Comparative Efficacy of GnRH, HCG and Seminal Plasma for Induction of Ovulation During the Breeding Season in the Dromedary Camel (Camelus dromedarius).

In the current study, efficacy of GnRH, hCG and seminal plasma for the induction of ovulation in dromedary camels during breeding season was investigated. Sixteen female dromedary camels, having ovarian follicle size of 12-19mm, were randomly divided into four equal groups G, H, SP and C. The camels in groups G and H were injected with 2ml (50µg) GnRH analogue and 3000IU of hCG, respectively. Camels in group SP were injected with 1ml seminal plasma mixed with 1ml normal saline and group C (control group) was injected with 1ml normal saline intramuscularly. For the confirmation of ovulation, and CL development, ovaries of experimental camels were examined through trans-rectal ultrasonography on days 1, 2, 3, 8 and 11 post-treatment. The Progesterone ELISA kit was used to determine serum progesterone (P4) concentrations in samples collected on days 0, 3, 6, 8, and 11 of treatment. The results revealed that ovulation rates were 75, 50, 50 and 0% in groups G, H, SP and C, respectively, values for G, H and SP groups were higher compared to group C (p<0.05), while former three groups differed non-significantly from one another. Serum P4 concentrations were <0.5ng/ml in camels of all groups on day 0. However, among ovulated camels, the serum P4 concentration was highest on day 8, when it was 4.80±0.15, 4.15±0.14 and 2.67±0.15ng/ml in SP, H and G groups, respectively; the difference among 3 groups was significant (p<0.05). It was concluded that in dromedary females, use of hormones for the induction of ovulations is an effective option and can safely be used in camel breeding programs, as hormones are easily available compared to seminal plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]