1. Effects of immunization against bone morphogenetic protein-15 and growth differentiation factor-9 on ovarian function in mares
- Author
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Douglas C. Eckery, Peter E. Graham, Jason E. Bruemmer, Pablo Pinedo, Darcy S.O. Mora, Kristin M. Klohonatz, H.M. Twenter, and Kelli A. Davis
- Subjects
Ovulation ,Sterility ,media_common.quotation_subject ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Growth Differentiation Factor 9 ,Growth differentiation factor-9 ,Andrology ,03 medical and health sciences ,Follicle ,0302 clinical medicine ,Endocrinology ,Food Animals ,Medicine ,Animals ,Vaccines, Contraceptive ,Horses ,Immunization Schedule ,media_common ,Estrous cycle ,030219 obstetrics & reproductive medicine ,Bone morphogenetic protein 15 ,business.industry ,Ovary ,0402 animal and dairy science ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,General Medicine ,040201 dairy & animal science ,Vaccination ,embryonic structures ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Female ,business ,Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15 ,Adjuvant - Abstract
Currently there is no contraceptive vaccine that can cause permanent sterility in mares. This study investigates the effect of vaccination against oocyte-specific growth factors, Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15 (BMP-15) and Growth Differentiation Factor 9 (GDF-9), on ovarian function of mares. It was hypothesized that immunization against these growth factors would prevent ovulation and/or accelerate depletion of the oocyte reserve. For this study, 30 mares were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 10/group) and vaccinated with BMP-15 or GDF-9 peptides conjugated to KLH and adjuvant, or a control of phosphate buffered saline and adjuvant. Horses received vaccinations at weeks 0, 6, 12, and 18. Ovarian activity and estrous behavior were evaluated 3 days a week via ultrasonography and interaction with a stallion. The study was initiated on March1, 2016. Upon evaluation of ovulation rate, the GDF-9 group did not have a difference (P = 0.66) in ovulation rate when compared to controls (10.8 and 10.0 ovulations, respectively), but the number of ovulations in the BMP-15 group was less (P = 0.02; 4.9 ovulations). Average follicle size prior to ovulation was less (P
- Published
- 2017