The objective of this study is to clarify the profiles of estrone sulphate (ES) in maternal blood, saliva and fecal samples of she-goats during pregnancy and trend parturition. The hormonal levels were used as a monitor to assess the advancement of gestation, fetal number and viability. Eighteen she-goats (16 - 24 months) were used in 2 groups. Five animals (non-pregnant) were used as control, and 13 females (naturally mated at estrus) were used as pregnant group. Pregnancy was detected using ultrasonography and confirmed by abdominal palpation at 2.5-3 months and were follow-up till parturition. Peripheral plasma was obtained from all females, also in parallel saliva and fecal samples were collected for ES extraction and measured by R1A assayed.
The estrone sulphate levels in all samples of pregnant goats were greater than 1ng/ml (plasma and saliva) and 1ng /gm (feces) higher than those of non-pregnant ones. Considering the monthly changes, ES level in pregnant goats were non-significantly increased within the 1st month when compared to those of the non-pregnant ones, thereafter were gradually increased significantly for pregnant during the 2nd (2-3.5 months) and the 3rd (> 3.5 months) trimesters of gestation. The maximum mean values were detected during the 3rd trimester while during the 1st trimester (< 2 month) were significantly low when compared to the other trimesters and non-significant difference with non-pregnant goats. Concerning fetal viability, ES concentration in all samples significantly declined steadily within 4th month of gestation few days before abortion of dead feti when compared with that observed at same stage of females bearing alive kids, the variation between two groups was highly significant. So, it is suggested that a concentration of ES > 3ng/ml plasma. > 2ng/ml saliva and > 2ng/gm feces is highly indicative of fetal viability at late gestation. Regarding fetal number, maternal ES levels in all samples from the 2nd month were increased progressively to term in singleton (n=2). Twin bearing (n = 4) and triplet bearing (n = 4) goats. There was no difference in plasma, saliva and fecal ES concentrations between singleton and twin bearing goats up to 2nd trimester but was significantly higher in triplet bearing goats than singleton ones. While mean ES levels at 3rd trimester were significantly higher in goats carrying twin and three fetuses than that of singleton ones. Overall, values of this hormone during the 1st trimester useless to predict the number of fetuses, while during 2nd and 3rd trimesters were significantly available to predict of a large litter in goats. The ES profiles in all samples were drastically increased during the early prepartum period (days 7 to 1) reaching a plateau. Furthermore prepartum ES concentrations were significantly lower in dystocial than eutocial goats especially at last 3 days before parturition. Subsequently, ES concentrations increased gradually and linearly as gestation progresses and were thereafter drastically elevated at last week prepartum. It is concluded that the determination of ES in blood, saliva and feces of goats may be useful for pregnancy diagnosis, predictive value of alive fetal number (= 3 mon) and viability, as well as may be used for clarify the nature of parturition in goats. |
