The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of b-carotene and vitamin-A blood levels on follicular development (F) and corpus luteum (CL) numbers in bitches. Thirty-four randomly selected dogs brought to the Ankara University, Veterinary Faculty, Gynacology Department Clinic for ovariohysterectomy were used. The sera (separated from the dogs' blood samples) before surgery were sent to the laboratory to determine b-carotene and vitamin-A levels. The numbers of functional structures (F and CL) on the ovaries, obtained after surgery, were determined. Bitches without functional structures on the ovaries were not evaluated in this study. Bitches with functional structures on the ovaries were divided into two main groups. One to 3 CL were detected on the ovaries of three bitches (Group I) and more than three on 17 bitches (Group II). The mean levels of b-carotene and vitamin-A in groups I and II were 50.0 ± 8.6 and 48.1 ± 5.3, and 6.4 ± 2.1 and 4.0 ± 0.4 µg/dl, respectively. One to 3 F were detected in five bitches (Group III) and more than three on nine bitches (Group IV). The mean levels of b-carotene and vitamin-A in groups III and IV were 47.6 ± 10.7 and 60.7 ± 6.5, and 3.4 ± 0.8 and 5.5 ± 0.8 µg/dl, respectively. In conclusion, although a relation between vitamin-A and follicle and CL numbers has not been found, b-carotene seems to have a positive correlation with follicle numbers in bitches. More detailed research should be carried out in order to determine the effects of b-carotene on CL numbers.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of b-carotene and vitamin-A blood levels on follicular development (F) and corpus luteum (CL) numbers in bitches. Thirty-four randomly selected dogs brought to the Ankara University, Veterinary Faculty, Gynacology Department Clinic for ovariohysterectomy were used. The sera (separated from the dogs' blood samples) before surgery were sent to the laboratory to determine b-carotene and vitamin-A levels. The numbers of functional structures (F and CL) on the ovaries, obtained after surgery, were determined. Bitches without functional structures on the ovaries were not evaluated in this study. Bitches with functional structures on the ovaries were divided into two main groups. One to 3 CL were detected on the ovaries of three bitches (Group I) and more than three on 17 bitches (Group II). The mean levels of b-carotene and vitamin-A in groups I and II were 50.0 ± 8.6 and 48.1 ± 5.3, and 6.4 ± 2.1 and 4.0 ± 0.4 µg/dl, respectively. One to 3 F were detected in five bitches (Group III) and more than three on nine bitches (Group IV). The mean levels of b-carotene and vitamin-A in groups III and IV were 47.6 ± 10.7 and 60.7 ± 6.5, and 3.4 ± 0.8 and 5.5 ± 0.8 µg/dl, respectively. In conclusion, although a relation between vitamin-A and follicle and CL numbers has not been found, b-carotene seems to have a positive correlation with follicle numbers in bitches. More detailed research should be carried out in order to determine the effects of b-carotene on CL numbers.