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VeterinaryWorld Vol.1, No.8, August 2008
Introduction
The Indian society is basically rural in character
as nearly 2/3rd of the population lives in villages. By
and large the Indian economy is also dependent upon
agriculture and allied sectors like animal husbandry.
India harbors cattle population of 204.58, Buffalo-
84.21, Sheep-50.8, Goat-115 millions. Early
pregnancy detection in dairy cattle is an integral part
of a successful animal husbandry practice. Some of
the commonly used techniques in pregnancy
detection include physical (rectal palpation,
radiography, laparoscopy and ultra sonography),
chemical (cuboni’s test), biochemical (assay of
hormones and pregnancy specific proteins by radio
immunoassay), immunological (rosette inhibition test
for early pregnancy factor) (Wani et al., 2003). A
simple seed germination technique (Punyakoti test)
comprises observation of differential seed
germination response of wheat seeds to diluted fresh
urine samples as reflected by significant inhibition of
germination percentage in pregnant cow urine when
compared to non pregnant cow urine. This technique
requires tools that are in expensive and readily
Effect of Estrogen and Progeterone on seed germination
Nirmala, G.C., Veena, T 1., Jyothi, M.S 2 and Suchitra, B. R 3
Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology,
Veterinary College, Hebbal, Bangalore-24
Abstract
Early pregnancy detection in dairy cattle is an integral part of a successful animal husbandry practice. A
simple seed germination technique (Punyakoti test) comprises observation of differential seed germination
response of wheat seeds to diluted fresh urine samples as reflected by significant inhibition of germination
percentage in pregnant cow urine when compared to non pregnant cow urine. Hormone metabolites
excreted through urine might affect the seed germination in pregnant cow urine. In the present study an
attempt was made to test the effect of hormones (in their natural forms) at different concentrations of
estrogen (17-ß estradiol) and pro