S. Prabhakar et al., A preliminary attempt towards modulation of stress due to obstetrical interventions in buffaloes, I J ANIM SC, 69(12), 1999, pp. 1018-1019
Dystocia affected buffaloes (24) were utilized to evaluate the modulation o
f stress response of dystocia and obstetrical intervention in buffaloes whe
rein fetotomy (n=8) and caesarean section (n=16) were performed under epidu
ral/local infiltration anaesthesia alone or with chlorpromazine tranquiliza
tion. The blood samples were collected through jugular catheter before, dur
ing, and at end of each obstetrical manoeuvre and on 3 post-manoeuvring day
s to estimate plasma cortisol levels. Calving control buffaloes (5) were al
so bled daily from day of calving till day 3 postpartum. Cortisol levels we
re significantly (P<0.01) higher at presentation in dystocia-affected buffa
loes which declined significantly on subsequent post-treatment days but rem
ained higher than the corresponding controls. Administration of chlorpromaz
ine hydrochloride did not suppress cortisol release during obstetrical inte
rventions despite attaining clinical tranquilization in buffaloes.