Reproductive enhancement in buffalo: looking at urinary pheromones and hormones

Area of Science:

• Reproductive biology
• Animal science
• Analytical chemistry

Background:

• Accurate estrus detection and timing of artificial insemination (AI) are critical for successful conception in buffaloes.
• Current methods for estrus detection involve visual, behavioral, biochemical, and gyneco-clinical parameters.
• Pheromones, key reproductive and behavioral regulators in mammals, can be analyzed in easily accessible biological fluids like urine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify specific pheromone compounds in buffalo urine indicative of estrus.
• To explore the potential of urinary luteinizing hormone (LH) for predicting ovulation time.
• To develop cost-effective methods for estrus and ovulation detection in buffaloes.

Main Methods:

• Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of buffalo urine during different estrous cycle phases.
• Profiling of pheromone compounds and identification of estrus-specific markers.
• Investigation into urinary LH detection for ovulation prediction.

Main Results:

• Identified 4-methyl phenol (p-Cresol) and 9-octadecenoic acid (Oleic acid) as specific estrus indicators in buffalo urine.
• Achieved partial success in developing a cost-effective bioassay kit for estrus detection.
• Demonstrated the potential for urinary LH detection to predict ovulation.

Conclusions:

• 4-methyl phenol and oleic acid are promising urinary biomarkers for estrus detection in buffaloes.
• Further development of biosensors and nanoparticle-based bioassay kits for urinary LH and pheromones is ongoing.
• These advancements aim to improve the efficiency of artificial insemination and reproductive management in buffaloes.