The effects of prostaglandins on turkey hen reproduction

Abstract

Prostaglandin involvement in turkey hen reproduction was examined by (1) studying the effects of chronic exogenous administration of PGA(,1) on fertility, and (2) quantification of endogenous prostaglandins A(,1), E(,1) and F(,2(alpha)) by radioimmunoassay. Four different levels (control, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 (mu)g) of prostaglandin A(,1) were administered either intramuscularly (im) or intraoviductally (IO) every two weeks at the time of the insemination throughout the hens' 18 weeks of production. One of two different volumes, either 25.0 or 12.5 (mu)l of pooled undiluted semen was used to inseminate the eighty hens. Hens that were given 0.25 (mu)g PGA(,1) exhibited significantly higher fertility (94.0%) than the hens that were given 1.0 (mu)g PGA(,1) (89.0%). There was no statistically significant difference in the fertility level between the 0.5 (mu)g (90.5%) and the sham (91.7%) group of PGA(,1) administration. Mean fertility for hens given PGA(,1) im was 97.0% and for hens given PGA(,1) IO was 82.3%. Hens inseminated with 25.0 (mu)g of pooled semen had higher fertility (93.6%) when compared with those given 12.5 (mu)g ml of pooled semen. Prostaglandin assays were performed on plasma of hens classified either as high fertility, low fertility or non-layers. Classification was based on a previous 10 week performance record. Samples from hens were collected via the brachial vein 13 times/day on two days at 11, 15 and 20 weeks of production. Antisera specific for PGA(,1), E(,1) or PGF(,2(alpha)) were used to quantitate each set of plasma samples. Plasma values were reported in pg/ml and correlated with the time of oviposition, ovulation and daily rhythm.