Influence of L-arginine supplementation on reproductive blood flow and embryo recovery rates in mares.
Abstract: Supplementation with L-arginine can increase uterine arterial blood flow and vascular perfusion of the preovulatory follicle in mares. Increased vascular perfusion of the preovulatory follicle has been correlated with successful pregnancy in mares. The objective of this study was to determine if supplemental L-arginine would increase ovarian arterial blood flow, vascular perfusion of the preovulatory follicle, and embryo recovery rates in mares. Mares were blocked by age and breed and assigned at random within block to L-arginine supplementation or control groups. Mares were fed L-arginine beginning 17 days before and through the duration of the study. Transrectal Doppler ultrasonography was used to measure ovarian arterial blood flow and vascular perfusion of the preovulatory follicle daily when it reached 35 mm and subsequent CL on Days 2, 4, and 6. Mares, on achieving a follicle of 35 mm or more were bred via artificial insemination and an embryo collection was attempted 7 days after ovulation. Treatment did not affect interovulatory interval (arginine-treated, 18.1 ± 2.6 days; control, 20.7 ± 2.3 days) or embryo recovery rate (arginine-treated, 54%; control, 48%). Mares treated with l-arginine had a larger follicle for the 10 days preceding ovulation than control mares (30.4 ± 1.2 and 26.3 ± 1.3 mm, respectively; P < 0.05) and vascular perfusion of the dominant follicle tended (P = 0.10) to be greater for the 4 days before ovulation. No differences were observed between groups in diameter or vascular perfusion of the CL. Resistance indices, normalized to ovulation, were not significantly different between groups during the follicular or luteal phase. Oral l-arginine supplementation increased the size and tended to increase perfusion of the follicle 1, but had no effect on luteal perfusion or embryo recovery rates in mares.
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2013-12-21 PubMed ID: 24433779DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2013.12.012Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research paper studied whether L-arginine supplementation can enhance ovarian blood flow, follicle perfusion, and embryo recovery rates in mares. Though it increased follicle size and perfusion, no significant improvements were observed in embryo recovery rates.
Study Objectives
- The primary aim of this research paper was to investigate if L-arginine supplementation could boost ovarian arterial blood flow, vascular perfusion of the preovulatory follicle, and embryo recovery rates in mares.
- The researchers intended to measure the impact of L-arginine on these areas as previous studies indicated that the increased vascular perfusion of the preovulatory follicle is associated with successful pregnancies in mares.
Method and Design
- Mares were partitioned by age and breed into two groups. One group was supplemented with L-arginine while the other acted as the control group.
- Supplementation began 17 days prior to the study and continued throughout its duration. Transrectal Doppler ultrasonography was used to observe and measure ovarian arterial blood flow and vascular perfusion once the preovulatory follicle reached 35 mm.
- When 35 mm or larger follicles were achieved, mares were artificially inseminated. An embryo collection was attempted 7 days following ovulation.
Results and Findings
- Though the L-arginine supplemented mares had larger follicles and exhibited greater vascular perfusion in the days preceding ovulation compared to the control group, the supplementation didn’t significantly affect the interovulatory interval or the embryo recovery rate.
- No significant fluctuations were seen between both groups regarding CL’s (corpus luteum) diameter, vascular perfusion, or resistance indices normalized to ovulation during the follicular or luteal phase.
- At the end of the study, the researchers concluded that oral L-arginine supplementation enhances follicle size and perfusion, but doesn’t significantly impact luteal perfusion or embryo recovery rates.
Cite This Article
APA
Kelley D, LeBlanc MM, Warren LK, Mortensen CJ.
(2013).
Influence of L-arginine supplementation on reproductive blood flow and embryo recovery rates in mares.
Theriogenology, 81(5), 752-757.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2013.12.012 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA. Electronic address: dekelle@ufl.edu.
- Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arginine / administration & dosage
- Arteries / physiology
- Dietary Supplements
- Embryo, Mammalian
- Female
- Horses
- Insemination, Artificial / veterinary
- Ovarian Follicle / blood supply
- Ovarian Follicle / drug effects
- Ovarian Follicle / growth & development
- Ovary / blood supply
- Ovary / diagnostic imaging
- Ovulation
- Pregnancy
- Reproduction / drug effects
- Tissue and Organ Harvesting / methods
- Tissue and Organ Harvesting / veterinary
- Ultrasonography
- Vascular Resistance / drug effects
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Ortega-Ferrusola C, Gómez-Arrones V, Martín-Cano FE, Gil MC, Peña FJ, Gaitskell-Phillips G, Da Silva-Álvarez E. Advances in the ultrasound diagnosis in equine reproductive medicine: New approaches. Reprod Domest Anim 2022 Oct;57 Suppl 5(Suppl 5):34-44.
- Aurich J, Köhne M, Wulf M, Nagel C, Beythien E, Gautier C, Zentek J, Aurich C. Effects of dietary L-arginine supplementation to early pregnant mares on conceptus diameter-Preliminary findings. Reprod Domest Anim 2019 May;54(5):772-778.
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