Inherent capacity of the pituitary gland to produce gonadotropins is not influenced by the number of ovarian follicles ≥3 mm in diameter in cattle
F. Mossa A , F. Jimenez-Krassel B , S. Walsh A , D. P. Berry C , S. T. Butler C , J. Folger B , G. W. Smith B , J. L. H. Ireland B , P. Lonergan A , J. J. Ireland B and A. C. O. Evans A D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Agriculture, Food Science, and Veterinary Medicine, and Conway Institute, College of Life Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
B Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
C Teagasc, Moorepark Dairy Research Centre, Fermoy, Cork, Ireland.
D Corresponding author. Email: alex.evans@ucd.ie
Reproduction, Fertility and Development 22(3) 550-557 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD09100
Submitted: 22 April 2009 Accepted: 23 September 2009 Published: 15 February 2010
Abstract
We hypothesised that higher serum FSH concentrations in cattle with low v. high follicle numbers during follicular waves are caused by a different capacity of the pituitary gland to produce gonadotropins. Dairy cows with high (≥30; n = 5) and low (≤15; n = 5) follicle numbers were selected and serum concentrations of oestradiol and FSH during an oestrous cycle were measured. Cows were ovariectomised at oestrus and bled frequently up to 8 days after ovariectomy. After 33 days, cows were injected with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and bled intensively up to 8 h after GnRH injection. One day later, animals were injected with follicular fluid (FF) from bovine follicles and were bled intensively up to 2 days after the first injection. Serum concentrations of FSH and LH were measured. After 2 days, cows were killed and their pituitary glands collected. Prior to ovariectomy, serum oestradiol concentrations were similar between groups, whereas FSH concentrations were higher in cattle with low v. high numbers of follicles. No differences were detected in serum gonadotropin concentrations after ovariectomy, GnRH injection or FF challenge between groups. The results indicate that the inherent capacity of the pituitary gland to secrete gonadotropins does not differ between cattle with high v. low numbers of follicles during follicular waves.
Additional keywords: FSH, LH.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank P. Furney, P. Duffy and F. Carter for their technical support and helpful comments and S. Lott for his help with the management and care of the animals. This work was funded by the Irish Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Research Stimulus Fund program 2006 (RSF 06–328).
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