scholarly journals The relationship between plasma progesterone concentration during the early luteal phase and embryo survival in dairy heifers

2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 160-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.H. Parr ◽  
M.P. Mullen ◽  
M.A. Crowe ◽  
J.F Roche ◽  
P. Lonergan ◽  
...  
2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 573 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. McNeill ◽  
J. M. Sreenan ◽  
M. G. Diskin ◽  
M. T. Cairns ◽  
R. Fitzpatrick ◽  
...  

Increasing evidence indicates an association between the concentration of systemic progesterone during the early luteal phase of the oestrous cycle and embryo survival rate in cattle. We examined the relationship between the concentration of systemic progesterone on Days 4 to 8 post-ovulation and expression of progesterone receptor (PGR), oestrogen receptor α (ESR1) and retinol-binding protein (RBP) mRNA in the bovine endometrium. Heifers were blood sampled from the day of ovulation (Day 0) to Day 8 post-ovulation. On Day 4, animals were divided into low progesterone control (LC) and high progesterone control (HC) groups based on their plasma progesterone concentrations. Half of each group was supplemented with exogenous progesterone resulting in two further groups, low progesterone supplemented (LS) and high progesterone supplemented (HS). Endometrial tissues were recovered from all groups on Day 6 or Day 8 and gene expression was analysed following Northern blotting. Increasing progesterone concentrations were associated with decreased PGR and ESR1 expression. Duration-dependent effects of progesterone supplementation on ESR1 were evident and there was an effect of systemic progesterone concentrations between Day 0 and Day 4 on the expression of RBP at Days 6 and 8. Such progesterone-responsive changes in uterine gene expression are likely to affect embryo development.


1970 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 599-614 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. E. DONALDSON ◽  
J. M. BASSETT ◽  
G. D. THORBURN

SUMMARY Progesterone concentrations in the peripheral plasma of cows were measured by a protein-binding radioassay method. The mean concentration was lowest at oestrus (0·44 ng/ml) and then increased to a maximum of 6·8 ng/ml about day 14 of the 21-day cycle. The concentration decreased rapidly during the last 4 days of the cycle, reaching low levels on the day before oestrus. There were no significant changes in progesterone concentration during oestrus. After ovariectomy the plasma progesterone concentration decreased to a very low level (< 0·4 ng/ml). After hysterectomy, progesterone concentrations remained high for longer than in a normal cycle. At puberty, plasma progesterone concentrations indicated cyclic ovarian activity before the first observed oestrus. Daily treatment of cows with oxytocin (0·4 u./kg body weight) from day 2 reduced the oestrous cycle length to 9 days, but did not significantly alter the slow increase in plasma progesterone concentration during the first 5 days of the cycle. Plasma progesterone concentrations decreased again after day 5 to low values. Plasma progesterone concentration during early pregnancy was similar to the luteal phase value (4–6 ng/ml), declined during mid-pregnancy and then increased to a maximum (7–8 ng/ml) at about 240 days gestation. The concentration declined 2–3 weeks before calving. During lactation progesterone concentrations were very low until the resumption of cyclic ovarian activity. The first post-partum cycle, whether accompanied by observed oestrus or not, was usually preceded by a small increase in plasma progesterone concentration 3–5 days before the start of the cycle. Undernutrition significantly increased plasma progesterone concentrations in mid- and late pregnancy. Undernutrition of non-pregnant cows increased progesterone concentrations during the luteal phase of the first cycle, but reduced it in later cycles.


1972 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 645-658 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. A. ROBERTSON

The progesterone concentration in peripheral plasma has been measured sequentially in individual cows during the estrous cycle, gestation, at parturition, and post-partum. During the estrous cycle the concentration was lowest just before, during, and just after estrus when the level (0.1–0.4 ng/ml) was similar to that found in three ovariectomized cows. The concentration commenced to rise on the 4th–6th day (day of estrus = 1st day), reached a peak of 3–6 ng/ml on the 11th–13th day, and dropped rapidly over a 24–48-hr period to a basal value 24–72 hr before the next estrus. In early pregnancy, the plasma progesterone concentration was similar to the maximum levels found during the luteal phase of the estrous cycle. Between 90 and 150 days there was an indication of a decline to a relatively low plasma progesterone concentration followed by a variable rise. Prior to parturition, there was a gradual decline over a period of 35–70 days reaching a level of <2.0 ng/ml the day before parturition. Following parturition, the level remained at <0.5 ng/ml until the first sign of the resumption of cyclic activity. The time for this to occur was very variable (20–>60 days). Although not conclusive, the evidence favors the view that for estrous behavior to occur, estrus must be preceded by luteal activity. The discharge of mucus can occur without previous luteal activity.


1978 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 164-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Seppälä ◽  
P. Lehtovirta ◽  
E.-M. Rutanen

ABSTRACT Three of 24 infertile women with a short luteal phase transiently showed chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) like immunoreactivity in serum as measured by the HCG-beta subunit radioimmunoassay. The plasma progesterone concentration was elevated above the lower normal post-ovulatory level in 2 of these women who also had elevated basal body temperature at the time HCG was detected. Positive HCG reaction coincided with the pre-ovulatory surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) in one patient, but in 2 other cases the LH concentration was low suggesting absence of LH interference. Our results suggest that some infertile women may conceive during their cycles with a short luteal phase and maintain pregnancy until HCG becomes detectable.


1969 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 449-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. BASSETT ◽  
TANA J. OXBORROW ◽  
I. D. SMITH ◽  
G. D. THORBURN

SUMMARY The progesterone concentration in the peripheral plasma of ewes throughout pregnancy has been determined by a protein-binding method. Plasma progesterone concentrations during the first 50 days of pregnancy (2–3 ng./ml.) were not significantly higher than peak concentrations during the luteal phase in cycling non-pregnant ewes, but there was no decrease in the concentration 15–20 days after mating as occurs in non-pregnant ewes. Between 50 and 120 days after mating the plasma progesterone concentration increased steadily to values 2–5 times that found in early pregnancy. These high concentrations were maintained until lambing. A decrease in progesterone concentration during the week preceding lambing was usually, but not always, observed. Mean plasma progesterone concentrations during the last 50 days of pregnancy in ewes with twins were approximately twice those in ewes with a single foetus.


1987 ◽  
Vol 112 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Ashworth ◽  
I. Wilmut ◽  
A. J. Springbett ◽  
R. Webb

ABSTRACT The effect of an inhibitor of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase on peripheral progesterone concentration during the luteal phase of the oestrous cycle and on embryo survival was determined in sheep. Following administration of 10, 50, 100 or 250 mg epostane (4,5-epoxy-17-hydroxy-4,17,dimethyl-3-oxo-androstane-2-carbonitrile) progesterone concentrations were significantly lower than control levels 4 h after injection, from 2·5 to 22 h, 1·5 to 24 h and 1 to 24 h after injection respectively. There appeared to be no effect on peripheral oestradiol concentrations. Adrenal progesterone production was small and not influenced by epostane treatment. Epostane was administered on day 9 of the oestrous cycle to cause a reduction in progesterone concentrations for approximately 12-18 h on day 9 only (group 1, 250 mg epostane on day 9), or a series of such reductions on 3 consecutive days (group 2, 50 mg epostane on days 9, 10 and 11) or a continuous reduction for 3 days (group 3, 250 mg epostane on days 9, 10 and 11). The proportion of ewes that were pregnant was significantly (P<0·05) lower in ewes treated to give a continuously low progesterone concentration for 3 days than in either controls or ewes in which progesterone concentration was reduced for less than 24 h (in controls and groups 1, 2 and 3 the proportion was 85, 92, 54 and 18% of ewes treated respectively). Embryo survival was not affected by administration of 250 mg epostane on days 9, 10 and 11 if luteal phase levels of progesterone were maintained by insertion of a silicone elastomer implant of the steroid. The proportion of embryos surviving was 72% in controls compared with 78% in the treated animals. J. Endocr. (1987) 112, 205–213


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