilization and remained in this range for the first 2 months of pregnancy (Schwarzenberger et al., 1993). Likewise, plasma P4 concentrations were measured in 179 mares bled on alternate days commencing with a positive pregnancy diagnosis on day 17 to 18 after ovulation and concluding on days 42 to 45 (Irvine et al., 1990). Similar to our findings, faecal progestagen analysis has been successfully used for monitoring corpus luteum function and pregnancy (Schwarzenberger et al., 1991, 1992, Heistermann et al., 1993, Wasser et al., 1994). Although some studies reported the determination of the preovulatory oestrogen peak in mares, these methods proved to be less successful as compared to pregnancy determination, peak concentrations of faecal estrone conjugates during the follicular phase was very low (Sist et al., 1987, Barkhoff et al., 1993). So, for a reliable analysis of the preovulatory estrogen peak in faecal samples, more extraction and clean up procedures of the samples and sensitive assays would be necessary. Moreover, follicular waves occurred periodically until the corpus luteum regressed, and in the absence of luteolysis (pregnant mares) the periodicity continued (Ginther et al., 1989).

The difference in the excretion time of steroids between the oestrus cycle and pregnancy is probably caused by the very high concentrations present during pregnancy and by the enterohepatic circulation, which retards the excretion (Schwarzenberger et al., 1992, 1993). Subsequently, the differences between the concentrations of both P4 and E1-17β during oestrus and early gestation period could predicate the reproductive status of the mare. Subsequently, more research and coordination between researchers and biotechnology industries are required before any on-farm or field type faecal progestagen kits can be developed.

In conclusion, plasma and faecal steroid analysis can be used and accepted as a reliable and a diagnostic tool to study the fundemental reproductive endocrinology and provide information regarding the oestrus cycle and early pregnancy. Meanwhile, the E1-17β and progesterone metabolites might be more accurate for monitoring the reproductive performance of mares. Subsequently, the ultrasonography accompanied with the estimation of steroid levels in plasma and faeces has a predictive value for the assessment of follicular sizes, ovulation time and early pregnancy in Arabian mares.