Effect of the essential oil of Croton nepetifolius Baill on cervical penetration in crossbred Dorper and Santa Inês ewes

ABSTRACT In order to evaluate the use of the essential oil of Croton nepetifolius Baill (EOCn) on cervical penetration in crossbred ewes, 40 ewes were randomly allocated into four groups (n= 10): CONTROL, MISOPROSTOL, EOCn50 and EOCn100 (50 e 100µg of the EOCn, respectively). After estrus synchronization, using CIDR and eCG (200IU), depth of cervical penetration was measured using artificial insemination gun for bovine species which was graduated and used from 0 to 72h after CIDR removal. Results were expressed as mean ± standard error mean, submitted to ANOVA and Tukey test while data in percentage were submitted to Fisher or Chi-Square test. No significant difference (P> 0.05) was observed at grade of cervical penetration. Concerning trespassing time, MISOPROTOL and EOCn100 groups presented a lower trespassing time at 60h (1.7±0.6 and 1.5±0.6min, respectively) than CONTROL group (4.1±0.6min), which did not differ significantly from EOCn50 (2.3±0.6min) group. Therefore, the essential oil of Croton nepetifolius Baill can be used to shorten the cervical penetration time in estrus synchronized ewes.

摘要 为评估巴豆（Croton nepetifolius Baill）挥发油（EOCn）对杂交母羊宫颈穿透能力的作用，将40只杂交母羊随机分为4组（每组n=10）：对照组（CONTROL）、米索前列醇组（MISOPROSTOL）、EOCn50组和EOCn100组（分别施加50μg与100μg的EOCn）。采用阴道孕酮释放栓（CIDR）联合孕马血清促性腺激素（eCG，200IU）进行发情同期化处理后，于撤栓后0~72h内，使用带刻度的牛用人工授精枪测定宫颈穿透深度。实验结果以平均值±标准误表示，采用单因素方差分析（ANOVA）与Tukey检验进行统计分析；百分比数据则采用Fisher精确检验或卡方（Chi-Square）检验进行分析。宫颈穿透等级未出现显著差异（P>0.05）。关于穿透时长，撤栓后60h时，米索前列醇组与EOCn100组的穿透时长分别为1.7±0.6min与1.5±0.6min，均显著低于对照组的4.1±0.6min；EOCn50组（2.3±0.6min）与对照组无显著差异。综上，巴豆（Croton nepetifolius Baill）挥发油可用于缩短发情同期化处理母羊的宫颈穿透时长。