Effects of estradiol/oxytocin, sensiblex and dinopeostone on cervix dilation, time of cervical dilation persistency, and reproduction efficiency of Zandi breed sheep

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of estradiol (E2)/oxytocin (OT) and sensiblex injection and dinoprostone (prostaglandin E2 analogue) vaginal suppository on the cervix dilation, time of cervical dilation persistency and reproduction efficiency resulting from artificial insemination in Zandi ewes. In experiment 1, 60 ewes were assigned to three groups (n=20). The first group received 0.2 mg E2 and 12 h after that, 100 IU of OT. The second group received 2 ml sensiblex and the third group received 200 μg dinoprostone. Then, cervical dilation and time of cervical dilation persistency were examined at four times. In experiment 2, 80 ewes assigned to four groups (n=20). The control group received no cervical dilator treatment. Three other groups received the same treatments as the first experiment, respectively. According to the best time of cervical dilation in experiment 1, ewes were inseminated transcervically in the times of 20 and 40 min and 5 h after treating, respectively. In experiment 1, all three of hormonal treatments led to cervical dilation (P<0.05). Pregnancy rate, parturition rate and lambing rate in E2/OT group was significantly (P<0.05) higher than dinoprostone and sensiblex groups (65, 60, 70 % vs 30, 20, 20 and 10, 10, 10 %, respectively). In conclusion, injection of E2/OT dilate the cervical canal and improved pregnancy rate, parturition rate and lambing rate in Zandi ewes, therefore this can be an useful method for improving reproduction efficiency during artificial insemination.