Development of a New Kisspeptin Based Method of Ovulation Synchronization for Crossbred Dairy Heifers

The aim of the present study was to develop a new method of synchronization of estrus/ovulation for crossbred cows based on kisspeptin, a potent secretagogue of GnRH. For the purpose, a total of 108 estrous cycles were studied in cyclic heifers. The animals divided equally in to two groups were treated either with ovsynch protocol of estrus synchronization (group-I; GnRH: day 0; PGF2α: day 7 and GnRH: day 9) or with a new method of synchronization based on kisspeptin (group-II; kisspeptin: day 0; PGF2α: day 7 and kisspeptin: day 9). Heifers were monitored regularly with transrectal ultrasonography for follicular dynamics and occurrence of ovulation. It was found that the kisspeptin based protocol induced better growth of follicles than ovsynch one. Ovulation rate was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the animals of group-II than group-I. As revealed through ultrasonography as well as plasma progesterone profiles, the process of luteolysis starts early even before PGF2α injection in kisspeptin based protocol than ovsynch. In conclusion, we developed a new method of synchronization of estrus/ovulation based on kisspeptin in bovine species for the first time. The newly developed method is found to be better than the conventional ovsynch method in terms of percent ovulation in the treated animals. Keywords: Estrus, ovulation, synchronization, kisspeptin, metastin, bovine Cite this Article Mondal M,Baruah KK, Karunakaran M et al. Development of a New Kisspeptin Based Method of Ovulation Synchronization for Crossbred Dairy Heifers. Research & Reviews: Journal of Dairy Science and Technology . 2015; 4(3):12–16p.