Serum progesterone, vitamin A, E, C and beta-carotene levels in pregnant and nonpregnant cows post-mating

Abstract

The aim of the study was to detect the progesterone, vitamin A, E, C and -carotene levels in blood serum and the relationship between them in pregnant and nonpregnant cows after insemination. The oestrus of 17 cows kept at the same maintenance and nutrition conditions were synchronized by prostaglandine F2-alpha. The cows that were in heat were naturally inseminated. Blood samples were taken every four days starting from the oestrus day, throughout the whole cycle. Pregnancies were detected by ultrasonography in between days 30-35 after insemination. 12 cows were detected to be pregnant this way, while 5 cows were detected to be not pregnant. Serum progesterone levels were determined by enyzme immunoassay method; and vitamin A, E, C and -carotene levels were detected by spectrophotometry. While no difference was observed between the sampling days in serum progesterone, vitamin A, C, E and -carotene levels in bloods collected for 21-24 days after insemination in pregnant and nonpregnant cows (P>0.05), vitamin C level at the 16th day after insemination in pregnant cows was detected to be higher (P<0.05) compared to the nonpregnant cows. It was observed that the average serum vitamin A, E and -carotene levels were higher during the cycle in pregnant cows compared to the nonpregnant cows (P<0.001) and that there was no difference with regard to vitamin C levels between the groups (P>0.05). A negative correlation between serum progesterone and vitamin A and progesterone and vitamin E (P<0.01); and a positive correlation between serum vitamin E and A levels (P<0.01) were detected during the cycle in pregnant cows. As a conclusion, serum progesterone, vitamin E, A and -carotene levels were observed to be higher in the pregnant cows following insemination compared to the nonpregnant cows and a positive correlation with pregnancy was detected