Estimativa do ciclo estral por citologia vaginal e observação de comportamento sexual de cabras

Abstract

The aim of this study was to correlate the data obtained by vaginal cytology and the ethogram in order to understand the changes caused in the vaginal epithelium and in the behavior of goats throughout the estrous cycle. Six sexually mature goats weighing an average of 34 kg were used. The females were grouped in a single stall and subjected to intensive management. Feed was provided twice a day, at 8am and 4pm, consisting of Tifton 85 grass hay ad libitum and small amounts of concentrate. The mineral mixture was provided in its own salt shaker and water ad libitum. Vaginal cytology material was collected using a swab and was taken weekly in the morning. Only one material was collected per animal per day over a period of nine weeks. The smears were duly stained with Rapid Panoptic. One slide was made for each of the six goats per week, totaling 54 swabs. The slides were analyzed under light microscopy using 400× magnification. 100 cells per slide were identified and counted. The cells were classified into three groups: Parabasal, Intermediate and Superficial. An ethogram was drawn up beforehand in order to observe the main sexual behaviors of the experimental goats. Behavioral observation was carried out weekly, on the same day as the vaginal cytology material was collected, in two periods, at 6 a.m. and 5 p.m., for 50 minutes. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients and their statistical significance were estimated between the variables parabasal, intermediate and superficial cell counts and the behaviors of urination and tail wagging. All statistical analyses were carried out using the R program. Microscopic analysis showed the presence of only parabasal, intermediate and superficial cells, as well as neutrophils. It was possible to identify the oestrus phase in goats 2, 3 and 4, with a predominance of superficial cells in the vaginal swabs. The statistics revealed a positive correlation, albeit low, only between urination behavior and the amount of intermediate cells. It was concluded that there was no correlation between the cytology of the vaginal epithelium and sexual behaviors to estimate the different phases of the estrous cycle of female goats. Despite this, the analysis of the morphology of the cells of the vaginal epithelium proved to be efficient in determining the phase of oestrus.