Antiproteolytic activities of the blood plasma and cervical mucus in ewes after the hormonal treatment of ovaries and gamma irradiation (2,45 Gy) in anoestrus

The antiproteolytic activities in blood plasma (BP) and cervical mucus (CM) of ewes after superovulatory stimulations in anoestrus are affected by gamma rays. The effects of a dose of 2.45 Gy on the trypsin inhibiting activities (TIA) (trypsin-model serine protease) in the BP and CM, on 17-beta-estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4) in BP, and the average numbers of ovulations were examined on 100 individuals of Merino breed ewes. Younger ewes (lambings) and older ewes (yearlings) responded differently to the irradiation and superovulatory stimulations, not only in dependence on age but also in dependence on the kind of stimulation (with the follicle stimulating hormone - FSH, with serum gonadotropin - SG). Changes in TIA of BP were statistically significant for yearling ewes (the P<0.001 increase caused by stimulation was eliminated by irradiation). Lambing ewes responded to stimulation by insignificant changes in the average TIA values of BP, the response by days, however, was different on day 13 and day 14. Similar changes were found in the low molecular weight TIA fraction of BP. The TIA values of CM after stimulation with FSH and SG changed insignificantly in yearling ewes; irradiation reduced (P<0.002) the TIA of CM only after stimulation with FSH. The amount of cervical mucus decreased following stimulation and irradiation, the muscle thickness and ovarian epithelium also decreased (differently in different parts). Although ovulations occurred in the stimulated and irradiated ewes, none remained pregnant after they were returned to the flock. The dose of 2.45 Gy following superovulatory stimulations caused nonfertile ovulation of the ewes. (author). 7 figs., 16 refs