Ovulation Induction in Rabbit Does by Intramuscular Administration of Salmon Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Analogue (sGnRHa)

Abstract

This study evaluated the fertility of non-lactating rabbit does artificially induced with Salmon Gonadotropin- releasing hormone analogue (sGnRHa). Forty multiparous rabbit does were randomly divided into four groups of ten does each in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The does in the control were naturally mated; the does in the other groups were at the moment of Artificial Insemination (AI) intramuscularly injected with 5μg/kg BW, 10 μ/kg BW and 15 μg/kgBW of sGnRHa in Ovaprim®, respectively. Blood samples were collected pre- injection and at 60 and 120 minutes post-insemination. Data recorded were plasma LH levels, kindling rate, total kits born, total born alive, stillborn, weight of kits at birth and gestation period (days) and were analyzed using Analysis of variance of the General Linear Model procedure and t-test where appropriate. The plasma LH for the AI groups peaked at 60 mins while it peaked at 120mins for the control. Kindling rates were 10%, 10%, 60% and 50% respectively for the groups. There was no significant difference (p>0.05, t-test) between the litter size and total live kits obtained for 10μg and 15μg groups. Kit weight at birth showed no statistical difference (p>0.05, ANOVA) among all the groups. There was no stillborn in the control and the 5μg group. The gestation periods for the control and 5μg group were 32.00±0.00 while the gestation periods (days) for the 10μg and 15μg groups were not statistically different (p>0.05, t-test). It was concluded that sGnRHa could be a potent substance for inducing ovulation in low sexually receptive rabbit does.