A note on the effect of melatonin feeding on the initiation of ovarian activity and on plasma prolactin levels in lactating and non-lactating red deer hinds

1985 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 515-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Nowak ◽  
R. N. Elmhirst ◽  
R. G. Rodway

ABSTRACTMelatonin was fed daily at 14.00 h to eight non-lactating and six lactating hinds. Feeding was begun on 27 July 1983 (day 1) and continued until 21 September (day 57). Six non-lactating hinds were used as controls. Blood samples were taken about every 10 days from day 42 until day 73. Plasma progesterone and prolactin were determined by radioimmunoassay. Progesterone values of greater than 0·63 μg/1 were taken to indicate the presence of a corpus luteum and that the animal had ovulated. In the melatonintreated, non-lactating group seven of the eight hinds showed ovarian activity compared with two of the six controls (P < 0·01). None of the lactating hinds treated with melatonin showed evidence of ovarian activity. In both the lactating and non-lactating hinds treated with melatonin, prolactin levels were never greater than the detection limit of the assay (7·4 μg/l), while, in the control hinds mean prolactin levels were elevated on all but the last sampling day. It is, therefore, possible to induce early ovarian activity in non-lactating red deer hinds by feeding melatonin. However, although melatonin treatment similarly depressed plasma prolactin levels in both lactating and non-lactating hinds, it was unable to overcome the inhibitory effect of lactation on reproduction.

1984 ◽  
Vol 62 (6) ◽  
pp. 1095-1100 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. L. Boyd

Adult female grey seals were sampled at the Fame Islands at monthly intervals from November 1980 to October 1981. The distribution, size, and number of ovarian corpora were recorded in each case and blood samples were obtained for progesterone analysis. The concentration of plasma progesterone was about 6 ng/mL for most of gestation, including embryonic diapause, and rose to about 10 ng/mL during the final month. Progesterone declined sharply to less than 1 ng/mL at parturition. The size of the corpus luteum was constant throughout embryonic diapause, but after implantation it grew continuously until parturition. Following parturition, it regressed rapidly at first, forming a corpus albicans, and then more slowly, regression being arrested during the period of foetal growth of the following reproductive cycle. Most corpora albicantia had disappeared 1 year after their formation. Corpora albicantia may be useful indicators of reproductive history in grey seals, providing that allowance is made for the reproductive condition of females at the time of sampling and for several other possible errors which could arise. Retrospective calculation of reproductive statistics by more than 1 year using corpora albicantia is not valid for grey seals.


1976 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. RAJAMAHENDRAN ◽  
P. C. LAGUË ◽  
R. D. BAKER

Progesterone levels were estimated by radioimmunoassay in blood samples obtained by venipuncture on the day of estrus and every alternate day until the onset of the next estrus in eight cycling dairy heifers. The mean level of progesterone was < 1 ng/ml during the first 2 days of the cycle, increased rapidly over the 4th–12th day period and reached a peak level value of 5.2 ± 1.1 ng/ml on day 14. Thereafter, the level declined rapidly to 2.6 ± 0.6 ng/ml on day 16 and then more gradually to 0.4 ± 0.1 ng/ml on day 21. In the second experiment, eight cycling heifers at diestrus were treated with gonadotrophin (2,000 IU PMSG or 1,000 IU PMSG + 1,000 IU HCG) followed 48 h later by 15 mg prostaglandin (PGF2α). Mid-ventral laparotomies were performed 4 days after the onset of estrus to observe ovarian activity. Progesterone levels were considerably higher in some animals and were slightly higher on the average after gonadotrophin treatments. The number of corpora lutea (CL) in these heifers ranged from 1 to 17. Progesterone levels of three heifers with 4–9 CL did not differ (P > 0.05) from those of three heifers with single CL. Two heifers each with 17 CL had peak progesterone levels of 38.4 and 27.8 ng/ml which were still high (9.6 and 26.5 ng/ml) by day 21. The remaining six heifers had low progesterone levels (< 1 ng/ml) by days 8–14, indicating premature regression of the CL. Thus, progesterone levels were not correlated with the number of CL.


1997 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 587 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. W. Asher ◽  
P. D. Muir ◽  
G. Semiadi ◽  
K. T. O'Neill ◽  
I. C. Scott ◽  
...  

Seasonal onset of pubertal ovulation and incidence of luteal cyclicity was assessed from plasma progesterone proles over 15 months for tame red deer (n = 7) and sambar deer (n = 7) hinds. Seasonal responses to photoperiod were determined from plasma prolactin proles. All red deer attained puberty at 17-18 months of age in May-June and expressed 3-6 luteal cycles of length 20·0 ± 10·4 days (mean ± s.e.m.) over 52-102 days. Six sambar deer attained puberty at 7-19 months of age, between August and December. Duration of luteal cyclicity was variable. While one animal remained continuously cyclic for 13 months, most entered anoestrus between November and February. The mean length of the luteal cycle was 17·2 ± 0·3 days. While red deer exhibited strongly seasonal patterns of prolactin secretion, sambar deer showed no such seasonal trends. The data collectively indicate that young sambar hinds at temperate latitudes exhibit loosely dened patterns of reproductive seasonality that are 4-6 months out of phase with those of red deer, although some individuals may be non-seasonal. Failure to express seasonal patterns of prolactin secretion indicates that sambar deer may not perceive photoperiodic cues to the same extent as do red deer.


1987 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
PIERRE MATTON ◽  
VICTOR ADELAKOUN ◽  
JACQUES DUFOUR

Previous results have shown that progesterone levels were higher on the day of parturition in cows with retained fetal membranes (RFM) than in cows with normal calving, suggesting incomplete lysis of the corpus luteum (CL). This experiment was performed to evaluate the activity of the CL and the level of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto prostaglandin F2α (PGFM) in RFM cows. Cows with RFM or those calving normally (NC) were ovariectomized 12–14 h after parturition. Blood samples were taken from the caudal and utero-ovarian veins. Slices of CL were incubated with or without human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) medium for 3 h. Plasma progesterone was higher in both the caudal and utero-ovarian veins of RFM cows than in those of NC cows (1.12 ± 0.25 vs. 0.62 ± 0.08 ng mL−1 and 2.4 ± 0.3 vs. 1.44 ± 0.33 ng mL−1, respectively). PGFM was also significantly higher in RFM cows (3.62 ± 0.19 vs. 2.55 ± 0.15 ng mL−1). Progesterone production by CL slices from both types of cows, incubated without hCG, was similar (65 ± 4.2 vs. 73 ± 5.1 μg g−1); with hCG, however, the progesterone production by the CL of RFM cows was 186.3 ± 10.7 μg g−1, 75.7 μg g−1 more than in CL of cows with normal calving. These results support the hypothesis of an incomplete luteolysis of the CL in RFM cows in spite of hieher levels of PGF2α. Key words: Corpus luteum activity, progesterone, prostaglandin, postpartum cows, retained placenta


1975 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 633-640 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. G. MANNS ◽  
H. D. HAFS ◽  
G. E. LAMMING

Four Friesian heifers 14–16 mo of age were injected through jugular catheters six times per day (0600, 0900, 1200, 1500, 1800 and 2100 h) with 100 μg thyrotropin-releasing hormone or saline (control). TRH and saline treatment continued for 14 days beginning 1 day after a luteolytic dose of prostaglandin (PGF2α, 30 mg) which was given during diestrus. Blood samples were collected via the catheters at 0900 and 2100 h each day for progesterone prolactin and LH determinations and before and 10, 20, 30, 40 and 60 min after the 0600 and 2100 h TRH injections on the 1st, 7th and 13th days of treatment for growth hormone (GH) and prolactin analysis. After 14 days, heifers were injected with 10 mg PGF2α and changes in blood progesterone were measured for 24 h. There were two treatment periods; hence, each animal was subjected to both TRH and saline injections. Results support the following conclusions: (1) Prolactin secretion in response to TRH did not diminish with time. (2) Plasma progesterone of TRH-treated animals was lower (P < 0.05) from approximately day 5 of the cycle (estrus = day 0) until corpora lutea were destroyed with PGF2α; this provides no support for a luteotrophic role for prolactin. (3) Corpora lutea of all animals regressed after 10 mg PGF2α, suggesting that TRH had not increased the resistance of the corpus luteum to the luteolytic effects of PGF2α.


2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Aya Sasa ◽  
Paula Almeida Rodrigues ◽  
Keico Okino Nonaka ◽  
Julio César de Carvalho Balieiro ◽  
Lia Alencar Coelho

Background: The subcutaneous implants of melatonin are stimulatory and mimic the positive effects of short photoperiod on reproduction in small ruminants. This study investigated the daily plasma melatonin profiles in ewes treated with melatonin implants and kept under natural photoperiod in Southeastern Brazil. The plasma progesterone concentrations were also investigated before and after melatonin implantation.Materials, Methods & Results: Romney Marsh (n = 11) and Suffolk (n = 10) ewes, which had been isolated from rams for at least 2 months prior to the beginning of the trial, were randomly allocated in two groups based on melatonin implant treatment (with or without melatonin implant). For plasma melatonin concentration, 43 days after melatonin implantation and 3 days before the ram introduction blood samples were collected every 2 hours during 24 hours. For plasma progesterone concentrations, blood samples were collected every once to twice a week for 2 different periods: prior to melatonin implantation and 46 days after the melatonin implantation and at the same day of the introduction of rams. The hormonal concentrations were determined by the radioimmunoassay method (RIA). The data were analyzed according to MIXED procedure (SAS) as repeated measurements for random animal effects. The effect of melatonin treatment on plasma melatonin 24-h period varied according to the breed. At the dark-phase, there were no plasma melatonin differences (P > 0.05) between implanted and no-implanted (228.02 ± 58.39 vs. 169.59 ± 48.39) Romney Marsh ewes whereas for Suffolk ewes the plasma melatonin levels were higher in implanted (305.61 ± 68.39 pg/mL) than no-implanted (151.26 ± 38.35 pg/mL) ones. At the light-phase, melatonin treatment effects could be evidenced and these differences (P < 0.01) consisted of higher melatonin values for implanted ewes and basal values for no-implanted ones in both breed groups. Before the melatonin implantation, the plasma progesterone levels were ˂ 1 ng/mL for Romney Marsh (0.41 ± 0.02 ng/mL) and Suffolk (0.47 ± 0.02 ng/mL) ewes. During the ram introduction period, no melatonin treatment effect was observed on plasma progesterone concentrations in both breed groups, but 2 days after ram introduction the plasma progesterone concentrations increased the mean values > than 1 ng/mL in implanted and no-implanted Suffolk ewes. In implanted Romney Marsh ewes the elevation of progesterone mean values was weak whereas in no-implanted Romney Marsh ewes the progesterone levels were maintained ˂ 1 ng/mL during all the blood sample collection times.Discussion: The melatonin treatment also produced a similar model of daily melatonin levels as reported previously by others, which is characterized by high plasma melatonin concentrations during the light phase of the day. The effect of melatonin implants on plasma melatonin profiles interacted with breed confirming an individual response to melatonin implantation which is proportional to genetic individual variation pattern of melatonin secretion. Before the melatonin implantation all Romney Marsh and Suffolk ewes were judged to be in non-ovulatory period (anoestrus) with plasma progesterone mean values lower than 1 ng/mL. The melatonin treatment helped to induce the ovulatory activity in most of the ewes that were in anestrous at the time of melatonin implantation and the efficacy of this treatment depends on the individual variation in ovulatory response to ram introduction. In Southeastern Brazil., melatonin implant altered the daily plasma melatonin profiles of Suffolk and Romney Marsh ewes by increasing the melatonin levels during the light-phase of the day. Melatonin implant also induced an ovulatory response in Suffolk and Romney Marsh after the introduction of the rams. For no-implanted Suffolk ewes, the male effect is sufficient to provoke an ovulatory response.


1986 ◽  
Vol 108 (2) ◽  
pp. 287-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. L. Poulton ◽  
J. English ◽  
A. M. Symons ◽  
J. Arendt

ABSTRACT Ewes were treated with s.c. implants of melatonin in mid-April, mid-May and mid-June. From mid-June, other animals were given oral doses of melatonin daily at 16.30 h and another group was maintained under a short (8 h light: 16 h darkness) artificial photoperiod (lights out 16.30 h). Serial blood samples were taken from all animals in June and July. Plasma prolactin concentrations were significantly reduced in ewes treated in May and June (implant, oral and photoperiod treatments) but not in those treated in April. After treatment in June, prolactin levels were significantly suppressed after 7 days of oral and implant melatonin therapy, and after 28 days of a short artificial photoperiod. Melatonin treatment appeared more efficient than an artificial photoperiod in reducing plasma prolactin concentrations. J. Endocr. (1986) 108, 287–292


1990 ◽  
Vol 125 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Milne ◽  
A. S. I. Loudon ◽  
A. M. Sibbald ◽  
J. D. Curlewis ◽  
A. S. McNeilly

ABSTRACT Three experiments were conducted in the period between July and November with non-lactating red deer hinds to describe the effects of treatment with melatonin during this period on voluntary food intake (VFI), the onset of the breeding season, coat changes and plasma concentrations of prolactin and tri-iodothyronine (T3), and to examine whether prolactin mediated the observed effects. In experiment 1, eight animals were treated orally each day with either 10 mg melatonin at 16.00 h or 10 mg melatonin at 16.00 h plus 10 mg domperidone (a dopamine antagonist) given twice daily for 120 days from July; eight animals were maintained as controls. In experiment 2, the same numbers of animals per treatment were used to compare treatments in which 10 mg melatonin or 20 mg bromocriptine (a dopamine agonist) were given orally each day at 16.00 h for 119 days from late June and compared with an untreated control group. In experiment 3, six animals were treated daily for 105 days from mid August with 5 mg domperidone given i.m. and compared with six control animals. In experiments 1 and 2, the VFI of control animals reached a peak in late August and thereafter declined. Melatonin-treated animals showed a similar pattern but the peak in VFI was significantly (P<0·05) advanced by 2 weeks compared with controls, although the VFIs of both groups were similar in November. The mean date of onset of the breeding season of the melatonin-treated animals was advanced significantly (P < 0·05) by 23 days in both experiments and the coats of these animals had less undercoat and were pale coloured and patchy compared with the controls. The changes in VFI, coat and the onset of the breeding season were associated with the rapid decline in plasma prolactin concentration after the start of the melatonin treatment and significantly (P<0·01) lower plasma T3 concentrations than those of control animals. In experiments 1 and 3, plasma prolactin concentrations in animals treated with domperidone were higher than those of controls for periods of 2–3 weeks. These short-term increases in plasma prolactin concentration were not associated with changes in VFI, coat or onset of the breeding season compared with controls. In experiment 2, the pattern of decline in plasma prolactin concentrations was the same in bromocriptine-treated animals as in the melatonin-treated animals; plasma T3 concentrations were also similar in the two groups. The pattern of change in VFI over time in bromocriptine-treated animals was significantly (P<0·05) different from that of melatonin-treated animals and there was also a reduced amount and length of winter coat in the bromocriptine-treated animals. The mean date of onset of the breeding season in bromocriptine-treated animals was not significantly different from that of controls. It was concluded that a reduction in plasma prolactin concentration induced by bromocriptine produced different effects from that induced by melatonin treatment and that the effects of melatonin are unlikely to be induced through changes in contemporary plasma prolactin concentrations. Journal of Endocrinology (1990) 125, 241–249


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 86-91
Author(s):  
G El-Sayed ◽  
Mohamed El-Diasty ◽  
Hadeer Magdy

Our experiment was conducted at a special dairy farm in Dakahlia Governorate between the periods (March –May 2018), This farm consisted of 400 Holestien cows; from the total of the animals only 210 lactating cows. The established experiment applied on 40 cows suffered from different types of anestrum detected by ultrasonography as follow (15 cows suffer from cystic ovary, 15 cows suffer from smooth inactive ovaries and 10 cows suffer from persist corpus luteum to study the effect of progesterone device insertion in dairy cattle and its effect in fertility. On day 0, cattle at random stage of estrous cycle received controlled internal drug release vaginal insert (CIDR).We left the CIDR in the vagina for seven days as we inject PGF2 on day 6 and remove the CIDR on day 7, blood samples were collected from 25 animals at zero day, 3rd, 7th and 9th day from the tail vein, and then we follow the estrous and detected the estrus cow for AI and apply ultrasonography for pregnancy diagnosis after 30 day from insemination From this study it was concluded that the use of progesterone for 7 days +i.m. injection of PGF2α in the 7th day can applied to dairy cattle to restart ovarian activity and it is an effective treatment for different infertility cases like cystic ovarian disease, persist corpus luteum and smooth in active ovaries. Moreover present study provides evidence for the importance of prior exposure to progesterone for cows to express estrous behavior, increase number of pregnant animals and increase conception rate.


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