Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-wxhwt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-11T09:43:52.895Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Endocrine response to superovulatory treatment in pre-pubertal beef heifers: its lack of ability to induce puberty

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

J. J. Bonavera
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Production, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Mar del Plata, CC 276 (7620) Balcarce, Argentina
D. J. Tortonese
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Production, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Mar del Plata, CC 276 (7620) Balcarce, Argentina
J. M. Doray
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Production, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Mar del Plata, CC 276 (7620) Balcarce, Argentina
F. Petraglia
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Production, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Mar del Plata, CC 276 (7620) Balcarce, Argentina
Get access

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate: (1) changes in plasma oestradiol-17β and progesterone concentrations in six pre-pubertal beef heifers, 9 months old, subjected to a superovulatory treatment, consisting of a single dose of PMSG followed 120 h later by a single injection of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG); and (2) the ability of this treatment to trigger cyclic gonadal activity. After PMSG administration, oestradiol-17β levels increased from 11·8 (s.d. 10·78) to 92·9 (s.d. 38·15) ng/1 just before HCG injection. The oestradiol-17β increase during the superovulatory treatment and numbe r of ovulations were correlated (r = 0·83; P < 0·05). After HCG injection, progesterone concentrations rose significantly reaching values which in some cases were higher than 60 [μg/1. The progesterone peak on days 9 and 10 post HCG was strongly correlated with the number of corpora lutea (r = 0·95; P < 0·01 and r = 0·92; P < 0·01, respectively). Progesterone determinations were performed for a period of 90 days after HCG administration. No evidence was found for the induction of permanent cyclic ovarian activity since all heifers returned, after the induced luteal phase, to their pre-pubertal condition.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1988

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Barnes, M. A., Bierley, S. T., Halman, R. D. and Henricks, D. M. 1980. Follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and estradiol-17β response in GnRH treated prepuberal Holstein heifers. Biology of Reproduction 22: 459465.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bonavera, J. J.Vercges, E. and Tortonese, D. J. 1987. Radioinmunoanalisis de progesterona en plasma bovino. Comparacion del uso de 125I y 3H como trazadores. Ada Bioquimica Clinica Latinoamericana 21: 6774.Google Scholar
Day, M. L., Imakawa, K., Garcta-Winder, M., Zalesky, D. D., Schanbacher, B. D., Kittok, R. J. and Kinder, J. E. 1984. Endocrine mechanisms of puberty in heifers: estradiol negative feedback regulation of luteinizing hormone secretion. Biology of Reproduction 31: 332341.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dieleman, S. J., Bevers, M. M., Poortman, J. and Tol, H. T. M. Van. 1983. Steroid and pituitary hormone concentrations in the fluid of preovulatory bovine follicles relative to the peak of LH in the peripheral blood. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 69: 641649.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edovist, L. E. and Johansson, D. B. 1972. Radioimmunoassay of estrone and oestradiol in human and bovine peripheral plasma. Ada Endocrinologica 71: 716730.Google Scholar
Foster, D. L. and Ryan, K. D. 1979. Endocrine mechanisms governing transition into adulthood: a marked decrease in inhibitory feedback action of estradiol on tonic secretion of luteinizing hormone in the lamb during puberty. Endocrinology 105: 896904.Google Scholar
Foster, D. L. and Ryan, K. D. 1981. Endocrine mechanisms governing transition into adulthood in female sheep. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility Suppl. No. 30, pp. 7590.Google Scholar
Foster, D. L., Yellon, S. M. and Olster, D. H. 1985. Internal and external determinants of the timing of puberty in the female. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 75: 327344.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hansel, W. and Convey, E. M. 1983. Physiology of the estrous cycle. Journal of Animal Science 57: Suppl. 2, pp. 404424.Google Scholar
Jainudeen, M. R., Hafez, E. S. E. and Lineweaver, J. A. 1966. Superovulation in the calf. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 12: 149153.Google Scholar
Kaltenbach, C. C. and Wiltbank, J. N. 1962. Heterotic effects on age and weight at puberty in beef heifers. Journal of Animal Science 21: 662 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Lamond, D. R. and Gaddy, R. G. 1972. Plasma progesterone in cows with multiple ovulations. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 29: 307311.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lemon, M., Pelletier, J., Saumande, J. and Signoret, J. 1975. Peripheral plasma concentrations of progesterone, oestradiol-17f5 and luteinizing hormone around oestrus in the cow. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 42: 137140.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lemon, M. and Saumande, J. 1972. Oestradiol-17β and progesterone after induction of superovulation by PMSG in cattle. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 31: 501502.Google Scholar
Mcleod, B. J., Haresign, W., Peters, A. R. and Lamming, G. E. 1984. Plasma LH and FSH concentrations in prepubertal beef heifers before and in response to repeated injections of low doses of GnRH. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 70: 137144.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mcleod, B. J., Haresign, W., Peters, A. R. and Lamming, G. E. 1985. Plasma LH and FSH responses and ovarian activity in prepubertal heifers treated with repeated injections of low doses of GnRH for 72 h. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 74: 589596.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Marden, W. G. R. 1953. The hormone control of ovulation in the calf. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 43: 381416.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moor, R. M. 1974. The ovarian follicle of the sheep: inhibition of oestrogen secretion by luteinizing hormone. Journal of Endocrinology 61: 455463.Google Scholar
Onuma, H., Hahn, J. and Foote, R. H. 1970. Factors affecting superovulation, fertilization and recovery of superovulated ova in prepuberal cattle. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 21: 119126.Google Scholar
Saumande, J. and Pelletier, J. 1975. Relationship of plasma levels of oestradiol-17β and luteinizing hormone with ovulation rate in superovulated cattle. Journal of Endocrinology 64: 189190.Google Scholar
Saumande, J., Tamboura, D. and Chupin, D. 1985. Changes in milk and plasma concentrations of progesterone in cows after treatment to induce superovulation and their relationships with number of ovulations and of embryos collected. Theriogenology 23: 719731.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Saumande, J. and Testart, J. 1974. Plasma levels of oestradiol-17β in the prepuberal heifer treated to induce superovulation. Theriogenology 2: 121129.Google Scholar
Schillo, K. K., Dierschke, D. J. and Hauser, E. R. 1981. Estrogen-induced release of luteinizing hormone n i prepubertal and postpubertal heifers. Biology of Reproduction 24: Suppl. 1, p. 130A (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Schneider, F., Rommel, P., Riedel, B. and Drossel, M. 1980. [Progesterone and oestradiol in blood plasma of the calf after superovulation treatment.] Archiv fur Experimented Veterindrrnedizin 34: 683691.Google Scholar
Seidel, G. E., Larson, L. L. and Foote, R. H. 1971. Effects of age and gonadotropin treatment on superovulation in the calf. Journal of Animal Science 33: 617622.Google Scholar
Spilman, C. H., Seidel, G. E., Larson, L. L., Vukman, G. R. and Foote, R. H. 1973. Progesterone, 20β hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one, and luteinizing hormone levels in superovulated prepuberal and postpuberal cattle. Biology of Reproduction 9: 116124.Google Scholar
Testart, J., Kann, G., Saumande, J. and Thibier, M. 1977. Oestradiol-17β progesterone, FSH and LH in prepubertal calves induced to superovulate. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 51: 329336.Google Scholar
Tortonese, D. J. 1986. Pubertad en hembras bovinas. Determinación de la edad a la pubertad mediante el dosaje de progesterona por radioinmunoensayo en cuatro grupos genéticos bovinos. Su correlación con peso y alzada. Thesis, Doctorado en Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.Google Scholar