水牛的发情检测主要依赖于行为和生理体征。尤其是在夏天,这些迹象不太突出。因此,发情检测是水牛畜牧业领域的一个明显挑战,尤其是在夏天。因此,水牛养殖户需要一种简单准确的发情检测方法。观察蕨类植物唾液结晶模式是检测水牛发情的一种简单方法,双峰骆驼,小猎犬母狗,和奶牛。然而,形成典型蕨类植物的确切机制尚不清楚。我们假设这可能是因为发情特异性粘蛋白和盐。为了检验这个假设,我们通过将不同浓度的粘蛋白-2(MUC2)和-3(MUC3)与氯化钠(NaCl)相结合来制备涂片。显微镜检查证实,MUC3和NaCl的组合产生的蕨类模式比MUC2或BSA与盐的组合产生的蕨类模式更真实。为了预测水牛唾液中发情期可能显示天然蕨类模式的粘蛋白和盐浓度,我们使用图像分析在线工具构建了人工生成的蕨类植物图案的指导树。该计算分析表明,大多数自然水牛发情唾液样本显示典型的蕨类植物样模式聚集在由13个簇组成的引导树的簇2中。在簇2中,通常发现MUC3与100、150和250mM的盐浓度相结合,与发情期水牛唾液涂片的自然典型蕨类模式非常接近。最后,预计发情期的水牛唾液具有形成凝胶的高度糖基化蛋白,例如粘蛋白以及至少100mM的NaCl。研究重点:糖蛋白和盐的组合在发情期复制了水牛唾液的蕨类模式。与MUC2或BSA和盐组合相比,MUC3和NaCl盐组合产生更真实的蕨类植物模式。NaCl分别为100、150和250mM的MUC3始终类似于自然发情唾液蕨类植物的模式。在发情期,水牛唾液预计含有严重糖基化的粘蛋白和至少100mMNaCl。
Estrus detection in buffaloes primarily relies on behavioral and physiological signs. Especially during summer, these signs are less prominent to recognize. Thus, estrus detection is a pronounced challenge within the realm of buffalo husbandry, particularly in the summer. Therefore, a simple and accurate estrus detection method is required for buffalo farmers. The observation of fern-like salivary crystallization patterns is one such simple method to detect estrus in buffaloes, bactrian camels, beagle bitches, and cows. However, the exact mechanism for the formation of typical fern-like is not known. We hypothesized that it might be because of the estrus-specific mucins and salts. To test this hypothesis, we prepared the smears by combining different concentrations of mucin type -2 (MUC2) and -3 (MUC3) with sodium chloride (NaCl). Microscopic examination confirmed that fern-like patterns resulted from a combination of the MUC3 and NaCl produced more realistic fern patterns than that of MUC2 or BSA with salt. To predict possible mucin and salt concentration showing natural fern-like patterns at the estrus stage in buffalo saliva, we constructed a guide tree of artificially generated fern-like patterns using an image analysis online tool. This computation analysis revealed that most of the natural buffalo estrus saliva samples showing typical fern-like patterns clustered in the cluster 2 of the guide tree comprising of 13 clusters. In the cluster 2, MUC3 in combination with the salt concentrations of 100, 150, and 250 mM was commonly found in a close proximity to the natural typical fern-like patterns of saliva smear of buffaloes at estrus. Conclusively, the buffalo saliva at estrus is predicted to have a gel-forming heavily glycosylated protein such as mucin along with at least 100 mM of NaCl. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Glycoprotein and salts combination replicates fern-like pattern of buffalo saliva at estrus. MUC3 and NaCl salt combination produces more realistic fern-like patterns compared with MUC2 or BSA and salt combination. MUC3 with NaCl at 100, 150, and 250 mM consistently resembled natural estrus saliva fern-like patterns. During estrus, buffalo saliva is expected to contain heavily glycosylated mucin and at least of 100 mM NaCl.