Dose-dependent effects of human menopausal gonadotropin on growth and reproductive performance of West African dwarf does

Human menopausal gonadotropins (HMG) or menotrophinhas been effectively used for ovarian stimulation in clinical practice in human. It comes in different trade names such as Pergonal, Humegon, Repronex, etc which contains mixtures of both human pituitary hormones (Follicle stimulating hormone, FSH and Luteinizing hormone, LH) in different proportions. FSH and LH are produced by the anterior pituitary gland to stimulate the ovaries for the process of steroidogenesis and ovulation. However, its use in follicular manipulation in West African Dwarf (WAD) goat is limited which necessitated this study on the evaluation of the effects of HMG on growth and reproductive performance of the WAD doe. Thirty adult female WAD goats with initial weights of 16 – 26kg and between 1to 2years old were used for this study. The animals were quarantined for two weeks during which they were treated for endo and ectoparasites using ivermectini/m. They were allowed access to feed and forages (Panicum maximum and Pennisetumpurpureum), and water ad-libitum.  The animals were later assigned to three treatments (A, B, C) after equalization of weights with two replicates made up of five animals each. Animals in treatment A were administered normal saline (0.2 mL) while those in treatments B and C were given 0.1ml(4IU) and 0.2 mL (8IU) of HMG per 19kg weights respectively thrice in a week. The duration of the experiment was 3months. Daily feed offered and refusals were recorded along with body weights which was taken forthnightly after the initial weights. Blood samples were collected into ethylene diaminetetracetic acid (EDTA) coated bottles for haematology evaluation and plain bottles for serum and hormonal assay by jugular venipuncture at the end of experiment. The result of the study showed that HMG administration had significant effect (p<0.05) on height at withers, heart-girth, body-length, head length, tail length and rump width.  It caused significant increase in neutrophils, eosinophils and monocytes while reducing lymphocytes, basophils and procalcitonin. There was also significant increase in total protein, albumin and alkaline phosphatase with reduction in creatinine, sodium, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. It also led to significant increase in progesterone and triglycerides while FSH significantly reduced. It could therefore be concluded that HMG had no appreciable effects on morphometric indices; it stabilizes progesterone and triglycerides at 0.2 mL (8IU). It is recommended that the use of HMG should be limited to 0.2 mL (8IU) intramuscular injection at 3times per week.