Effect of beta-carotene administration on reproductive function of horse and pony mares.
Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine whether supplemental beta-carotene would influence reproductive function in mares maintained on spring and summer pastures and to characterize plasma carotene concentrations during the estrous cycle. Carotene concentrations in plasma did not vary with day of estrous cycle (P = 0.7455). Mares receiving every other day injections of beta-carotene (400 mg; n = 4) or saline (10 ml; n = 4) during proestrus/estrus did not differ in plasma estradiol (E(2)) concentrations (P = 0.6313), follicle development (P = 0.8068), or plasma progesterone (P(4)) concentrations during the following diestrus (P = 0.4954). Moreover, no differences in plasma P(4) concentrations (P = 0.9047) were detected between mares receiving every other day injections of beta-carotene (400 mg; n = 4) or saline (10 ml; n = 4) during diestrus. However, administration of beta-carotene raised plasma carotene concentrations relative to controls when injected during proestrus/estrus (P = 0.0096) and diestrus (P = 0.0099). Pregnancy rates (P = 0.4900) and number of cycles required for pregnancy (P = 0.2880) were similar for mares administered injections of saline (10 ml; n = 37), beta-carotene (400 mg; n = 37), vitamin A (160,000 IU; n = 38), or vitamin A + beta-carotene (160,000 IU + 400 mg; n = 43), on the first or second day of estrus and on the day of breeding. Therefore, these results collectively suggest that supplemental beta-carotene does not affect the reproductive function of mares fed adequate dietary carotene. Whether supplemental beta-carotene would enhance reproductive function in mares on low carotene diets warrants further investigation.
Publication Date: 2006-05-27 PubMed ID: 16728181DOI: 10.1016/s0093-691x(97)00318-xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article explores the impact of beta-carotene supplements on a mare’s reproductive function, finding no significant effect on reproductive hormones or pregnancy rates when mares are already consuming enough dietary carotene. However, the effect on mares with low carotene diets needs further analysis.
Objective of the Study
The study aimed to:
- Investigate the influence of beta-carotene supplements on the reproductive function of mares who are feeding on spring and summer pastures.
- Study and characterize plasma carotene levels during the different stages of the mare’s estrous cycle.
Methodology and Results
The researchers used the following methods and found these results:
- Mares were given either beta-carotene (400 mg) or saline (10 ml) injections every day during their proestrus/estrus stages.
- No significant differences were found in levels of plasma estradiol, follicle development, or plasma progesterone concentrations during the following diestrus between the two gruops. Similar results were observed when the same injections were made during diestrus.
- Administering beta-carotene notably increased plasma carotene concentrations when compared to controls during proestrus/estrus and diestrus stages.
- Pregnancy rates and the number of cycles needed to get pregnant didn’t differ among mares given injections of saline, beta-carotene, vitamin A, or a combination of vitamin A and beta-carotene, on either the first or second day of estrus or on the day of breeding.
Conclusion
The findings indicated that:
- Supplemental beta-carotene does not significantly impact the reproductive functions of mares consuming enough dietary carotene.
- Future research is necessary to determine if supplemental beta-carotene would enhance the reproductive function of mares on low carotene diets.
Cite This Article
APA
Peltier MM, Peltier MR, Sharp DC, Ott EA.
(2006).
Effect of beta-carotene administration on reproductive function of horse and pony mares.
Theriogenology, 48(6), 893-906.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0093-691x(97)00318-x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Science University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0701, USA.
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