Suivi de la gravidité chez la brebis Ouled Djellal par dosage de la protéine associée à la gestation et de la progestérone

The aim of the present study was to characterize the plasmatic profiles of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAG) and progesterone during gestation and two weeks postpartum in Ouled Djellal ewes. Twenty-five ewes were sampled weekly after estrus synchronization and natural mating. Concentrations of PAG and progesterone were determined by radioimmunoassay. Two ewes failed to become pregnant. Eighteen females developed normal ongoing pregnancies (12 single and 6 multiple) while 5 others were considered as having abnormal pregnancies. In normal ongoing pregnancies, PAG and progesterone concentrations were significantly influenced by the stage of pregnancy (P < 0.0001) but not by the fetal number. Individual plasmatic profiles were described in three ewes having had embryonic mortalities, in two having suffered fetal losses (at days 66 and 110), and finally in two ewes that had at the same time the presence of one alive and one or two mummified fetuses. Plasmatic concentrations of PAG were lower in ewes presenting simultaneously living and mummified fetuses