2009: Investigation of ovulation induction in alpacas with acupuncture


Investigation of ovulation induction in alpacas with acupuncture 
 

M.A. Memona,b, C.M. Liua, J. Rodrigueza, S. Sandovala, A. Tibarya,b 

aDepartment of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine 
bCenter for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA 

 
 Acupuncture has been used to induce ovulation in several animal species, including 
induced ovulators such as the rabbit.  There is no published information on induction of 
ovulation in alpacas using acupuncture.  A pilot study was conducted to test the 
hypothesis that acupuncture induces ovulation in alpacas.   
 Four alpacas 8-14 years old were used in a cross-over design to compare two 
treatments, GnRH and acupuncture, for ovulation induction during 2 follicular wave 
cycles.  Treatment with GnRH (Cystorelin® 50μg/ml IM, Merial, Duluth, GA, USA) or 
acupuncture was performed when the alpacas had uterine edema and an ovarian follicle 
8-10mm in diameter as detected by ultrasonography (US).  Ovulation was confirmed 
using US to detect the presence of a corpus luteum on the ovary. All alpacas received 
cloprostenol (Estrumate®, 250 μg, Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, Kenilworth, 
NJ, USA) intramuscularly 7 days after induction of ovulation and were subjected to the 
second treatment during the next follicular wave (1 to 2 weeks later).    
 Acupuncture consisted stimulating the acupoints by aquapuncture; injecting 3 ml 
vitamin B12 (cyanocoblamin, 1000 μg/ml, VEDCO, Inc, St. Joseph, MO, USA) at the 
bladder (BL) and stomach (ST) acupoints (BL 22, BL 51, BL 23, BL 52, ST 25), and 
Yan-chi.  The acupuncture points used in this study are utilized to treat various causes of 
infertility. 
 Blood samples were collected by jugular venipuncture from each animal before 
treatment and 7 days after treatment.  Sera were stored at -20°C until assayed for 
progesterone concentration (P4). P4 >2ng/ml was considered as evidence of ovulation 
and development of a corpus luteum. 
 Ovulation was induced by GnRH in all alpacas, as evidenced by detection of a corpus 
luteum with US and a concomitant increase in P4.  None of the alpacas ovulated 
following acupuncture treatment.  Various reasons are possible for the failure of 
ovulation induction using acupuncture in this study.  Contrary to other reflex ovulators 
such as the rabbit where acupuncture was found to be useful for induction of ovulation, 
camelids do not have a neuroreflex mechanism for induction of the LH surge. An 
ovulation-induction factor present in seminal plasma stimulates an LH surge similar to 
that induced by GnRH.  As expected, GnRH induced ovulation in all cases selected based 
on follicular size and uterine edema. The lack of response to acupuncture in the present 
study could be due to other factors. Acupuncture was shown to cause a significant 
increase in ß-endorphin levels that lasts for up to 24 hours.  The role of neuropeptides, 
including ß-endorphin, in the regulation of GnRH secretion has been reported.  Other 
acupuncture approaches need to be investigated in order to determine the usefulness of 
this technique in camelids. 
 
Keywords: Acupuncture, ovulation induction, alpaca 

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