ENDOCRINE CHANGES DURING LATE PREGNANCY AND PARTURITION IN BLACK BENGAL GOATS

Abstract

The objective of this study was to delineate the changes in plasma progesterone, estradiol, T3, T4, insulin and cortisol concentrations during late pregnancy and parturition in Black  Bengal goats. Blood samples were collected on days 118, 125, 132, 139, 146 of pregnancy and on the day of kidding. Plasma progesterone concentration declined abruptly from day 146th of pregnancy to basal level on the day of kidding whereas plasma estradiol concentrations rose from day 139th of pregnancy to the day of kidding. Peripheral plasma insulin concentrations rose from day 118th of pregnancy to maximum concentrations on day 132th of pregnancy which deaeased (P<0.05) abruptly on the day of kidding. Plasma cortisol concentration declined from day 118th of pregnancy to day 146th of pregnancy which further increased on the day of kidding. Plasma T3 and T4 concentrations declined from day 139th of pregnancy to the lowest levels on the day of kidding. The results of this study indicate that plasma hormone levels change during late pregnancy and parturition in Black Bengal goat.