Effects of suckling, progestogen-impregnated pessaries or hysterectomy on ovarian function in autumn-lambing postpartum ewes

In three experiments, we examined the effects of suckling, progestogen treatment, hysterectomy or exogenous gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) on ovarian function in autumn-lambing, postpartum ewes. In each experiment, GnRH was injected on approximately d 25 postpartum. Suckling reduced (P less than .01) GnRH-induced release of luteinizing hormone (LH) but not of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and reduced (P less than .05) the proportion of ewes that developed corpora lutea in response to GnRH. Suckling had no effect on duration (8.8 d) of GnRH-induced luteal phases. Progestogen prior to GnRH increased (P less than .01) the duration of the first luteal phase (10.1 vs 7.6 d; progestogen-treated ewes vs control ewes), but progestogen did not affect the release of LH or FSH. Progestogen treatment did not alter the interval from parturition to the first detected estrus (42.6 d). The concentration of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF2 alpha (PGFM) just after lambing was greater than 400 pg/ml of jugular plasma, but concentrations of PGFM declined thereafter. Hysterectomy the day after lambing hastened (P less than .001) the decline in concentrations of PGFM, indicating that prostaglandins from the postpartum uterus probably caused the high concentrations of PGFM in jugular plasma. Hysterectomy reduced (P less than .05) the interval from parturition to detectable luteal function (19.6 vs 25.3 d) and enhanced (P less than .001) luteal production of progesterone. This study of autumn-lambing ewes indicates that the uterus has a negative effect on ovarian function and that suckling and progestogen affect ovarian response to GnRH.