ORIGINAL PAPER
Effect of vitamins on ovarian and reproductive tract
development and reproductive performance in
prepubertal gilts
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1
KUBUS S.A., Calle s/n, Poligono Industrial Europólis,
280-230 Las Rozas, Madrid, Spain
2
Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences Tuwima 10,
10-746 Olsztyn, Poland
3
Instituto de Investigaciónes Zootécnicas, Av. Universidad,
Via El Limón, Maracay 2101, Venezuela
4
Facultad de Veterinaria de Madrid UCM,
Madrid, Spain
5
Instituto de Nutrición y Bromatologia, Faculdad de Farmacia, Ciudad Universitaria s/n,
280-40 Madrid, Spain
Publication date: 2000-07-15
Corresponding author
A. J. Zięcik
Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences Tuwima 10,
10-746 Olsztyn, Poland
J. Anim. Feed Sci. 2000;9(3):479-488
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Experiments involving 118 prepubertal gilts (150-180 days old) were conducted to evaluate the
effect of vitamin administration on reproductive tract development and ovarian responsiveness to
exogenous gonadotropins.
In Experiment 1 prepubertal Duroc gilts were assigned to two groups and injected or not with
vitamins and Se and 14 days later given 600 IU PMSG and 200 IU hCG. Gilts were slaughtered on
day 7 post oestrus detection. Vitamins and Se increased the length (P<0.05) but not the weight of the
uterus and ovaries. The number of corpora lutea decreased (P<0.001) but their size increased (P<0.01)
in the vitamin- and Se-treated group when compared to controls.
In Experiment 2 gilts were injected with vitamins and Se as described in Experiment 1 ten days
before PMSG/hCG and the treated gilts were injected again with vitamins and Se four days prior to
the expected onset of the second oestrus. Gilts that did not express signs of the second oestrus after
treatment were slaughtered on day 27 post onset of the first oestrus. Gilts given vitamins and Se had
heavier and longer uteri (P<0.01) and a lower number of corpora albicans (P<0.01) in the previouoestrous cycle. The relatively high number of corpora albicans found both in control (26.5±3.1) and
vitamin-treated (34.1±2.3) gilts after PMSG/hCG injection in Experiment 2 indicates an inconsistent
response of prepubertal gilts to gonadotropins.
We concluded that vitamin- and Se-flushing led to the formation of lower in number but larger in
size corpora lutea after ovulation probably due to the progression of a smaller number of follicles to
the ovulatory stage. Vitamins and Se increased the development of the uterus but did not influence
the number of piglets at farrowing.