« Previous AbstractTest of four hypotheses to explain the function of overmarking in foals of four equid species    Next Abstract"RPK1, an essential yeast protein kinase involved in the regulation of the onset of mitosis, shows homology to mammalian dual-specificity kinases" »

J Dairy Sci

Title:		The potential of volatile organic compound analysis in cervicovaginal mucus to predict estrus and ovulation in estrus-synchronized heifers
Author(s):		Pluta K; Jones PRH; Drabinska N; Ratcliffe N; Carrington SD; Lonergan P; Evans ACO;
Address:		"School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. Indigo Science Ltd., Ashley Down, Bristol, BS7 9JS, United Kingdom. Institute of Biosensor Technology, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Frenchay, Bristol, BS16 1QY, United Kingdom; Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of Polish Academy of Sciences, 10 Tuwima Str., 10-748 Olsztyn, Poland. Institute of Biosensor Technology, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Frenchay, Bristol, BS16 1QY, United Kingdom. School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. Electronic address: alex.evans@ucd.ie"
Journal Title:		J Dairy Sci
Year:		2021
Volume:		20201112
Issue:		1
Page Number:		1087 - 1098
DOI:		10.3168/jds.2020-19024
ISSN/ISBN:		1525-3198 (Electronic) 0022-0302 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Cervicovaginal mucus is a mixture of mucins, ions, salts, and water, the proportions of which change during the reproductive cycle. It is suspected that this mucus emits an important volatile signal indicative of the reproductive state of the female. The objective of this study was to identify volatile organic compounds (VOC) in bovine cervicovaginal mucus that are modulated during the estrous cycle and could potentially be used as biomarkers of estrus and ovulation. Cervicovaginal mucus was collected from crossbred beef heifers (n = 8), which were synchronized using an 8-d controlled internal drug release (CIDR) protocol and in which onset of estrus and time of ovulation were determined by visual observation and ultrasonography, respectively. Mucus samples were collected between 0 and 96 h after CIDR removal (estrus onset occurred at 49.1 +/- 3.3 h after CIDR removal). A validation study was performed on an independent group of 15 heifers from which cervicovaginal mucus samples were collected every 8 h from 40 to 80 h after CIDR removal. The VOC in mucus were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and selected compounds were quantified using selected-ion flow-tube mass spectrometry. The presence of 47 VOC was detected in mucus samples by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with those exhibiting highest abundance including 2-butanone, acetone, 2-pentanone, 4-methyl-2-pentanone, 1-(1-methylethoxy)-2-propanone, ethanol, 2-methyl-2-propanol, and 2-butanol. All VOC peaked between 24 to 47 h after the onset of estrus (ovulation occurred 26.6 +/- 5.6 h after estrus onset). Two VOC, 2-pentanone and 4-methyl-2-pentanone, exhibited a significant increase at the onset of estrus, whereas concentration of 2-butanone increased significantly just after estrus onset, indicating that these VOC may be used as putative biomarkers of estrus. The results of our study may contribute to the development of a sensor device based on VOC to aid the detection of estrus and ovulation in cattle, with particular relevance for the dairy industry where the majority of females are bred by artificial insemination"
Keywords:		"Animals Cattle/*metabolism Cervix Mucus/*metabolism Delayed-Action Preparations *Estrus *Estrus Synchronization/methods Female Insemination, Artificial/veterinary Ovulation/*metabolism Predictive Value of Tests Progesterone Ultrasonography/veterinary Vagi;"
Notes:		"MedlinePluta, Katarzyna Jones, Peter R H Drabinska, Natalia Ratcliffe, Norman Carrington, Stephen D Lonergan, Patrick Evans, Alexander C O eng 2020/11/16 J Dairy Sci. 2021 Jan; 104(1):1087-1098. doi: 10.3168/jds.2020-19024. Epub 2020 Nov 12"