Ovandrotone albumin explained

Ovandrotone albumin (brand names Fecundin, Ovastim),^[1] also known as polyandroalbumin, as well as ovandrotone:human serum albumin conjugate, is an immunogen and vaccine against androstenedione that is used in veterinary medicine to increase the ovulation rate and number of lambs born to ewes.^{[2] [3] [4] [5]} It is a conjugate of ovandrotone (androstenedione-7α-carboxyethylthioether)^[6] and human serum albumin. The drug was developed by 1981 and was introduced in Australia and New Zealand in 1983.

Ovandrotone albumin produces transient immunity against androstenedione,^[7] and the generation of antibodies against androstenedione presumably decreases circulating levels of androstenedione.^[8] This is thought to result in reduced negative feedback on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and increased gonadotropin secretion, which in turn improves fertility and fecundity. Indeed, ovandrotone albumin has been found to significantly increase luteinizing hormone levels throughout the estrous cycle in ewes.

See also

• Androvax

Notes and References

1. Book: Sylvester-Bradley R, Wiseman J . Yields of Farmed Species: Constraints and Opportunities in the 21st Century. 1 January 2005. Nottingham University Press. 978-1-904761-23-5. 55.
2. Book: Elks J . The Dictionary of Drugs: Chemical Data: Chemical Data, Structures and Bibliographies. 14 November 2014. Springer. 978-1-4757-2085-3. 908.
3. Book: Hoskinson RM, Scaramuzzi RJ, Campbell BK, Downing JA, Welch RJ, Harrison BE . Immunological Approaches to Contraception and Promotion of Fertility. Effects of Antibodies to Steroid Hormones on Reproductive Events of Sheep and Cattle. 1986. 351–366. 10.1007/978-1-4684-5140-5_38. 978-1-4684-5142-9.
4. Book: Carnegie. Patrick R. . vanc . Anti-Idiotypes, Receptors, and Molecular Mimicry. Autoimmunization Against Hormones: A New Strategy in Animal Production. 1988. 245–254. 10.1007/978-1-4612-3734-1_15. 978-1-4612-8325-6.
5. https://www.who.int/medicines/services/inn/BioRev2010.pdf International Nonproprietary Names (INN) for biological and biotechnological substances
6. Book: Journal of Animal Science. 1991. American Society of Animal Science. 3931–3932.
7. Book: Lindsay DR, Pearce DT . 1984 . Reproduction in Sheep . Cambridge University Press .
8. Book: Sreenan JM, Diskin MG . Embryonic Mortality in Farm Animals. 6 December 2012. Springer Science & Business Media. 978-94-009-5038-2. 172–.