265 Pakistan Veterinary Journal ISSN: 0253-8318 (PRINT), 2074-7764 (ONLINE) Accessible at: www.pvj.com.pk Serum Ovarian Steriod Hormones and Some Minerals Concentration in Pregnant Nili-Ravi Buffaloes with or without Pre-Partum Vaginal Prolapse M. S. Akhtar*, L. A. Lodhi 1 , I. Ahmad 1 , Z. I. Qureshi 1 and G. Muhammad 2 Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan; 1 Department of Theriogenology; 2 Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan *Corresponding Author: drsaleem46@hotmail.com ARTICLE HISTORY ABSTRACT Received: Revised: Accepted: September 08, 2011 January 13, 2012 January 15, 2012 Key words: Buffalo Calcium Estrogen Phosphorus Progesterone Vaginal prolapse The present study was designed with the objective to determine the hormones (estradiol, progesterone) and minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium and potassium) in serum of buffaloes suffering from pre-partum vaginal prolapse. A total of 200 buffaloes were included in this study, half of these were suffering with pre-partum vaginal prolapse (affected group) between 7 th to 10 th months of gestation while the remaining were normal pregnant buffaloes (healthy group). Blood samples were collected to procure serum from each animal. Serum hormones and minerals were determined by ELISA technique and direct colorimetric method, respectively. The mean serum estradiol and magnesium concentrations were significantly higher (P<0.01) whereas progesterone, calcium and phosphorus concentrations were significantly lower (P<0.01) in buffaloes suffering with pre- partum vaginal prolapse as compared to healthy pregnant buffaloes. It was concluded that the serum hormones (estradiol and progesterone) and minerals (magnesium, calcium and phosphorus) concentrations differ between the vaginal prolapse affected and healthy buffaloes. ©2012 PVJ. All rights reserved To Cite This Article: Akhtar MS, LA Lodhi, I Ahmad, ZI Qureshi and G Muhammad, 2012. Serum ovarian steriod hormones and some minerals concentration in pregnant Nili-Ravi buffaloes with or without pre-partum vaginal prolapse. Pak Vet J, 32(2): 265-268. INTRODUCTION Buffalo, the thrifty, versatile, adaptable and productive domestic animal has drawn national and international attention in the last few decades and is contributing significantly towards the rural economy of Pakistan. The buffalo has been a poor breeder due to having poor fertility in the majority of environment conditions under which they are raised (Barile, 2005; Rushdi, 2010; Akhtar et al., 2010; Tajik et al., 2010). This is manifested mainly as late maturity, long postpartum anoestrous intervals, poor expression of estrus, poor conception rates (CR) and long calving intervals (Singh et al., 2000). Although, buffalo is of high economic importance for farmers in Pakistan, the reproductive performance is poor due to various diseases of reproductive system, including genital prolapse. Among pre-partum reproductive disorders, vaginal prolapse is considered to be the major problem causing substantial monetary losses to the farmers. In Pakistan, among the prevalence of various reproductive disorders, repeat breeding showed the highest prevalence (15.69%), followed by anestrous (9.74%), genital prolapse (7.73%), abortion (5.99%), retained placenta (2.58%), uterine torsion (2.39%) and dystocia (2.06%) in buffaloes (Rabbani et al., 2010). Incidence of chronic prolapse or eversion of prolapsed mass is considered to be due to weakness of uterine ligaments and vaginal tissue, relaxation particularly in pluripara animals and excessive deposition of perivaginal fat of hereditary predisposition (Noordsy, 1994; Dharani et al., 2010). Various etiological factors considered to be contributing to pre-partum vaginal prolapse include hormone imbalance or deficiency of serum minerals (Ahmed et al., 2005). The concentrations and role of some macro-elements, like calcium and phosphorus, in buffaloes with pre-partum vaginal prolapse is well documented (Sah and Nakao, 2003; Akhtar et al., 2008). The role of calcium in maintaining the adequate tonicity of vaginal musculature and thus in preventing the occurrence of vaginal prolapse is also well understood. However, no reports are available on serum concentrations of ovarian steroid hormones, like estradiol and progesterone and sodium, potassium in animals of RESEARCH ARTICLE