Endocrinology, Vol 132, 1108-1114, Copyright © 1993 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Ovarian follicular dominance in cattle: relationship between prolonged growth of the ovulatory follicle and endocrine parameters

AE Stock and JE Fortune
Section of Physiology, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, New York 14853.

In cattle, the development of ovarian follicles 5 mm or larger occurs in either two or three consecutive follicular waves per estrous cycle. When the luteal phase is artificially lengthened with an intravaginal progesterone-releasing device (CIDR) that maintains subluteal levels (i.e. levels of progesterone that are below normal luteal levels, but higher than basal follicular phase levels), prolonged development of the ovulatory follicle is observed. To study the endocrinological correlates of prolonged follicular dominance and to test the hypothesis that it is mediated by effects of plasma progesterone on LH pulse frequency, heifers (n = 6/group) were treated with blank CIDRs (no progesterone, control group), with one CIDR for 14 days from day 14 of the cycle (1 CIDR group), or with one CIDR for 14 days from day 14 plus a second CIDR during days 24-28 (2 CIDR group). Cycle length was significantly longer in the 1 and 2 CIDR groups than in the controls (30.2 +/- 0.2 and 31.8 +/- 0.5 vs. 21.6 +/- 0.4 days, respectively; P < 0.0001). Follicular dynamics were normal in the control heifers. In the 1 CIDR group, the ovulatory follicle grew larger than in control or 2 CIDR animals, was maintained as the largest follicle on the ovaries for a much longer time, and ovulated after CIDR removal. In the 2 CIDR group, a similar growth pattern was observed until day 24; after insertion of a second CIDR, however, prolonged dominance was reversed, a new wave was recruited, and the dominant follicle of this wave ovulated after CIDR removal. The size of the ovulatory follicle and the length of the dominance phase in the 2 CIDR group were similar to those in control animals. Reversal of prolonged dominance in the 2 CIDR group was associated with changes in progesterone. Progesterone remained at subluteal levels (1.5-2.3 ng/ml) in both CIDR groups until day 24, when insertion of the second CIDR in the 2 CIDR group restored progesterone concentrations to normal luteal levels (3.5-6 ng/ml). Pulsatile LH secretion was assessed by frequent blood sampling every 12 min for 6 h (0800-1400 h) on selected days of the treatment cycle. LH pulse frequency was not different among groups before treatment started (days 12 and 13). However, LH pulse frequency was significantly higher in the 1 CIDR than in the 2 CIDR group on both day 26 (P < 0.03) and day 28 (P < 0.05), i.e. during the reversal of prolonged dominance in the 2 CIDR group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. G. B. Demetrio, R. M. Santos, C. G. B. Demetrio, and J. L. M. Vasconcelos Factors Affecting Conception Rates Following Artificial Insemination or Embryo Transfer in Lactating Holstein Cows J Dairy Sci, November 1, 2007; 90(11): 5073 - 5082. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Manikkam, T. L. Steckler, K. B. Welch, E. K. Inskeep, and V. Padmanabhan Fetal Programming: Prenatal Testosterone Treatment Leads to Follicular Persistence/Luteal Defects; Partial Restoration of Ovarian Function by Cyclic Progesterone Treatment Endocrinology, April 1, 2006; 147(4): 1997 - 2007. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. K. Inskeep Preovulatory, postovulatory, and postmaternal recognition effects of concentrations of progesterone on embryonic survival in the cow J Anim Sci, January 1, 2004; 82(13_suppl): E24 - 39. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Kim, T. Tanaka, and H. Kamomae Different Effects of Subnormal Levels of Progesterone on the Pulsatile and Surge Mode Secretion of Luteinizing Hormone in Ovariectomized Goats Biol Reprod, July 1, 2003; 69(1): 141 - 145. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T.B. Hatler, S.H. Hayes, L.F. Laranja da Fonseca, and W.J. Silvia Relationship Between Endogenous Progesterone and Follicular Dynamics in Lactating Dairy Cows with Ovarian Follicular Cysts Biol Reprod, July 1, 2003; 69(1): 218 - 223. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. M. Thurston, K. C. Jonas, D. R. E. Abayasekara, and A. E. Michael Ovarian Modulators of 11{beta}-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase (11{beta}HSD) Activity in Follicular Fluid from Bovine and Porcine Large Antral Follicles and Spontaneous Ovarian Cysts Biol Reprod, June 1, 2003; 68(6): 2157 - 2163. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. J. Mapletoft, M. F. Martinez, M. G. Colazo, and J. P. Kastelic The use of controlled internal drug release devices for the regulation of bovine reproduction J Anim Sci, February 1, 2003; 81(14_suppl_2): E28 - 36. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. P. Wettemann, C. A. Lents, N. H. Ciccioli, F. J. White, and I. Rubio Nutritional- and suckling-mediated anovulation in beef cows J Anim Sci, February 1, 2003; 81(14_suppl_2): E48 - 59. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Kaneko, J. Todoroki, J. Noguchi, K. Kikuchi, K. Mizoshita, C. Kubota, and H. Yamakuchi Perturbation of Estradiol-Feedback Control of Luteinizing Hormone Secretion by Immunoneutralization Induces Development of Follicular Cysts in Cattle Biol Reprod, December 1, 2002; 67(6): 1840 - 1845. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Kaneko, J. Noguchi, K. Kikuchi, J. Todoroki, and Y. Hasegawa Alterations in Peripheral Concentrations of Inhibin A in Cattle Studied Using a Time-Resolved Immunofluorometric Assay: Relationship with Estradiol and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone in Various Reproductive Conditions Biol Reprod, July 1, 2002; 67(1): 38 - 45. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. C. O. Evans and J. E. Fortune Selection of the Dominant Follicle in Cattle Occurs in the Absence of Differences in the Expression of Messenger Ribonucleic Acid for Gonadotropin Receptors Endocrinology, July 1, 1997; 138(7): 2963 - 2971. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]