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The influence of azaperone treatment at weaning on reproductive function in sows: ovarian activity and endocrine profiles during the weaning-to-ovulation interval

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 January 2018

T. Schwarz ,
A. Zięcik ,
M. Murawski ,
J. Nowicki ,
R. Tuz ,
B. Baker  and
P. M. Bartlewski
T. Schwarz*
Affiliation:
Department of Swine and Small Animal Breeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Agricultural University of Kraków, 24/28 Mickiewicza Ave., 30-059 Cracow, Poland
A. Zięcik
Affiliation:
Department of Hormonal Action Mechanisms, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, 7 Bydgoska St., 10-243 Olsztyn, Poland
M. Murawski
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Kraków, 1B Rędzina St., 30-248 Cracow, Poland
J. Nowicki
Affiliation:
Department of Swine and Small Animal Breeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Agricultural University of Kraków, 24/28 Mickiewicza Ave., 30-059 Cracow, Poland
R. Tuz
Affiliation:
Department of Swine and Small Animal Breeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, Agricultural University of Kraków, 24/28 Mickiewicza Ave., 30-059 Cracow, Poland
B. Baker
Affiliation:
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd., Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1
P. M. Bartlewski
Affiliation:
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd., Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1
*
†E-mail: rzschwar@cyf-kr.edu.pl
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Abstract

Azaperone can reduce stress caused by weaning and relocation of breeding sows, but its effects on reproductive processes are still poorly understood. The primary aim of this study was to describe and compare the endocrine and ovarian activity in ultrasonographically monitored second parity sows, with or without azaperone treatment at weaning (2 mg/kg BW i.m.). The intervals from weaning to the onset of estrus and ovulation were both greater (P<0.05) in azaperone-treated (n=12) than in control sows (n=12) by ~12 h. Mean daily growth rates of identified antral follicles were less (P<0.05) in azaperone-treated than in control sows (1.08±0.17 v.1.23±0.18 mm/day; mean±SD) and treated animals exceeded (P<0.05) controls in the mean ovulation rate (13.7±1.3 v. 12.6±1.2). A transient suppression of cortisol release was observed in the treatment group (at 10 and 30 min after azaperone injections) but circulating cortisol concentrations were variable in both groups of sows for the remainder of the study. The preovulatory rise in LH and estradiol secretion was delayed (P<0.05), and the duration of the LH surge was greater (P<0.001) in azaperone-treated sows compared with their control counterparts. The amplitude of episodic fluctuations in serum cortisol concentrations was correlated with the number of stillborn piglets in control sows (r=0.63, P=0.04). The amplitude and concentration of the preovulatory rise in estradiol secretion were negatively correlated with ovulatory response and litter size (r=−0.63 to −0.82, P<0.05), whereas the time at which the LH surge ended was directly related to the number of live-born piglets (r=0.82, P=0.002) in azaperone-treated animals. The present results indicate that administration of azaperone at weaning had a profound effect on preovulatory LH secretion as well as growth kinetics and estrogenicity of ovarian antral follicles. However, the causative associations among various characteristics of the preovulatory LH discharge, ovarian and adrenal steroid secretion post-weaning, and reproductive variables in sows remain equivocal.

Keywords

pigweaningstressazaperonereproduction
Type
Research Article
Information
animal , Volume 12 , Issue 10 , October 2018 , pp. 2089 - 2097
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2018 

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