Ovarian and endocrine responses associated with the treatment of cystic ovarian follicles in dairy cows with gonadotropin releasing hormone and prostaglandin F2alpha, with or without exogenous progesterone

• Author(s) / Creator(s)

  • Schmitt, Eric J. -P.
  • Mattos, Ricardo C.
  • Ambrose, Divakar J.
  • Thatcher, William W.
  • Lopes, Flavia L.

• The objectives of this observational study were to document ovarian and endocrine responses associated with the treatment of cystic ovarian follicles (COFs) in dairy cows, using gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and prostaglandin F2α(PGF) with or without exogenous progesterone. A secondary objective was to determine pregnancy establishment following synchronization of ovulation and timed insemination in cows diagnosed with COFs. In trial I, 18 Holstein cows diagnosed with COFs received 2 injections of 100 μg GnRH, 9 d apart, with 25 mg PGF given 7 d after the 1st GnRH. A new follicle developed in all 18 cows after the 1st GnRH, and 83% of cows ovulated following the 2nd GnRH. Cows were inseminated 16 h after the 2nd GnRH. Of the 17 cows available for pregnancy diagnosis, 7 were confirmed pregnant. In trial II, 8 cows with COFs received GnRH and an intravaginal progesterone device (CIDR) concurrently, then PGF 7 d later. The CIDR was removed 2 d after PGF administration. Plasma estradiol concentrations declined following CIDR insertion. In all cows, a new follicle developed following GnRH treatment; estradiol-surge and estrus occurred spontaneously after CIDR-removal. Seven of 8 cows ovulated the new follicle. In dairy cows diagnosed with COFs, treatment with GnRH followed by PGF 7 d later, with or without exogenous progesterone, resulted in the recruitment of a healthy new follicle; synchronization of ovulation and timed insemination resulted in a 41% pregnancy rate.

• Date created

  2004

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Persistence
  • Cattle
  • Follicular Cysts
  • Dominant Follicle
  • Synchronization
  • Growth
  • LH
  • Ovulation
  • GNRH

• Type of Item

  Article (Published)

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3WD3QF35

• License

  © 2004 The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. This version of this article is open access and can be downloaded and shared. The original author(s) and source must be cited.