Temporal changes in plasma profile of pregnancy-associated glycoprotein, progesterone and estrone sulfate associated with fetal number during early- and mid-pregnancy in goats

摘要

This study was designed to investigate plasma profile of pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (PAG), progesterone (P4) and estrone sulfate (E1S) during early- and mid-pregnancy. The goal was to explore the relationships with values for reproductive variables, to detect the most reliable predictor variable, and to identify the most desirable time point for blood collection for determining fetal number in goats. After ultrasonographic examination at d35-40 post-mating, blood sampling of 15 pregnant goats (total 18) was continued until d114. The PAG profile was characterized by gradual increase during early pregnancy from d26 to d51 and thereafter concentrations were relatively constant until d114 of gestation. The effect of fetal number on plasma PAG, P4 and E1S was first evident on d28, d51 and d26, respectively. During mid-pregnancy, does with twins had a greater (P 0.05) PAG (S-N = 2.54 +/- 0.12 compared with 1.59 +/- 0.11), P4 (18.91 +/- 0.67 compared with 14.51 +/- 0.47 ng/mL) and E1S (16.34 +/- 0.76 compared with 11.32 +/- 0.44 ng/dL) as compared with does with a singleton fetus. Plasma PAG but not P4 and EIS was positively correlated with fetal number and birth weight of kids during early pregnancy. Multivariate linear regression and discriminant function analyzes allowed for identification of plasma PAG as the most reliable predictor for fetal number and birth weight of kids. Furthermore, d58 was the most suitable single time point for prediction of fetal number using PAG as a biomarker. In conclusion, plasma profile of PAG, P4 and E1S was affected by fetal count. Plasma PAG was identified as the most reliable predictor variable of fetal number and birth weight of kids as compared to plasma P4 and E1S.