Effects of 6-MBOA on reproductive function in ponies, mice, rats and mink.
Abstract: The effect on reproduction of the plant derivative 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone (6-MBOA), which stimulates reproductive function in voles, was tested in pony mares, laboratory mice and rats, and mink. There was not a significant effect of intravenous injections of 6-MBOA on the ovarian follicles during the transition between the anovulatory and ovulatory seasons in mares. No significant effect of intraperitoneal injections of 6-MBOA on the weight of uterus or ovaries was found in eight-week-old mice, failing to confirm the results of an earlier report. In immature white rats, 6-MBOA treatment resulted in an increase in uterine weight (P<0.05) at the lowest dose tested (0.03 mug/rat; mean for controls, 34 +/-2 mg; treated, 47 +/-5 mg). However, no significant effect was found on the weights of the ovaries and other glands or in coded scores for ovarian stimulation and uterine fluid distention. Adding 1.5 mg 6-MBOA to the daily feed ration of mink beginning two weeks before the mating season did not affect the mean number of kits born. Nulliparous female mink had smaller (P<0.001) litter size than multiparous females. In addition, of the mink that whelped, there were more (P<0.01) nulliparous females (25 118 ) than multiparous females (9 144 ) that lost one or more kits within 48 hours. These results, however, were not altered by 6-MBOA treatment.
Publication Date: 1985-11-01 PubMed ID: 16726112DOI: 10.1016/0093-691x(85)90064-0Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The study is an examination of the effects of the plant derivative 6-MBOA on the reproductive function of various animals including ponies, mice, rats, and mink, finding that the compound generally had no significant effect.
Introduction to the Research
- This study focused on examining the effect of the plant derivative known as 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone (6-MBOA) on the reproductive functions in several distinct species: pony mares, laboratory mice, rats, and mink.
- Previous research has shown that 6-MBOA stimulates reproductive function in voles, but this study aimed to see if this effect carries across to different animals.
Testing and Results
- In pony mares, researchers did not find a significant effect of 6-MBOA on the ovarian follicles during the transition between the anovulatory (non-egg producing) and ovulatory (egg-producing) seasons.
- Similarly, in laboratory mice, the injection of 6-MBOA didn’t have a significant effect on the weight of uterus or ovaries, contrasting with results from a previous report.
- In immature white rats, 6-MBOA treatment led to an increase in uterine weight, but this was only at the lowest dose tested. At higher doses, no significant effects were found on the weights of the ovaries, other glands, ovarian stimulation results, or uterine fluid distention.
- A daily feed ration of 6-MBOA added two weeks before the mating season didn’t affect the mean number of kits (baby minks) born. Nulliparous females (those who had not given birth) had smaller litter sizes than multiparous females (those who had given birth before). Also, more nulliparous females than multiparous females lost at least one kit within 48 hours after birth. Notably, 6-MBOA treatment did not change these findings.
Implications and Conclusions
- The findings show that the reproductive-stimulating effect of 6-MBOA observed in voles doesn’t necessarily extend to other animal species. Its effect varies by species and often showcases no major role in reproductive processes.
- This research importantly highlights the need for species-specific investigations when examining the influence of certain compounds, like 6-MBOA, on animal reproduction.
Cite This Article
APA
Ginther OJ, Bergfelt DR, Scraba ST, Pivonka PR, Nuti LC.
(1985).
Effects of 6-MBOA on reproductive function in ponies, mice, rats and mink.
Theriogenology, 24(5), 587-595.
https://doi.org/10.1016/0093-691x(85)90064-0 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Science University of Wisconsin Madison, WI 53706 USA.
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Dai X, Jiang LY, Han M, Ye MH, Wang AQ, Wei WH, Yang SM. Reproductive responses of male Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii) to 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone (6-MBOA) under short photoperiod. Naturwissenschaften 2016 Apr;103(3-4):29.
- Martin LB, Johnson EM, Hutch CR, Nelson RJ. 6-MBOA affects testis size, but not delayed-type hypersensitivity, in white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus). Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2008 Feb;149(2):181-7.
- Vaughan MK, Little JC, Powell DC, Puig-Domingo M, Reiter RJ. Melatonin and 6-methoxy-2-benzoxazolinone (6-MBOA) alter the response of the male Syrian hamster to natural photoperiod. Int J Biometeorol 1988 Jun;32(2):103-7.
- Shi JY, Gu KH, Yang SM, Wei WH, Dai X. Effects of 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone (6-MBOA) on animals: state of knowledge and open questions. Naturwissenschaften 2024 Aug 14;111(5):45.
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