Hormonal and acupuncture synchronisation in anestrous ewes

The simple acupuncture needles have been used for the purpose of activating the ovary in anoestrous ewes. The experimental population comprised of 15 of the three year-old ewes after regular weaning of lambs (in middle part of May). The animals were allocated into three groups. In first group (control group - K) comprised of untreated animals. In the second group (group H) the ewes were treated with 20 mg chlorsuperlutine vaginal sponges. The third group (group A) was provided with the acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture treatment procedure consisted of needling of two pairs of active points of Bladder Meridian (BL 21 and BL 22), and single Governing Vessel point (GV 20b). Each treatment lasted for 15 to 20 minutes. Stimulation by inserting the needle has been carried out by contra dial rotation of insertion needle. The needling procedure has been repeated three-times in 48 h intervals. The stimulatory effect of the treatment was evaluated according to morphological changes of the ovary found out by laparatomy (ovulation rate, number of tertiary follicles) and according to peripheral blood plasma concentrations of 17 beta estradiol and progesterone on the 5th day after the last acupuncture procedure or withdrawal of sponges A significant increase in the ovarian follicular activity after acupuncture stimulation has been observed in anoestrous ewes in comparison to the untreated ewes (40% follicle ovulation effect and 43% follicle growing effect, respectively), but not in the same range as was found in case of hormonally synchronized ewes (60% follicle ovulation effect and 67% of follicle growing effect, respectively). Similar increase in the levels of plasma estradiol and progesterone has been recorded in the acupuncture stimulated group in comparison to untreated ewes (7.8 : 21.0 ng per ml with respect to 0.65 : 1.04 ng per ml). Preliminary results support the idea of involving the traditional Chinese medicine treatment in sheep reproduction if treatments are to be performed and evaluated individually on a case by case basis. Two theoretical approaches (Chinese and Western) to explain the needling acupuncture effects were discussed.