Relationship between ovarian ultrasonographic findings on the seventh post-estrus day and plasma progesterone concentration,nutritional metabolic factors,and pregnancy outcome in dairy cows

To improve the accuracy of ultrasonographic assessment of luteal function, we investigated the relationship between ovarian ultrasonographic findings on Day 7 (Day 1 = ovulation) and plasma progesterone (P₄) concentration, nutritional metabolic factors, and pregnancy outcome. A total of 47 spontaneous estrus events were investigated in 38 lactating Holstein cows (artificial insemination, n = 31; embryo transfer, n = 16). Transrectal ultrasonography was performed on Days 0 and 7 to measure the pre-ovulatory follicle area on Day 0 and the luteal tissue area (LTA), luteal blood flow area (LBF), relative LBF (rLBF) (= LBF/LTA), and dominant follicle area (DFA) on Day 7. Blood samples were collected on Day 7 to measure plasma P₄, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), insulin, and metabolites. Plasma P₄ concentration was positively correlated with LTA but was not associated with LBF or rLBF. Plasma P₄ concentration was positively correlated with blood glucose and IGF-I and negatively correlated with blood urea nitrogen and free fatty acid, and no significant relationship was found between the ultrasonographic findings of the corpus luteum (CL) and these blood metabolites. Pregnant cows had smaller DFA than non-pregnant cows. In conclusion, LTA measurement can help predict plasma P₄ concentration, but it was difficult to detect variations in plasma P₄ concentration in relation to changes in energy status by evaluating the CL ultrasonographically. A combined assessment of CL and first-wave dominant follicle may be important in evaluating fertility.     

The influence of progesterone and prostaglandin F2α on decorin and the adhesion of caruncular epithelial cells of bovine placenta at early-mid pregnancy—Part II

One of the most important processes determining the proper course of gestation and its physiological termination in cows is the adhesion of epithelial cells allowing for direct contact of maternal and foetal parts of the placenta. Throughout pregnancy, placental cells are under strict hormonal control, which among others regulates the concentration and activity of specific proteins participating in the extracellular matrix remodelling of foetal membranes. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of progesterone and prostaglandin F_2α on the adhesion of epithelial cells at early-mid pregnancy in cows. Additionally, the impact of selected hormones on anti-adhesive properties of decorin was evaluated. Caruncular epithelial cells were isolated from healthy cows during pregnancy, immediately after slaughter. Primary cell cultures derived from the 2nd and 4th month of gestation were used in the experiments. The viability of cells was assessed by MTT assay. The adhesion of cells to fibronectin was measured spectrophotometrically. The activity of metalloproteinases was confirmed by the metalloproteinase assay. Progesterone (10^–5 and 10^–7 mol/L) and prostaglandin F_2α (10^–4_, 10^–5 and 10^–7 mol/L) increased the viability of bovine caruncular epithelial cells in the 2nd month of pregnancy. The treatment with prostaglandin F_2α significantly reduced the number of adherent cells from the 2nd month of gestation at the doses of 10^–4 and 10^–5 mol/L. Both progesterone and prostaglandin F_2α were shown to have an effect of decorin resulting in both a decrease in metalloproteinase activity and an increase in adhesion of cells to fibronectin.     

氟孕酮在提高奶牛受胎率上的应用

[目的]为了解决奶牛的繁殖障碍,特别是高产奶牛产后不发情或屡配不孕的问题。[方法]介绍以牛欢氟孕酮阴道海绵栓为核心组合的“二次发情配种法”,综述氟孕酮在提高奶牛受孕率上的研究与应用进展。[结果]结果表明:奶牛第一情期受胎率达到65%左右,其余牛经1个情期后自然发情配种,2次总发情率95%,受胎率90%,效果明显。[结论]该技术值得推广,解决了奶牛的繁殖障碍问题,促进了奶牛业的发展。     

北方山溪鲵精巢中性类固醇激素的免疫细胞化学研究

探讨3种性类固醇激素在北方山溪鲵精子发育过程中的调控作用.用免疫细胞化学方法对3种激素在山溪鲵精子发生周期不同时期在精巢中的细胞定位进行检测.结果表明雄激素分布在精原细胞的胞质中,尔后转移到精母细胞及精子细胞的核中;雌激素一直存在于生精细胞的胞质及核膜周围;孕激素分布在精原细胞及精母细胞的胞质中,随后在精子细胞的核质中有表达.雄激素在早期的精子发生和转型中起作用,而雌激素主要以非基因组效应参与生精细胞的增殖,孕激素在精子发育后期精子细胞的变态中起作用.3种激素以不同的方式调控精子的发生.     

眼柄切除及注射黄体酮对中华绒螯蟹幼蟹卵巢发育的影响

采用切除单侧、双侧眼柄及注射黄体酮药物的方法研究对幼蟹卵巢发育的影响。结果表明,切除双侧眼柄可明显增加幼蟹体重、蜕壳频率,极显著提高卵巢指数、肝胰腺指数和卵巢／肝胰腺质量比,极显著增大卵母细胞直径;切除单侧眼柄可极显著增加卵巢指数和卵巢／肝胰腺质量比,极显著增大卵母细胞直径;注射黄体酮药物可极显著增大卵母细胞直径,卵巢指数、卵巢／肝胰腺质量比增加未达统计学上的显著水平。     

奶牛发情周期中毛 唾液和乳汁孕酮水平的变化

本实验采用放射免疫分析法(RIA)测定了11头奶牛一个发情周期里毛、唾液、乳汁中孕酮(P_4)含量。经产牛(n=8)的毛和唾液中P_4水平变化与乳汁中P_4水平变化一致。青年牛(n=3)的毛和睡液中的P_4水平变化一致,并分别与经产牛毛和唾液中P_4水平变化一致。7头配种后的经产牛和5头配种后的青年牛分别取20和23天的样品进行妊娠诊断,与配种后60天的直检结果相对照,依据经产牛毛、乳P_4水平进行妊娠诊断的阳性准确率分别是85.7％(6/7)和100％(7/7),依据青年牛毛P_4水平进行妊娠诊断的阳性准确率为100％(5/5)。     

Accessory corpora lutea formation in pregnant Hokkaido sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis) investigated by examination of ovarian dynamics and steroid hormone concentrations

Generally, sika deer conceive a single fetus, but approximately 80% of pregnant females have two corpora lutea (CLs). The function of the accessory CL (ACL) is unknown; moreover, the process of ACL formation is unclear, and understanding this is necessary to know its role. To elucidate the process of ACL formation, the ovarian dynamics of six adult Hokkaido sika deer females were examined ultrasonographically together with peripheral estradiol-17β and progesterone concentrations. ACLs formed in three females that conceived at the first estrus of the breeding season, but not in those females that conceived at the second estrus. After copulation, postconception ovulation of the dominant follicle of the first wave is induced by an increase in estradiol-17β, which leads to formation of an ACL. A relatively low concentration of progesterone after the first estrus of the breeding season is considered to be responsible for the increase in estradiol-17β after copulation.     

Relationship of Progesterone,Bovine Pregnancy-Associated Glycoprotein-1 and Nitric Oxide with Late Embryonic and Early Fetal Mortalities in Dairy Cows

The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship of progesterone (P4), bovine pregnancy-associated glycoprotein-1 (bPAG-1) and nitric oxide (NO) levels with late embryonic (LEM; day 28 to day 42) and early fetal mortalities (EFM; > day 42 to day 56) in dairy cows. Transrectal ultrasonography (6–8 MHz) was performed in 100 Holstein-Friesian cows at days 28, 42 and 56 after artificial insemination (AI; day 0) to diagnose pregnancy and to monitor the fate of the embryo. After ultrasound scanning of each cow, a milk sample was collected for assessment of P4 by an ELISA test and a blood sample was collected for assessment of bPAG-1, by using a double-antibody radioimmunoassay, and serum NO metabolites (nitrate + nitrite). Based on ultrasonographic examinations and bPAG-1-RIA, 41 of 100 inseminated cows were confirmed pregnant at day 28 after AI. Nine cows suffered of LEM, and 6 cows suffered of EFM and the overall pregnancy loss rate was 36.6% (15/41) between days 28 and 56 of pregnancy. By logistic regression analysis, there were no significant relationships between the level of P4 and bPAG-1 at day 28 after AI and the occurrence of LEM and EFM. Also, there were no significant relationships between the levels of P4 and bPAG-1 at day 42 and the occurrence of EFM. On the other hand, a significant relationship (P<0.05) was found between NO level at day 28 and the occurrence of LEM. In conclusion, measurement of the serum NO concentration at day 28 of pregnancy might help to predict the outcome of pregnancy by day 42 in dairy cows but further studies are needed to confirm this.     

Dopamine Antagonist Affects Luteal Function But Not Cyclicity During the Autumn Transition

The autumn transition is characterized by a number of anomalies affecting the luteal phase of the estrous cycle, such as declining progesterone secretion from the corpus luteum and increased rate of failure of luteolysis. Prolactin also decreases. We theorized that these events may be linked, possibly through dopamine. We administered domperidone, a specific dopamine D2 receptor antagonist from September 12 to anestrus or January 15, either daily (n = 8), or once per day for the first 7 days of each month (n = 7). Controls (n = 7) received no treatment. Mean progesterone and prolactin concentrations were compared with summer cycles. Time to entry into anestrus and incidence of spontaneously prolonged luteal activity was compared between groups during the autumn transition. Prolactin declined from June through October equally in all groups. There was no difference between groups in time to anestrus. Progesterone decline was prevented (daily treatment) or delayed for a prolonged period (weekly group) in autumn. The incidence of spontaneously prolonged corpus luteum activity was reduced to summer levels in both domperidone groups compared with the control. We concluded that autumn prolactin decline was not driven through dopaminergic D2 receptor inhibition of pituitary lactotrophs. Sustained progesterone synthesis through the autumn may be the result of action of the D2 receptor antagonist with dopamine receptors on the corpus luteum. Autumnal luteolytic function appears to have a dopamine-influenced component. There does not appear to be a causative relationship between autumnal progesterone and prolactin secretion.