Progesterone Levels During Pregnancy in Ewes Treated with Bone Marrow Stromal Cells

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) on progesterone level during pregnancy in ewes. Flurogestone Acetate Sponges 40 mg, followed by 400 i.u. Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) were used to synchronize estrus and ovulation. The animals were divided into three equal groups (5 animals for each group). The 1st and 2nd group injected intravenously after eCG injection with 1x108 and 2x108 respectively with BMSCs while the 3rd group was injected with normal saline which serve as a control group. Blood samples were collected during pregnancy, at day 10, 21, 85 from the jugular vein. At day 10, 21 the results showed that there was a significant difference (p≤0.05) in the level of progesterone between treated groups as compared with the control group. While there was no significant difference between different groups at day 85. It was concluded from this study that BMSCs have a beneficial effect in ewe’s reproductive system, by increasing the level of progesterone at early pregnancy.

Keywords

• bone marrow stromal cells
• progesterone
• pregnancy
• ewes.