Changes in plasma growth hormone (GH) and secretion patterns of GH and luteinizing hormone in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) during growth

To assess the changes of plasma growth hormone (GH) and secretion patterns of GH and luteinizing hormone (LH) during growth in buffaloes, six growing female Murrah buffalo calves (mean age 6 +/- 0.9 months and body weight 66 +/- 6 kg) were selected. Plasma samples were collected twice a week for 52 weeks for GH and LH assay. To examine for pulsatile secretion samples were collected at 15 minutes interval for 9 hr at weeks 6 and 42 for GH and LH measurements. Plasma progesterone was also estimated in twice-a-week samples to assess whether any of the buffalo had begun ovarian cyclicity. The body weight of all animals was recorded at weekly interval. Plasma GH concentration decreased (P < 0.01) only up to week 29 and showed an increasing trend (P < 0.01) thereafter. The ratio of plasma GH to body weight declined (P < 0.01) throughout the entire experimental period. Plasma GH showed a declining trend only up to when the animals attained 155 kg body weight and thereafter showed an increasing trend (P < 0.01). Plasma GH revealed distinct pulsatile patterns of release, with a mean of 6 and 5 pulses in the 6-week and 42-week samples, respectively. The plasma LH concentrations around the 42-week time period were significantly higher (P < 0.01) than at the 6-week time period, and they exhibited pulsatility. No animal reached puberty until the end of the experiment. In summary, plasma GH levels have a definite pattern of change during growth and patterns of secretion of plasma GH and LH also have a relation with body weight in this species of animal.