Serum concentrations of prolactin, thyroxine and triiodothyronine relative to season and the estrous cycle in the mare

Studies were conducted to characterize circulating concentrations of prolactin, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) relative to season and the estrous cycle, and to evaluate the ability of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) to induce prolactin secretion in the horse mare. The increase in serum prolactin following the iv injection of 0, 5, 50 and 500 micrograms TRH was dose-related, while all three doses of TRH induced a significant and comparable increase in serum T4. Seasonal variations in serum prolactin were directly correlated (P less than .001) with changes in photoperiod (r = .80) and temperature (r = .61). By comparison, concentrations of T3 were inversely related to temperature (r = -.49; P less than .001), while changes in T4 were less closely associated with photoperiod (r = -.29; P = .04). There were no significant fluctuations in prolactin, T3 or T4 at any stage of the estrous cycle. These results demonstrate that concentrations of prolactin in the mare are highest during the summer and lowest during the winter, but it is unknown whether this annual rhythm is controlled by photoperiod, temperature and(or) other environmental factors.     

Development of a model for inducing transient insulin resistance in the mare: preliminary implications regarding the estrous cycle

Peripheral insulin resistance is the failure of proper cellular glucose uptake in response to insulin. Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia are associated with several disease states in the horse and reproductive function disturbances in humans, including polycystic ovarian syndrome. To test the hypothesis that insulin resistance (IR) and hyperinsulinemia disrupt the estrous cycle in mares, two experiments were conducted to first develop a model to induce IR and to then examine the effect of this model on the duration of the estrous cycle. In Exp. 1, a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp (HEC) procedure was performed on seven mares to determine insulin sensitivity before and immediately following infusion of a heparinized lipid solution. The HEC procedure was repeated 1 wk after lipid infusion. Mares developed IR following the lipid infusion (P < 0.05), and some individuals maintained IR for up to 1 wk. Mares also exhibited increased blood insulin both immediately following treatment and 1 wk later (P < 0.05). In Exp. 2, induction of insulin resistance by lipid solution was not accompanied by changes in circulating concentrations of luteinizing hormone, and duration of the luteal phase, compared with the duration of untreated luteal phases. Nonetheless, lipid infusion and the resultant insulin resistance were associated with an increased interovulatory period (P < 0.05), and peak concentrations of progesterone (P < 0.05) were higher during the treated vs. untreated luteal phases of the estrous cycle. The results from the preliminary study suggest that infusion of a lipid solution may induce transient insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia. The resulting insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia may modify characteristics of the estrous cycle, perhaps at the level of the ovary.     

Effect of intrauterine saline infusion during the late luteal phase on the estrous cycle and luteal function of the mare

The intrauterine infusion of 500 ml of warm sterile saline solution into mares on days 12, 13, or 14 after ovulation failed to alter the ovulatory interval, although intervals were shorter for days 12 and 13 (20.6 days) when compared with those in control mares (21.6 days). The IU fusion shortened luteal-life-span on days 12 (12.0 vs 13.8 days) and 13 (13.0 vs 14.4 days) (P is less than 0.05), but not day 14 (14.0 vs 13.5 days), when comparing the effects of IU infusion with an average of before and after base-line data. There was no effect on the interval from corpus luteum regression to ovulation, ie, the final follicular phases. The treatment average for days 12 and 13 combined was 7.7 days vs 7.3 days for controls. Also, no significant effect was observed for the duration of estrus in that the treatment average for days 12 and 13 was 5.1 days, and for controls, 6.0 days. The infusion of saline solution caused an immediate release of prostaglandin F(2alpha) within 5 minutes, with additional large releases occurring over the next 24 hours. Progestin concentrations decreased rapidly in relation to this prostaglandin release.     

Control of breeding in the mare

Six mares were studied over a period of two years under varying conditions of lighting from total darkness to normal ambient lighting. The mares continued to cycle during the winter under natural lighting and also when kept in total darkness. Circulating melatonin, progesterone and oestrogen concentrations were determined and related to clinical changes in the reproductive tract.     

Canine vaginal cytology during the estrous cycle

Changes which occur in vaginal cytology of the bitch during proestrus, estrus. metestrus and anestrus are correlated. The terms superficial cell index and karyopyknotic index are introduced and explained in order that they may be used to describe vaginal cytological changes and to assist in breeding programs.     

Control of the bovine estrous cycle with melengestrol acetate (MGA): a review

Expanded use of artificial insemination in the beef cattle industry depends on successful application of treatments designed to synchronize estrus. Regulation of estrous cycles is associated with control of the corpus luteum (CL), whose life span and secretory activity are subject to trophic and lytic mechanisms. The advantages of melengestrol acetate (MGA) in estrous synchronization incorporate ease of administration, lower cost relative to other estrous synchronization products, and potential for use to induce estrus in prepubertal heifers. Treatments first designed to synchronize estrous cycles of normally cycling heifers by feeding MGA were imposed daily for 14 to 18 d at levels of .5 to 1 mg. The minimal daily effective dose required to inhibit ovulation was .42 mg. Longer feeding periods of MGA were associated with low fertility at the first synchronized estrus, but at the second estrus, conception was normal. Low fertility at the synchronized estrus resulted in development of alternative treatment practices, which combined feeding of MGA with injections or implants of estradiol-17 beta, estradiol cypionate, luteinizing hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin, pregnant mare serum gonadotropin, or oxytocin. Estrus was synchronized after MGA and estradiol-17 beta or estradiol cypionate treatments, but fertility was low. Short-term feeding of MGA (5 to 7 d) combined with prostaglandin F2 alpha or its analogs (PGF) on the last day of MGA reduced fertility at the synchronized estrus. The reduced conception at first service occurred in animals that began treatment after d 12 of the estrous cycle. However, feeding MGA for 14 d and then injecting PGF 17 d later avoided problems with reduced conception. Fertility of animals after this treatment was similar to that of contemporaries synchronized with Syncro-Mate-B. However, the length of the treatment period creates a need for increased management and may extend management beyond practical limits. Further research is warranted to address problems associated with reduced fertility after short-term treatment with MGA.     

绵羊发情周期卵巢微血管密度的观察

采用S-P免疫组织化学法通过CD34抗体标记血管内皮细胞,测定绵羊发情周期的0、5、9、12、15d的卵巢内原始卵泡、初级卵泡、次级卵泡、近成熟卵泡、卵巢间质微血管的分布,并分析微血管密度（MVD）的变化规律,探讨绵羊发情周期不同时期各级卵泡微血管生成状态及卵泡微血管生成与卵泡发育的关系。结果表明,绵羊的原始卵泡周围无独立血管网,而初级卵泡的卵泡膜附近开始出现微血管,其MVD值为3.60±0.89,次级卵泡周围微血管密度值显著增高（P〈0.05）,MVD值为6.80±0.84。大窦腔卵泡0、5、9、12、15dMVD分别为15.80±0.84、23.00±2.30、22.40±2.41、21.20±2.28、34.80±2.39。0～5dMVD值显著升高（P〈0.05）,而5、9、12dMVD值差异均不显著（P〉0.05）,12～15dMVD值又明显升高（P〈0.05）。卵巢间质MVD值在各个发情周期各个时期差异均不显著（P〉0.05）。说明绵羊在发情周期内卵泡的血管新生是从初级卵泡开始的,并且卵巢的血管新生主要发生在卵泡上,而卵巢间质无血管新生现象。     

Influence of uterine inflammation on the estrous cycle in rats

To investigate how uterine inflammation affects ovarian activity in rats, endometritis was induced and changes in the length of estrous cycle and serum concentrations of estradiol-17beta (E(2)) and progesterone (P(4)) were examined. A suspension of Staphylococcus aureus (bacterial solution) or iodine solution was infused into the uterine lumen at various estrous phases. When the bacterial solution was infused at estrus, metestrus, or the first day of diestrus, the following diestrus continued for 5 to 12 days. In the case of the iodine solution, regardless of the estrous phase of the infusion, the following diestrus continued for approximately 6 days. E(2) concentration after infusion of each solution did not fluctuate largely and remained at a low concentration (around 5 pg/ml). P(4) concentration was high (35-45 ng/ml) on the day following infusion, but decreased rapidly to base line values within a few days and remained thereafter at a low level (around 5 ng/ml). It is assumed that the endometritis caused by biological or chemical stimulation raises the concentration of P(4) to depress gonadotrophic hormone secretion, and hence this high P(4) concentration might inhibit the growth of ovarian follicles.     

Effects of estrous cycle on the mouse kidney morphology

Although mice kidney morphology shows various sexual dimorphisms, the effect of the estrous cycle has not previously been discussed. In this study, we investigated the effects of the estrous cycle on kidney morphology, including renin-positive areas, of female DBA/2 mice. No effects were confirmed in most of the histometrical parameters, however, the percentage of the renal corpuscles in which cuboidal epithelium covered under 50% of the parietal layer was significantly higher during estrus compared to that during anestrus.     

Follicular and hormonal dynamics during the estrous cycle in goats

Transrectal ultrasonography of ovaries was performed daily in 6 goats for 3 consecutive estrous cycles. Blood samples collected daily were measured for concentrations of FSH, inhibin A, and estradiol-17beta. Follicular and hormonal data were analyzed for associations between the follicular waves and hormonal concentrations. During the interovulatory intervals, follicular growth and regression occurred in a wave like pattern (2-5 waves), and the predominant patterns were three and four follicular waves. In addition, there was no significant difference among the diameters of dominant follicles during the growth phase of the follicular waves. The number of 3 mm follicles peaked on days 0, 7, and 11 in interovulatory intervals that had three follicular waves and on days -1, 5, 11, and 15 in those that had four follicular waves. Plasma concentrations of FSH increased around the day of follicular wave emergence and declined with the growth of follicles. Circulating FSH increased again concomitant with regression of dominant follicles in the anovulatory wave, whereas FSH levels remained low in the ovulatory wave. Inhibin A was negatively correlated with FSH, while it was positively correlated with estradiol-17beta, suggesting that inhibin A is a product of healthy growing follicles and that it contributes to the suppression of FSH secretion. In conclusion, the growth of ovarian follicles in goats exhibits a wave-like pattern, and follicular dominance is less apparent in goats. Moreover, inhibin A may be a key hormone for regulation of the follicular wave through suppression of FSH secretion in goats.     

绵羊发情周期中VEGF在卵巢中的表达

应用免疫组化方法结合计算机图像分析技术,分析同期发情后0、5、9、12、15d的绵羊卵巢中血管内皮生长因子（Vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF）表达强度变化,以期了解VEGF在绵羊卵巢发情周期不同时期的表达规律。结果显示：VEGF阳性目标主要出现于卵泡膜与颗粒细胞。原始卵泡、初级卵泡、次级卵泡VEGF表达依次增强（P〈0．05）。发情周期0～5d,大窦腔卵泡（颗粒细胞4～8层）VEGF表达量骤然上升（P〈0．05）,而9d开始显著下降,与5d比较差异显著（P〈0．05）。12d继续下降（P〈0．05）且为最低值,15d又明显上升（P〈0．05）。VEGF在卵巢间质呈弱表达,各个时期之间差异不显著（P〉0．05）。结果表明,绵羊卵巢存在着血管周期性新生的变化特点,而VEGF在这种周期性血管新生过程中起着重要的调控作用。