The relationship between trace mineral concentrations of amniotic fluid with placenta traits in the pregnancy toxemia Ghezel ewes

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the trace mineral concentrations (Mg, Se, Zn, Cu and Fe) in amniotic fluid (AF) in 40 pregnancy toxemia Ghezel ewes at the time of parturition phase and its association with placental traits. Methods: Animals were treated with controlled internal drug release for 14 d and injected 400 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin at the time of controlled internal drug release removal. After the detection of estrus by use of teaser rams, ewes were hand-mated. Ewes were classified as having subclinical pregnancy toxemia on the basis of beta-hydroxy butyrate (BHBA) results (BHBA > 0.86 mmol/L). Results: The overall mean AF traces of mineral concentrations were 3.13 ng/mL, 22.1 μg/dL, 134.7 μg/dL, 122.5 μg/dL and 166.6 μg/dL, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between placental efficiency and Zn concentration in AF ewes (r = 0.633, P 0.01), except for placental weight (r = 0.808, P < 0.01). Also, no significant correlation was detected between BHBA with the above trace minerals. Conclusions: Overall, determinations of these trace minerals in the AF ewes could have been used to obtain information on nutritional and reproductive status for the diagnosis of pregnancy toxemia in Ghezel ewes.

Keywords

• Amniotic fluid
• Ghezel ewes
• Placental
• Pregnancy toxemia
• Trace minerals