Effect of exogenous hormones in the expression level of OXTRs gene in cows using Rt PCR

Abstract

We aimed in the current study to investigate the effect of oxytocin and prostaglandin on the expression level of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTRs) in local Iraqi cows at postpartum period. A total of 30 local Iraqi cows were divided randomly into three groups; the first group was considered a control group. The second group was injected with oxytocin 100 IU/IM twice weekly for four weeks postpartum. The third group was injected with PGF2α at a dose of 500 µg/I.M. twice weekly for four weeks postpartum. The blood was collected twice weekly for four weeks from the jugular vein for DNA extraction and to measure the OXTRs receptor gene by real-time PCR. The current study showed that the OXTRs gene expression level was insignificant in the first week between the three groups. In the second, third, and fourth weeks, the oxytocin group showed the highest significant OXTRs expression level, followed by the progesterone group compared to the control group. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that OXTRs expression in bovine blood plasma regulates by oxytocin and prostaglandin hormones during the postpartum period.

Keywords

• oxtrs
• cows
• oxytocin
• prostaglandins
• postpartum