Effects of estradiol on gonadotrophin release, estrus and ovulation in CIDR-treated beef cattle

The effects of estradiol-17beta (E-17beta) or estradiol benzoate (EB) on gonadotrophin release, estrus and ovulation in beef cattle were evaluated in two experiments. In experiment 1, 16 ovariectomized cows received a previously used CIDR insert from days 0 to 7 and 1mg of EB on day 8; they also received 5mg of E-17beta on days 0 or 1, or 5mg of E-17beta+100mg of progesterone on day 0. There was only an effect of time (P<0.0001) on plasma concentrations of progesterone, estradiol, FSH, and LH. Following treatment with E-17beta, plasma FSH concentrations were suppressed for approximately 36 h, whereas plasma LH concentrations were reduced (P<0.05) for 6 h, but surged within 24 h. Injecting 1mg of EB 24 h after CIDR removal decreased (P<0.02) plasma LH concentrations for 6h, followed by an LH surge at 18 h. In experiment 2, ovary-intact heifers (n=40) received a used CIDR and 5mg of E-17beta+100mg of progesterone on day 0. On day 7, CIDR were removed, PGF given, and heifers received nothing (control) or 1mg of EB 12, 24, or 36 h later. In these groups, plasma LH peaked (mean+/-SEM) 78.0+/-23.0, 37.8+/-8.5, 44.4+/-10.3, and 51.0+/-5.1 h after CIDR removal (means, P<0.001; variances, P<0.001) and intervals from CIDR removal to ovulation were 102.0+/-6.7, 63.6+/-3.6, 81.6+/-3.5, and 78.0+/-4.1h (P<0.05). The interval from CIDR removal to ovulation was shorter and less variable in EB-treated groups; the interval from EB to ovulation was shortest (P<0.05) in the 12-h group. In summary, E-17beta or EB decreased both FSH and LH, but LH increased after 6h (despite elevated progesterone concentrations). Following CIDR removal, 1mg of EB effectively synchronized LH release, and ovulation (in intact cattle), but the interval from CIDR removal to EB treatment affected the time of ovulation.