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OJVRTM
Online Journal of Veterinary
Research©
Volume 21(11):720-727, 2017...
Metachromasia of
exfoliated vaginal epithelial cells as marker of ovarian activity in ewes
Nazih Wayes Zaid.
Veterinary Obstetrics
PhD, Department of Surgery and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary Medicine,
University of Baghdad, Iraq E-mail: nazih_keplan@yahoo.com.
ABSTRACT
Nazih Wayes
Zaid., Metachromasia of exfoliated vaginal epithelial cells as marker of
ovarian activity in ewes, Onl J Vet Res., 21(11):720-727, 2017. Five pre-pubertal, 5 pubertal
and 15 older Awassi ewes were swabbed for exfoliated vaginal epithelial cells. Swabs and blood were taken
every 15 days. Swabs were stained with methylene blue. Cells from ewes in
estrus or pregnant, shifted blue to red-blue or purple, with status confirmed
by ultrasound and microscopy. At estrus,
progesterone varied 1.9-19.1 ng/ml and estrogen 52.4-88.0 pg/ml and in
pregnancy, 6.5-25.1 and 10.1-99.5 pg/ml. Cells taken postpartus, showed no
change at 2 weeks. Inactive ovaries were confirmed by sonar, 0.6 ng/ml progesterone and 4.1 pg/ml
estrogen. Cells swabbed in late postpartum from 11 ewes with cyclic
activity shifted light to dark blue with 2.2 ng/ml progesterone and 5.7 pg/ml estrogen.
Uterine infections did not affect color. Results suggested that color of exfoliated vaginal
cells may be a useful marker of ovarian cyclical activity in ewes. At
pre-puberty, no color change in inactive ovaries was found, supporting the
findings.
Keywords: Metachromasia, ewes, vaginal, epithelium, ovarian, sex
hormones.
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