乏情和发情初产母猪下丘脑-垂体轴中miRNA表达谱比较分析

【目的】从神经内分泌系统揭示微小RNA(microRNA,miRNA)调控初产母猪情期活动的遗传机制。【方法】利用RNA-Seq技术对乏情和发情初产母猪下丘脑-垂体轴中的small RNA进行测序,获得了母猪下丘脑和垂体miRNA表达谱,并对筛选的差异表达miRNA进行GO和KEGG等功能分析。【结果】从所构建的4个文库中共鉴定出1 096个miRNAs,其中已知miRNAs 364个,新预测miRNAs 732个。以发情母猪为对照,在乏情母猪的下丘脑有16个miRNAs存在差异表达,其中6个上调,10个下调;在乏情母猪垂体有9个miRNAs存在差异表达,其中2个上调,7个下调。下丘脑中16个差异表达miRNAs共预测到5 212个靶基因,垂体中9个差异表达miRNAs共预测到6 897个靶基因。下丘脑中靶基因主要在细胞投射组装、质膜结合的细胞投射组装、神经元投射发育的负调控、蛋白丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶活性等GO条目及Ras信号通路、神经营养因子信号通路、ErbB信号通路、mTOR信号通路等KEGG信号通路中显著富集;垂体中靶基因主要在mRNA加工调控、Ras GTP酶结合、泛素样蛋白连接...     

梅山与长大母猪下丘脑-垂体-卵巢轴Kiss1和GPR54基因的表达差异

研究早熟与晚熟品种母猪下丘脑-垂体-卵巢轴Kiss1和GPR54基因的表达差异。选用8头梅山母猪与12头长大(LY)母猪为研究对象,梅山母猪于70 d和100 d屠宰,LY母猪于70、100 d和199 d屠宰,收集血清及下丘脑、垂体、卵巢组织样品。ELISA检测血清瘦素(Leptin)和雌二醇(E2)水平,PCR克隆梅山与LY母猪Kiss1基因编码序列,实时荧光定量PCR检测母猪下丘脑、垂体、卵巢组织Kiss1和GPR54基因表达水平。结果表明:梅山与LY母猪Kiss1基因编码序列相似性为100%;梅山与LY母猪初情期下丘脑Kiss1基因表达量极显著高于垂体与卵巢(P<0.01),卵巢GPR54基因表达水平显著高于下丘脑与垂体(P<0.05)。梅山母猪下丘脑-垂体-卵巢轴Kiss1基因表达水平都显著高于相同日龄和初情期LY母猪(P<0.05),梅山母猪血清Leptin水平极显著高于相同日龄LY母猪(P<0.01)。而E2水平显著高于100 d与初情期LY母猪(P<0.01)。Leptin与下丘脑Kiss1和GPR54基因表达呈显著正相关(P<0.05),而E2仅与下丘脑Kiss1基因表达有极显著正相关关系(P<0.01);梅山与LY母猪Kiss1基因编码区序列相似性为100%,梅山母猪下丘脑-垂体-卵巢轴上kiss1基因表达量较LY母猪高,主要原因可能是初情日龄早,下丘脑Kiss1基因表达水平的高低与血清Leptin和E2浓度密切相关。     

猪GPR54基因在下丘脑、垂体、卵巢发育性表达变化的研究

分别随机选取处于初生、60日龄、120日龄、初情期、180日龄的苏姜猪母猪各4头,进行屠宰,采集下丘脑、垂体、卵巢,采用反转录多聚酶链式反应（RT-PCR）,以-βactin作内标,定量分析下丘脑、垂体、卵巢中GPR54mRNA发育性变化。结果显示：苏姜猪GPR54 mRNA在下丘脑、垂体、卵巢组织内从初生到初情期表达量逐渐上升,初情期后呈下降趋势,初情期GPR54 mRNA表达丰度与初生、180日龄差异显著（P〈0.05）;在不同组织器官中,GPR54 mRNA表达丰度在卵巢中最高,下丘脑中表达丰度最低,下丘脑的表达丰度与垂体、卵巢中的表达丰度均差异显著（P〈0.05）。     

NKB及其受体NK3R基因在发情周期不同阶段小鼠下丘脑-垂体-卵巢中的表达研究

为了揭示NKB/NK3R调控雌性哺乳动物生殖激素分泌的作用机制,试验将40只6～8周龄雌性小鼠按照发情周期不同阶段分类,处死后采集丘脑、垂体和卵巢组织,提取RNA,采用实时荧光定量PCR(RT-qPCR)方法检测发情周期各阶段小鼠下丘脑、垂体和卵巢中NKB、NK3R基因的相对表达量并进行比较分析。结果表明：在发情前期和发情期,小鼠NKB基因的相对表达量均为垂体最高,卵巢居中,下丘脑最低;在发情后期,小鼠NKB基因的相对表达量为下丘脑最高,垂体居中和卵巢最低;在发情间期,小鼠NKB基因的相对表达量为下丘脑最高,卵巢居中,垂体最低。NK3R基因的相对表达量在发情前期、发情期、发情后期和发情间期的趋势一致,均为下丘脑最高,垂体居中,卵巢最低。各组织中,NK3基因的相对表达量均为发情前期最高,发情期居中,发情后期和发情间期较低。在下丘脑中,发情周期不同阶段NK3R基因的相对表达量差异不大;在垂体和卵巢中,NK3R基因的相对表达量均为发情后期最高,发情间期居中,发情前期和发情期较低。提示NKB/NK3R可能参与了雌性哺乳动物发情周期各阶段生殖激素的合成与分泌。     

发情期和乏情期哈萨克羊垂体差异表达基因筛选及功能预测

垂体是哺乳动物重要的内分泌器官之一,主要通过调控激素合成来调节动物发情。为了研究绵羊垂体系统在发情状态和乏情状态之间的基因表达差异,本研究使用RNA-seq技术分析了发情期和乏情期哈萨克羊垂体前叶的转录组数据。通过比较转录组数据发现:在发情期和乏情期的哈萨克羊垂体中共筛选出了3 211个差异表达的基因,其中包含298个上调的和2 913个下调的基因。利用GO和KEGG富集分析这些差异表达的基因发现:它们被显著地富集在卵母细胞减数分裂和孕酮介导的卵母细胞成熟等调控发情的信号通路上,提示这些基因在调控哈萨克羊发情状态中发挥着不可或缺的作用。本研究丰富了绵羊的转录组资源,为今后深入研究绵羊季节发情机制、提高绵羊繁殖率打下了良好的基础。     

乏情和发情初产母猪卵巢microRNA差异表达分析

为了探索卵巢microRNA （miRNA）在初产母猪生殖调控中的作用,本研究利用Illumina高通量测序技术检测了乏情和发情初产母猪卵巢miRNA的表达谱,并对表达量较高且差异显著的miRNA进行生物信息学分析。结果显示,本研究构建的两个small RNA文库共鉴定出503个miRNAs,其中已知的303个,新预测的200个。在已知的miRNA中,ssc-miR-10b在两个文库中的表达量最高,其次为ssc-miR-143-3p和ssc-miR-26a;在新预测的miRNA中,chr13_2637_mature在两个文库中的表达量最高,其次为chr8_9994_mature。与发情母猪相比,共有145个miRNAs发生显著变化（read counts>10,∣log₂（fold-change）∣>1）,上调114个,下调31个。在进一步筛选的31个表达量较高且差异显著的miRNAs（read counts>1 000,∣log₂（fold-change）∣>1）中,新预测的chr13_2585_mature上调倍数最高,且只在乏情母猪卵巢中表达。31个miRNAs共预测到7 388个靶基因,KEGG信号通路分析显示,有2 788个靶基因注释到了297个KEGG通路,前20个最富集的通路部分与生殖过程或生殖活动调控相关,表明这31个miRNAs参与了初产母猪的生殖调控。本研究结果丰富了猪miRNA数据资源,为进一步深入研究初产母猪的繁殖性能提供了理论依据。     

光照周期对褪黑激素受体在母兔下丘脑-垂体-卵巢轴中分布与表达的影响

旨在观察不同光照周期对新西兰白色母兔褪黑激素受体在"下丘脑-垂体-性腺轴"中的分布和表达模式,从而进一步分析褪黑激素在不同光照周期下调控母兔发情的机制。选用5月龄未经产新西兰母兔48只,随机分成3组,每组16只,前10 d各试验组采用"12 h光照：12 h黑暗"的光照制度,后6 d分别采用长光照（16 h光照：8 h黑暗）、短光照（8 h光照：16 h黑暗）和正常光照（12 h光照：12 h黑暗,对照组）的光照制度,光照强度80 lx,试验期为16 d。试验结束后剖杀动物,取下丘脑、垂体和卵巢,用qPCR、免疫印迹、免疫组织化学方法,研究不同光照周期对母兔的下丘脑、垂体、卵巢中褪黑激素受体亚型分布与表达的影响。结果表明：在下丘脑,短光照组的MT1 mRNA表达量较长光照组高88.8%（P<0.05）,较对照组高54.9%（P<0.05）,长光照组与对照组间无显著差异;MT2 mRNA表达量在不同光周期组间差异不显著（P>0.05）。免疫组织化学染色结果显示,长光照组下丘脑室周核的MT1阳性细胞数明显较短光照组少69.4%（P<0.05）,较对照组少37.3%（P<0.05）,短光照组比对照组显著多104.8%（P<0.05）;同样,长光照组室旁核的MT1阳性细胞数明显较短光照组少52.9%（P<0.05）,对照组明显较短光照组少55.8%（P<0.05）,而长光照组与对照组间差异不显著（P>0.05）。在垂体,短光照组的MT1 mRNA表达量比长光照组显著高164%（P<0.05）,比对照组显著高49.5%（P<0.05）,而长光照组比对照组显著低43.5%（P<0.05）;但不同光周期下MT2 mRNA表达量差异不显著（P>0.05）;长光照组的卵巢MT1 mRNA表达量较对照组低33.3%（P<0.05）,较短光照组低53.6%（P<0.05）,短光照组与对照组间差异不显著（P>0.05）;卵巢中短光照组MT2的mRNA相对表达量比对照组显著高90.0%（P<0.05）,比长光照组显著高100%（P<0.05）,长光照组与对照组差异不显著（P>0.05）。短光照周期显著提高了下丘脑、垂体和卵巢中褪黑激素受体亚型MT1表达,而不是MT2受体亚型。光照周期调控母兔发情的作用机制可能是褪黑激素通过MT1受体途径实现的。     

初情期前后GPR54 mRNA在猪下丘脑-垂体-卵巢轴内的定位

研究应用原位杂交技术检测GPR54 mRNA在苏姜猪下丘脑-垂体-卵巢轴中的分布定位.在60日龄和初情期(160日龄)2个不同发育阶段的下丘脑-垂体-卵巢轴中均检测到GPR54 mRNA阳性杂交信号,结果表明:苏姜猪2个不同发育阶段的3种组织中均有GPR54 mRNA表达.其中下丘脑以弓状核、腹内侧核的阳性杂交信号最强,尤其是在初情期更明显;各级卵泡中以初情期时成熟卵泡的阳性杂交信号最强.     

转化生长因子βⅠ型受体基因在敖汉细毛羊不同组织及发情时期卵巢中的表达分析

试验旨在探究转化生长因子βⅠ型受体（transforming growth factor-beta receptorⅠ,TGF-βRⅠ）基因在敖汉细毛羊中的组织表达情况,以及在不同发情时期卵巢中表达量的变化规律,为探讨其与绵羊发情的关系奠定基础。以24只季节性发情的敖汉细毛羊为研究对象,分为乏情期、发情间期、发情前期和发情期4组,每组6只。首先利用实时荧光定量PCR检测其发情期甲状腺、下丘脑、垂体、卵巢、肾上腺、心脏、肝脏、脾脏、肺脏、肾脏、胰腺、肌肉12个组织中TGF-βRⅠ基因的表达情况,其次对4个不同发情时期卵巢TGF-βRⅠ基因的表达量变化进行研究。结果显示,TGF-βR Ⅰ在各组织中均有表达,在卵巢和甲状腺中表达量最高,极显著高于其他组织（P<0.01）;在下丘脑、垂体、胰腺、肾上腺、脾脏和肺脏组织表达量较高,显著高于心脏、肝脏、肾脏和肌肉组织（P<0.05）。卵巢中TGF-βRⅠ基因在发情前期表达量最高,极显著高于其他3个时期（P<0.01）,发情间期表达量最低,极显著低于其他3个时期（P<0.01）。综上所述,卵巢组织中TGF-βRⅠ基因在发情前期时可能对排卵前卵泡的成熟起促进作用。     

发情周期不同阶段KiSS-1和GPR54 mRNA在小尾寒羊卵巢上表达规律的研究

研究发情周期不同阶段KiSS-1和GPR54 mRNA在小尾寒羊卵巢中的表达规律,为从分子水平阐明小尾寒羊多胎性的奠定基础。将12只雌性小尾寒羊随机分为4组,分别处于发情前期、发情期、发情后期和间情期,每组3只,颈动脉放血致死后采集卵巢,采用实时荧光定量PCR技术研究发情周期不同阶段母羊卵巢上KiSS-1和GPR54基因的表达规律。结果表明:母羊发情周期各阶段卵巢上均有KiSS-1和GPR54基因表达;发情期母羊卵巢KiSS-1基因的表达量显著提高(P<0.01),比发情后期、间情期和发情前期分别提高了1.0、1.7倍和1.4倍,发情周期不同阶段GPR54基因在卵巢上的表达量无显著差异(P>0.05)。研究结果表明,发情期母羊卵巢上KiSS-1基因的表达量极显著高于发情周期其他阶段,提示卵巢上KiSS-1表达可能参与母羊排卵过程的调节。     

Reproductive traits of sows penned individually or in groups until 35 days after breeding

We compared estrous and farrowing traits in 274 Duroc X Yorkshire sows penned either in individual gestation stalls or in groups (four or five sows/group) during the intervals from weaning to breeding and from breeding to 30 to 35 d after breeding. Sows were assigned to treatment by parity (primiparous vs multiparous), checked twice daily for estrus from 3 to 10 d after weaning and artificially inseminated (AI) twice during estrus. Ovaries of anestrous sows were examined at laparotomy. No major treatment effects on estrous response were detected and 88% (45/51) of anestrous sows had only small ovarian follicles. Litter traits were not affected by penning treatments. However, penning sows in groups postbreeding resulted in a 50% reduction (P less than .05) in early pregnancy losses as indicated by low serum progesterone 19 to 23 d after AI or return to estrus by 23 d after AI. This resulted in a 12 percentage point higher (P less than .05) farrowing rate for group-penned (78%) than for individually penned sows (66%).     

Effect of restriction of energy during lactation on body condition, energy metabolism, endocrine changes and reproductive performance in primiparous sows

Seventeen Landrace X Large White primiparous sows that farrowed in August 1982 were fed ad libitum (AL, n = 8) or their intakes were restricted (R, n = 9) during lactation. Litter sizes were equalized after farrowing and pigs were not allowed creep feed. Pigs were weaned 23.8 +/- .4 d postpartum. On d 6, 12 and 20 postpartum, all sows were fasted for 16 h and blood samples were collected prior to feeding for analysis of plasma glucose (GLU), urea nitrogen (UN), free fatty acids (FFA), prolactin (PRL) and serum insulin (INS). On d -2, 2 and 4 from weaning, sows were fasted for 16 h and then blood samples were collected hourly from 0 to 6 postprandial for analysis of GLU, UN, FFA, PRL and INS. Serum for analysis of luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone and estradiol was collected every 6 h from 1 d before until 12 d after weaning. Samples for LH were also collected at 15-min intervals for 3 h at -18, -6, 6, 18, 78, 102, 126, 150, 240 and 480 h from weaning. After weaning all sows were fed 1.8 kg X d-1, and were checked for estrus twice daily. Daily intakes of metabolizable energy (ME) during lactation were greater in AL (12,194 +/- 465 kcal) than in R sows (8,144 +/- 90 kcal). Compared with AL sows, R sows lost more weight and backfat during lactation and had higher postprandial UN levels 2 d before and 4 d after weaning. Reproductive performance and reproductive hormones were not affected by restriction of energy, but frequency of episodic release of LH prior to weaning was greater in sows that exhibited estrus after weaning (n = 12) than in anestrous sows (n = 5). After weaning, LH and estradiol concentrations were similar between estrous and anestrous sows until onset of the preovulatory increase in estradiol in the sows that exhibited estrus. Energy intake, body condition and productivity were similar between anestrous sows and sows that exhibited estrus. On d 12 and 20 of lactation, preprandial levels of GLU were greater and FFA were lower in anestrous than estrous sows. We conclude that restriction of feed intake during lactation affected body condition and metabolism of primiparous sows, but reproductive performance and productivity were not affected. Aberrations in partitioning of energy during lactation may predispose primiparous sows to postweaning anestrus, but the mechanisms by which this occurs have yet to be defined.     

Steroid hormone and luteinizing hormone concentrations in the anestrous sow.

This investigation characterized serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol-17 beta (E2), progesterone (P4) and cortisol (C) in anestrous sows. Twenty-two sows that had not returned to estrus within 45 days after weaning (anestrous sows), and ten sows that had returned to estrus within seven days following weaning (cyclic sows) were nonsurgically fitted with indwelling jugular vein cannulae. Blood samples were collected at 6 h intervals for seven days and at 15 min intervals for 8 h on the fifth day after cannulation. Serum LH concentrations were determined in all samples, while C, E2 and P4 levels were quantitated in serum collected at 6 h intervals. Serum P4 concentrations in anestrous sows were consistently less than 0.5 ng/mL, and E2 levels ranged from 10 to 19 pg/mL. Concentrations of LH remained less than 1.0 ng/mL in anestrous sows, whereas a preovulatory LH surge was observed in five of ten cyclic sows. There was a circadian rhythm in mean C levels with C peaks occurring at 0600 or 2400 h and nadir levels observed at 1200 and 1800 h. Few differences in C levels were detected between anestrous and cyclic sows. It was evident that anestrous sows did not exhibit cyclic or predictable variations in steroid hormone concentrations. Unfortunately, the results of this study failed to elucidate the endocrine pathogenesis of the anestrous sow.     

Endocrine pathogenesis of postweaning anestrus in swine: response of the persistently anestrous sow to hormonal stimuli

The endocrine function of the individual components of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-ovarian axis of the postweaning anestrous sow was evaluated by monitoring the sow's response to exogenous estradiol, gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), and gonadotropins. Sows (4 to 6/group) not returning to estrus by 42.8 +/- 3.1 days after weaning were assigned to 1 of the following treatments: 10 micrograms of estradiol benzoate (EB)/kg of body weight; 200 micrograms of GnRH, 1,000 IU of pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG); 1,000 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG); or 4 ml of saline solution plus 2 ml of corn oil. A preovulatory-like surge of luteinizing hormone [(LH) greater than 12 hours in duration] was observed in all weaned sows treated with EB. All EB-treated sows exhibited estrus and ovulated but none conceived. Sows given GnRH had transiently increased (less than 3 hours) LH concentrations that were not associated with estrus or ovulation. Treatment with PMSG caused an increase in peripheral concentrations of 17 beta-estradiol that was followed by an LH surge, estrus, ovulation, and conception. Treatment with HCG caused an increase in circulating concentrations of 17 beta-estradiol that was accompanied by a surge of LH in some sows and ovulation in all sows. Not all sows treated with HCG exhibited estrous behavior, but conception occurred in 2 of 3 sows that were mated at estrus. None of the sows treated with saline plus corn oil had consistent changes in circulatory concentrations of 17 beta-estradiol or LH and none exhibited estrus or ovulated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Factors affecting the reproductive performance of the weaned sow.

The majority of sows return to estrus within 2 weeks after weaning. Swine practitioners attempt to optimize production by reducing the WEI. Some sows fail to resume estrous cyclicity after weaning; however, the endocrinologic pathogenesis of these anestrous sows is speculative. The average WEI is influenced by numerous factors, including season, environmental temperature, photoperiod, nutrition, stress, facility design, lactation length, and management practices. It is evident that the majority of these factors have a more profound influence on primiparous sows than on multiparous sows. Optimum protein and energy consumption by sows during lactation and after weaning and effective utilization of breeding facilities reduce the WEI. The precise roles of photoperiodic changes, elevated environmental temperatures, and stress in seasonal infertility remain poorly understood. Fortunately, current management techniques have reduced the WEI on most farms without instituting therapeutic measures.     

Estrous behavior and initiation of estrous cycles in postpartum Brahman-influenced cows after treatment with progesterone and prostaglandin F2alpha

Spring-calving, crossbred (1/4 to 3/8 Brahman) primiparous (n = 56) and multiparous (n = 102) beef cows were used to evaluate the effects of progesterone, delivered via a controlled internal drug-releasing (CIDR) device, and prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGF(2alpha)) on estrous behavior, synchronization rate, initiation of estrous cycles, and pregnancy rate during a 2-yr period. To determine luteal activity, weekly blood samples were collected 3 wk before initiation of a 75-d breeding season. Treated cows received a CIDR for 7 d beginning on d -7 of the breeding season. On d 0, CIDR were removed, and cows receiving CIDR were administered PGF(2alpha); control cows received no treatment. Cows were exposed to bulls, and estrous activity was monitored using a radiotelemetry system for the first 30 d of the breeding season. Treatment with CIDR-PGF(2alpha) increased (P < 0.05) the number of mounts received (22.5 +/- 3.0 vs. 13.7 +/- 3.9 for CIDR-PGF(2alpha) vs. untreated control cows, respectively) but did not influence duration of estrus or quiescence between mounts. Number of mounts received and duration of estrus were greater (P < 0.05) in multiparous compared with primiparous cows. Synchronization of estrus was greater (P < 0.05) in cows treated with CIDR-PGF(2alpha) (56%) compared with control cows (13%) during the first 3 d of the breeding season. More (P < 0.05) anestrous cows treated with CIDR-PGF(2alpha) than anestrous control cows were in estrus during the first 3 d (59 vs. 12%) and 30 d (82 vs. 63%) of the breeding season. Treatment with CIDR-PGF(2alpha) decreased (P < 0.05) the interval to first estrus after treatment during the first 30 d of the breeding season compared with control cows (5.5 +/- 1.1 vs. 9.0 +/- 1.4 d). First service conception rate was greater (P < 0.05) in CIDR-PGF(2alpha)-treated cows compared with control cows. Cyclic cows at initiation of the breeding season had an increased (P < 0.05) 75-d pregnancy rate compared with anestrous cows, and the pregnancy rate tended (P = 0.10) to be greater in multiparous compared with primiparous cows. We conclude that treatment of Brahman-influenced cows with progesterone via a CIDR for 7 d, along with administration of PGF(2alpha) at CIDR removal, increases the number of mounts received, improves synchronization and first service conception rates, decreases the interval to first estrus after treatment, and may be effective at inducing estrous cycles in anestrous cows.     

Effect of dietary energy intake during lactation on performance of primiparous sows and their litters

A total of 146 primiparous sows was used in four replications of an experiment to investigate the effect of energy intake during a 28-d lactation on sow and litter performance. Dietary treatments consisted of three energy intakes; 10, 12 or 14 Mcal of metabolizable energy (ME) X sow-1 X d-1. All sows were fed equal amounts of crude protein, vitamins and minerals daily, which met or exceeded standard recommendations. The experiment was initiated at parturition. Sow weight and backfat loss during lactation decreased linearly (P less than .001) as energy intake increased. There were no differences in litter size at either 14 d of lactation or weaning. Pig weights on d 14 increased linearly (P less than .05) and litter weights tended to increase linearly (P = .13) as energy intake increased. At weaning, pig weights and litter weights increased (P less than .05) as sow energy intake increased. There were no significant differences in the percentages of sows in estrus by 7, 14, 21 and 70 d postweaning, but sows fed 10 Mcal ME/d had a slightly longer interval from weaning to first estrus than sows fed higher energy intakes. Serum urea concentrations of sows were inversely related to energy intake during lactation. Serum creatinine concentrations were not affected by energy intake. An intake of 10 Mcal ME/d by primiparous sows during a 28-d lactation resulted in reduced sow and litter performance; there was little difference between sows fed 12 and 14 Mcal ME/d.     

Influence of duration of litter separation and boar exposure on estrous expression of sows during and after lactation

The influence of litter separation (LS) that included a change in housing environment and social status of sows, boar exposure (BE), and parity on estrous expression by sows during and after lactation was examined in two experiments utilizing 140 crossbred sows. In Exp. 1 (Yorkshire X Duroc sows), limiting duration of LS to 6 or 3 h/d during the last 8 d of lactation in two trials, while maintaining 1 h BE, resulted in similar proportions of sows in estrus during lactation (65 vs 79% for 3- and 6-h sows). However, 6-h LS tended to reduce (P = .08) the interval to estrus by .6 d for those sows that expressed a preweaning estrus. Postweaning intervals to estrus were unaffected by duration of LS in the remaining sows. In Exp. 2, sows (Yorkshire X Duroc X Chester White) were assigned to four treatment groups during the last 8 d of lactation: 1) BE (1 h/d), 2) LS (6 h/d), 3) LS + BE and 4) no LS + no BE (control). Only nine sows expressed estrus during lactation; four of 28 LS sows and five of 28 LS + BE sows. No sows were in estrus before weaning during August 1985 and only one sow (LS group) was in estrus before weaning during October 1986. Postweaning intervals to estrus were reduced (P less than .05) by .9 d after preweaning BE compared with controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)