PREGNANCY-ASSOCIATED GLYCOPROTEINS (PAGs) AS A SERIC PARAMETERS TO DIAGNOSE PREGNANCY AND EMBRIONIC MORTALITY IN BUFFALO COW. PRELIMINARY RESULTS.

Pregnancy diagnosis is an important part in reproduction management of all ruminants and embryonic mortality has a substantial impact on the fertility of domestic animals. Domestic buffalo are generally regarded has having low reproductive efficiency, furthermore, there are a high rate of embryonic losses above all during the critical phases of embryonic attachment. So, to have a specific, reliable, not expensive method for pregnancy, is particularly important for this species. The concentrations of PAG were determined using a radioimmunoassay system (RIA-706) in fifty buffalo cow from 0 to 80 days of pregnancy and from parturition until day 80 postpartum. In the pregnant buffalo cow PAGs are detectable in the maternal circulation from Day 25 after breeding. In the case of embryo loss, PAG concentration increased between day 23 and day 28 and then declined when embryo occurred. Concentration decrease steadily in the postpartum period reaching undetectable levels only by day 40 postpartum