LAUSR

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to investigate the hormonal and biochemical profile of dromedary she-camels with multiple ovarian cysts (MOC). Seventeen she-camels suffering from MOC and 10 control animals were enrolled in this study. Blood samples were collected from all animals. Progesterone (P4), estradiol 17-β (E2), Testosterone, tri-iodothyronine (T3), Thyroxine (T4), glucose, total protein, albumin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) levels were estimated in blood serum. Results revealed the presence of three or more large follicular ovarian cysts either on one (n  = 6) or both ovaries (n  = 11) of MOC cases with absence of any luteal structure. She-camels with multiple MOC had significantly (P ≤ 0.001) lower levels of P4 (0.24 ± 0.02 vs. 0.40 ± 0.03 ng/mL, respectively) and significantly higher levels of E2 and T3 (19.62 ± 0.62 vs. 13.74 ± 0.67 pg/mL, P ≤ 0.001 and 1.85 ± 0.09 vs. 1.44 ± 0.10 ng/mL, P ≤ 0.012, respectively) as compared with control. There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding testosterone and T4 levels (0.031 ± 0.002 vs. 0.026 ± 0.001 and 10.93 ± 0.24 vs. 10.17 ± 0.28 ng/mL, respectively). She-camels having MOC had significantly higher levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, total lipids and MDA and lower levels of GPX and NO as compared with control group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in levels of total proteins, albumin and globulin. In conclusion, the hormonal imbalances, metabolic disorders and oxidative stress are involved in the formation and/or persistence of multiple ovarian cysts in dromedary camels.