Ovarian function and restoration of fertility using insulin in acyclic dairy cattle

Abstract

The effect of exogenous insulin treatment alone and in combination with progesterone (P4) on ovarian response as well as blood glucose and progesterone-profile was studied on 28 acyclic dairy cattle, divided randomly into 4 groups i.e. insulin (group1),P4(group 2), insulin plus P4 (group 3) aud control (group 4),each comprising 7 animals. Cows of the insulin treatment group were injected subcutaneously long acting purified bovine insulin at @O.25IU/kg body weight/day for 5 consecutive days. Cows of P4-treatment group injected intramuscularly with 17- hydroxy progesterone at dose @50mg/day for 5 consecutive days. Ttle cuws of insulin+Pd- treatrnevt group injected insulin for 5 consecutive days. The cows of insulin+P4- treatment group injected insulin for 5 days similar to group 1 followed by P4-for next 5 days. Cows of gr 4 kept as untreated control. The induction of estrus was higher in insulin treated cows (85.7%) as compared to P4 (42.85%). insulin+P4 (42.85%) and control (14.3%). The difference was statistically significant between group 1 and control. Overall conception rate was 40%and 33.3% in groups 1 and 3, respectively. one got conceived in group 2 and control. The plasma glucocsoe concentration was at the normal level before start of treatment, did not differ along the groups during different days with averages ranging from 43.500±1.552 to 53.280±4.653 mg/dl before and after the treatment. Serum progesterone concentration before start of treatment ranged between 0.45±0.072 to 0.765±0.187 ng/ml confiring the state of anoestrus. The P4 concentration was lowest at estrus 0.020±0.00 to 0.256±O.O86ng/ml.Thereafter, on day 10th post estrus it increased significantly in insulin treatment group (7.115±0.723 ng/ml) as compared to P4 (4.903±2.718 ng/ml). insulin+P4 (4.89O±O.480 ng/ml) and control (3.59±0.00 ng/ml) (P&gtO.O1). The results demonstrated beneficial effcct of insulin on ovarian function and restoration of fertility in acyclic dairy cattle.