Physical and Chemical Properties of Ewes Cervical Mucus during Normal Estrus and Estrus Induced by Intravaginal Sponges

This study was planned to determine the physical and chemical properties of cervical mucus collected during normal and induced estrus of Ossimi ewes. Estrus of 14 Ossimi ewes were induced by intravaginal sponges for 14 days. Estrus was observed one to two times in ewes after estrus induction with a range of 17-21 days. Cervical mucus samples were collected from all ewes (14 each for induced and normal estrus) at the first and three days post estrus. Results revealed that the physical properties of cervical mucus: volume, viscosity, density and elasticity of cervical mucus in the normal estrus group were higher (P<0.05) than those in the induced one, while, the pH value of cervical mucus for normal estrus was similar to that for induced estrus. There were significant differences in chemical properties, glucose, fructose, total protein and cholesterol concentrations between ewes cervical mucus at different days of estrus during normal estrus. In contrast there were no significant differences in chemical properties of cervical mucus at different days of estrus except glucose concentration during induced estrus. Overall mean of glucose and total protein concentrations were higher in normal than in induced estrus, while no significant differences were found between ewes in normal and induced estrus for fructose and cholesterol concentrations. In conclusion, the physical properties (viscosity, density, elasticity and volume) and biochemical properties (total protein and glucose) of cervical mucus were higher (P<0.05) in the normal estrus group than in the induced-estrus group. Such changes in the mucus may be used as an indicator of days of estrus and the time of mating.