Tamm-Horsfall Protein Expression in Urine of Buffaloes at the Estrus and Diestrus Stages of Estrous Cycle Varra Manasa1,*, Sundaresan N.R.2, Kumar V. Girish3, Chandranaik B.M.4, Sejian Veerasamy5, Sudha G.6, Suchitra B.R.7 1Department of Veterinary Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Science, Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Proddatur-516 360, Andhra Pradesh, India 2Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560 012, Karnataka, India 3Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Bhubaneswar-761 211, Orissa, India 4Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals, Hebbal, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bangalore-560 024, Karnataka, India 5Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Veterinary Education and Research, Kurumbapet-605 009, Puducherry, India 6Department of Instructional Livestock Farm Complex, Veterinary College, Hebbal, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bangalore-560 024, Karnataka, India 7Department of Veterinary Gynecology and Obstetrics, Veterinary College, Hebbal, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bangalore-560 024, Karnataka, India *Corresponding Author: Manasa Varra, Department of Veterinary Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Science, Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Proddatur-516 360, Andhra Pradesh, India, Email: dr.manasa88@gmail.com
Online Published on 05 January, 2024. Abstract Background Identifying buffaloes in estrus is crucial for enhancing the efficiency of reproduction as silent heat is a major concern in this species. Review of literature indicated the role of Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP) is associated with the physiological events around the estrus stage. Hence, the present study was aimed to quantify the expression level of THP in urine of buffaloes to ascertain its suitability as a marker for identifying buffaloes in estrus. Methods The grouping of animals as mid-diestrus (Group-I/G-I/Control group), regular estrus (Group-II/G-II) and silent estrus (Group-III/G-III) buffaloes was done using a combinatorial approach. The expression of THP in the urine of three groups of animals was quantified by western blot. Result The results of the present study revealed higher levels of urinary THP in G-II animals when compared to G-III and G-I animals, although it was statistically non-significant (p>0.05). The present study revealing for increased urinary expression of THP in G-II and G-III animals when compared to G-I animals probably construes the antimicrobial role of THP in the female reproductive tract and its role during estrus to prevent microbiota population beyond the physiological levels. For THP to be considered as biomarker for detecting buffaloes in silent heat there is need for further studies involving large number of animals. Nonetheless, an easy method has been developed that facilitated THP detection and quantification in urine of buffaloes by western blot. Top Keywords Buffalo, Estrus, Silent estrus, Tamm-Horsfall protein, Urine. Top |