THE IMPACT OF BIOTIN AND HCG ON THE LEVELS OF ESTRADIOL-17Β, PROGESTERONE AND SHEEP PREGNANCY ASSOCIATED PLASMA PROTEIN B (PAPPB) IN LOCAL IRAQI EWES

Abstract

Twenty Iraqi ewes aged between 2-3 years were used in the current study. All animals were raised in an animal field in the Fallujah city/Saqlawiyah area during the period from August 2022 to February 2023. The animals were divided randomly into 4 equal groups. They were fed naturally on one diet. The control group (T1) received no additional treatment, the second group (T2) was given an hCG-COX 100 I.U./ewe injection (after sponge removal), the third group (T3) was given 10 mg of biotin per ewe daily (for 30 days), and the fourth group (T4) was given 10 mg of biotin per ewe daily (for 30 days) along with an hCG-COX 100 I.U./ewe injection (after sponge removal). Blood samples for estradiol-17β and progesterone measurement were collected on days 0, 18, 48, 79, and 110, and for PAPPB on days 48 and 79 after mating.The results showed a significant increase in the estradiol-17β hormone (P<0.05) on the 110th day of pregnancy in all the experimental treatments. The concentration of the progesterone hormone increased significantly (P<0.05) on the 79th day of pregnancy in all experimental treatments, with the T2 group outperforming the rest of the experimental treatments in progesterone concentration. No significant differences were observed between days 48 and 79 in the experimental ewes regarding the concentrations of Sheep Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein B (PAPPB) (pg/ml). We conclude from the study that biotin has no effect on the level of sex hormones, while hCG (100 I.U.) alone affects the level of progesterone on day 79 of pregnancy.

Keywords

• biotin
• estradiol-17β
• progesterone
• sheep pregnancy- associated plasma protein b
• iraqi sheep