Taurine dynamics in serum during the oestrous cycle in buffaloes

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Science
• Reproductive Biology
• Animal Science

Background:

• Estrus identification in buffaloes is difficult due to short estrus duration and silent heat.
• Taurine, a non-protein amino acid, is involved in reproductive hormone secretion (GnRH) and has been linked to postpartum anestrus in buffaloes.
• Identifying specific biomarkers for estrus stages can significantly aid buffalo farmers and researchers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate serum taurine levels across different stages of the estrous cycle in healthy, cyclic buffaloes.
• To determine if taurine can serve as a reliable biomarker for estrus identification in buffaloes.

Main Methods:

• Blood samples were collected from four healthy cyclic buffaloes at estrus, proestrus, metestrus, and diestrus.
• Taurine levels were quantified using the Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) method.
• Estrus cycle stages were confirmed via ultrasonography and behavioral observations.
• Results were validated using simulated population datasets and analyzed with ROC curve analysis.

Main Results:

• Taurine was consistently detected in buffalo serum across all estrous cycle stages.
• The highest serum taurine concentration was observed during the proestrus stage (0.20 ± 0.03 mg/mL).
• Proestrus taurine levels were significantly higher (p < .05) than metestrus (0.10 ± 0.05 mg/mL) and diestrus (0.13 ± 0.03 mg/mL) stages.
• ROC analysis indicated taurine's efficiency in distinguishing proestrus from other stages with a cutoff value <0.1643 mg/mL.

Conclusions:

• Serum taurine concentration can be a valuable indicator for detecting the proestrus stage in buffaloes.
• This finding offers a potential biomarker to improve estrus identification for buffalo farmers and reproductive management.