106 Effect of Heat-Stress on Antral Follicle Count and Serum Concentration of Anti-Mullerian Hormone in Bos taurus Crossbred Beef Cows

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 192
Author(s):  
F. A. Diaz ◽  
E. J. Gutierrez ◽  
B. A. Foster ◽  
P. T. Hardin ◽  
K. R. Bondioli
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Serum Concentration ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
High Stress ◽  
Antral Follicle ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Antral Follicle Count ◽  
Selection Marker ◽  
Mild Stress

Anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) has become an important tool for the selection of donors with high antral follicle count and high superovulatory response for in vivo or in vitro embryo production programs. The serum concentration of AMH is becoming a suitable selection marker because it presents minimal variation during the oestrous cycle and is repeatable during multiple cycles. It is known that heat stress results in decreased production of reproductive steroid and protein hormones in stressed animals. Importantly, the effect of heat stress on the serum concentration of AMH is still unknown. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the antral follicle count and AMH serum concentration levels during the spring to summer transition to assess the effect of heat stress in these parameters. Ten Bos taurus crossbred non-lactating beef cows (body condition 4–8 on 9-pt scale; mean = 6.7) were used in the experiment. Dominant follicle removal was performed 5 days before sample collection and antral follicle count. Blood was collected through caudal tail venipuncture in serum collection tubes. Antral follicle count was performed through trans-vaginal ultrasound imaging of ovaries where follicles ≥2 to 3 mm were counted. Serum AMH concentration was measured utilising the Bovine AMH ELISA kit AL-114. Blood sampling and antral follicle count was performed at midmonth during April, May, June, and July. Serum AMH and antral follicle count was analysed by ANOVA. Days with average temperature-humidity index (THI) >75 (mild stress) per month were 0/30, 6/31, 26/30, and 31/31 for April, May, June, and July, respectively. Days with average THI >79 (high stress) per month were 0/30, 0/31, 6/30, and 14/31 for April, May, June, and July, respectively. The total antral follicle count for both ovaries (mean ± SE) was 36.1 ± 4.20, 48.1 ± 7.19, 34.2 ± 4.19, and 46.5 ± 5.85 for April, May, June, and July, respectively. There was no difference (P = 0.1936) in antral follicle count between months. Serum AMH concentration (ng mL−1) was 0.554 ± 0.14, 0.857 ± 0.21, 0.513 ± 0.12, and 0.575 ± 0.13 for April, May, June, and July, respectively. There was no difference (P = 0.3851) in AMH serum concentration between months. The concentration of AMH/follicle (AMH serum concentration/antral follicle count; ng mL−1) was 0.0150 ± 0.0028, 0.0166 ± 0.0018, 0.0152 ± 0.0036, and 0.0123 ± 0.0025 for April, May, June, and July, respectively. There was no difference (P = 0.7385) in the concentration of AMH/follicle between months. Results of the experiment showed that heat stress does not affect antral follicle count, AMH serum concentration, or concentration of AMH/follicle and suggest that granulosa cell function in terms of AMH production is not affected by heat stress during the spring to summer transition.

scholarly journals Cell proliferation in ovarian follicles from Bos taurus indicus females with different antral follicle count

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (Suppl. 1) ◽  
pp. 1307-1311
Author(s):  
Fernanda Zandonadi Machado ◽  
Larissa Zamparone Bergamo ◽  
Camila Bizarro-Silva ◽  
Fábio Morotti ◽  
Katia Cristina Silva-Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Antral Follicle ◽  
Antral Follicle Count ◽  
Ovarian Follicles ◽  
Bos Taurus Indicus

scholarly journals Ovarian follicular dynamics, progesterone concentrations, pregnancy rates and transcriptional patterns in Bos indicus females with a high or low antral follicle count

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Amaro de Lima ◽  
Fábio Morotti ◽  
Bernardo Marcozzi Bayeux ◽  
Rômulo Germano de Rezende ◽  
Ramon Cesar Botigelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Antral Follicle ◽  
Antral Follicle Count ◽  
Pregnancy Rates ◽  
Cellular Stress Response ◽  
Serum Progesterone ◽  
Epigenetic Modulation ◽  
Follicular Dynamics

Abstract We evaluated the effect of the antral follicle count (AFC) on ovarian follicular dynamics, pregnancy rates, progesterone concentrations, and transcriptional patterns of genes in Nelore cattle (Bos taurus indicus) after a timed artificial insemination (TAI) programme. Cows were separated based on the AFC, and those with a high AFC showed a larger (P < 0.0001) ovarian diameter and area than those with a very low AFC. Females with a very low AFC exhibited a larger (P < 0.01) diameter of the dominant follicle at TAI (13.6 ± 0.3 vs. 12.2 ± 0.4 mm) and a tendency (P = 0.06) to have different serum progesterone concentrations (2.9 ± 0.3 vs. 2.1 ± 0.3 ng/mL; on day 18, considering day 0 as the beginning of the synchronization protocol) than those with a high AFC. The pregnancy rate was higher (P ≤ 0.05) in animals with a very low (57.9%) and low (53.1%) AFC than in those with a high AFC (45.2%). The expression of genes related to intercellular communication, meiotic control, epigenetic modulation, cell division, follicular growth, cell maintenance, steroidogenesis and cellular stress response was assessed on day 5. In females with a low AFC, 8 and 21 genes in oocytes and cumulus cells, respectively, were upregulated (P < 0.05), while 3 and 6 genes in oocytes and cumulus cells, respectively, were downregulated. The results described here will help elucidate the differences in ovarian physiology and the reproductive success of Bos indicus females with a low or high AFC.

scholarly journals Evaluation of antral follicle count and ovarian morphology in crossbred beef cows: Investigation of influence of stage of the estrous cycle, age, and birth weight1,2

2009 ◽  
Vol 87 (6) ◽  
pp. 1971-1980 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Cushman ◽  
M. F. Allan ◽  
L. A. Kuehn ◽  
W. M. Snelling ◽  
A. S. Cupp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Estrous Cycle ◽  
Antral Follicle ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Antral Follicle Count ◽  
Ovarian Morphology

scholarly journals Effect of the antral follicle count of Bos taurus × Bos indicus dairy cows on in vitro embryo production

2020 ◽  
pp. 2171-2178
Author(s):  
Sheila Merlo Garcia ◽  
Paula Alvares Lunardelli ◽  
Kleber Luciano Ancioto ◽  
Eduardo Cardoso de Oliveira ◽  
Larissa Zamparone Bergamo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Antral Follicle ◽  
Estradiol Benzoate ◽  
Antral Follicle Count ◽  
Success Rates ◽  
In Vitro Production ◽  
Follicular Aspiration ◽  
Vitro Production

This study aimed to evaluate the potential of Girolando (Bos taurus × Bos indicus) cows with high and low antral follicle counts (AFC) for the in vitro production of bovine embryos (IVEP), as well as the pregnancy rates of the recipients of these embryos. Girolando cows (Bos taurus × Bos indicus) were classified as high and low AFC when they had 35-52 (n = 13) and 11-17 follicles (n = 15), respectively. All animals were subjected to repeated follicular aspiration [Ovum pick-up (OPU)] and subsequent IVEP sessions. The synchronization protocol of the recipients was performed on a random day of the estrous cycle (Day 0) with the implantation of progesterone, estradiol benzoate, and prostaglandin. The high AFC group had higher aspirated oocyte/OPU (42.6 ± 5.2 vs. 14.6 ± 1.9; p < 0.01) and cultured oocyte/OPU (38.1 ± 6.6 vs. 12.3 ± 2.8; p < 0.01) averages as well as a higher blastocyst percentage on D7 (23.0 ± 1.0% vs. 18.4 ± 1.5%; p < 0.05) and higher pregnancy rate (42.7 ± 2.7% vs. 39.7 ± 4.6%; p < 0.05) than the low AFC group. Thus, we can conclude that animals with high AFC had better IVEP success rates than animals with low AFC.

133 ANTRAL FOLLICLE COUNT, VULVA WIDTH, AND FERTILITY TRAITS IN BOS TAURUS INDICUS CATTLE (TABAPUÃ)

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 196
Author(s):  
R. Maculan ◽  
R. G. Rosa ◽  
R. R. Bonfim ◽  
G. L. Vasconcelos ◽  
T. L. C. Pinto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bos Taurus ◽  
External Genitalia ◽  
Antral Follicle ◽  
Antral Follicle Count ◽  
Reproductive Efficiency ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Age At First Calving ◽  
Calving Intervals ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Antral Follicle Counts

The intense selection of characteristics related to animal production may affect negatively the reproductive efficiency of beef cattle. Thus, the search for characteristics that indicate fertility is readily justifiable in the selection of bovine females. The aim was to evaluate possible associations between the antral follicle counts (AFC), external genitalia measurements, and reproduction efficiency in Tabapuã (a Zebu breed from Brazil) females. The AFC was evaluated in Nulliparous heifers (n = 162) and cows (n = 429) by directly counting all follicles ≥3 mm in diameter with ultrasound. From the frequency distribution of the AFC, animals were divided into groups of high (>50 follicles), average (28–50 follicles), and low (<28 follicles), according to Burns et al. (2005). The vulva width was determined by measuring the distance between the lateral borders of the vulva with a digital caliper placed at a 90-degree angle from the half point of the rima vulvae. Two official reproductive efficiency indexes, adopted by the Brazilian Zebu Breeders Association (ABCZ), were used: age at first calving and calving interval. All statistical analyses were performed using SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). An initial complete model was submitted to logistic regression and all body measurements, such as weight, rump height, and width at pins and hooks, were later excluded because they had no relationships with AFC. The AFC class and parity effects of vulva width were submitted to the PROCGENMOD procedure and the reproductive efficiency indexes were regressed onto age, vulva width and the AFC using the PROCREG procedure. Vulva width was greater (P = 0.05) in the high-AFC class cows (8.81 ± 0.12 cm) in comparison to those of the low (8.38 ± 0.13 cm) and average (8.42 ± 0.11 cm) classes, and was not influenced (P = 0.08) by parity (8.37 ± 0.11 and 8.77 ± 0.14 cm for heifers and cows, respectively). Vulva width was larger in cows with lower calving intervals (r2 = –0.21 P = 0.0008), but was not correlated with age at first calving (P = 0.78). Antral follicle counts were similar (P = 0.71) between heifers (38.6 ± 23.96) and cows (38.9 ± 28.00). Calving intervals were shorter in females with higher AFC (r2 = –0.17 P = 0.0064). Age was slightly related to a decrease in the AFC (r2 = –0.066 P < 0.0001). Vulva width and antral follicle count were correlated and were indicators of reproductive efficiency in females of the Tabapuã breed under the present experimental conditions. To our knowledge, this is the first report where vulva width, a fairly simple to detectable phenotype, was correlated with fertility.

Effects of vulvar width and antral follicle count on oocyte quality, in vitro embryo production and pregnancy rate in Bos taurus taurus and Bos taurus indicus cows

2020 ◽  
Vol 217 ◽  
pp. 106357
Author(s):  
Gisvani Lopes de Vasconcelos ◽  
Ellen Vasconcelos da Cunha ◽  
Renata Maculan ◽  
Jesús Alfonso Sánchez Viafara ◽  
Anderson Weiny Barbalho Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnancy Rate ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Antral Follicle ◽  
Oocyte Quality ◽  
Antral Follicle Count ◽  
Embryo Production ◽  
Bos Taurus Indicus ◽  
In Vitro Embryo Production

scholarly journals Relationships between antral follicle count, blood serum concentration of anti-Müllerian hormone and fertility in mares

2019 ◽  
Vol 161 (10) ◽  
pp. 627-638
Author(s):  
J Traversari ◽  
H Aepli ◽  
B Knutti ◽  
J Lüttgenau ◽  
R M Bruckmaier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Serum Concentration ◽  
Blood Serum ◽  
Antral Follicle ◽  
Antral Follicle Count

scholarly journals PHYSIOLOGY AND ENDOCRINOLOGY SYMPOSIUM: Anti-Müllerian hormone: a biomarker for the ovarian reserve, ovarian function, and fertility in dairy cows

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (4) ◽  
pp. 1446-1455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Mossa ◽  
James J Ireland
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Ovarian Reserve ◽  
Maternal Nutrition ◽  
Ovarian Function ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Antral Follicle ◽  
Antral Follicle Count ◽  
Dairy Heifers ◽  
Follicular Waves ◽  
Heritable Trait

Abstract This review summarizes studies we conducted to test the hypothesis that size of the ovarian reserve (number of healthy follicles and oocytes in ovaries) positively impacts ovarian function and fertility in cattle. Key results, primarily in Bos taurus dairy cattle, show that antral follicle count (AFC) during follicular waves is highly variable between individuals, but very highly repeatable within individuals. Cycling heifers with low (≤15 follicles ≥3 mm, ~20% of a herd) vs. a high AFC (≥25, ~20% of a herd) have a smaller ovarian reserve, higher FSH but lower anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), androstenedione, estradiol, and progesterone concentrations. Moreover, cattle with low AFC have a thinner endometrium, decreased response of granulosal, thecal, or luteal cells to FSH or LH and a poorer response to superovulation compared to cattle with high AFC. Interestingly, cows with a very high AFC as heifers have reduced fertility, fewer lactations, and shorter herd longevity, whereas cows with a low vs. intermediate AFC have reduced fertility, fewer lactations, and shorter herd longevity. Anti-Müllerian hormone concentrations are static within individuals but highly positively correlated with AFC, but fertility is not correlated with circulating AMH concentration in heifers and dairy cows with low vs. a higher AMH as heifers have reduced fertility and a shorter herd longevity. Anti-Müllerian hormone concentrations in dairy heifers are a moderately heritable trait (36%), and negatively impacted by inadequate maternal nutrition during early pregnancy or high maternal somatic cell count. We conclude that genetic or environmental manipulations of AMH could enhance size of the ovarian reserve and ovarian function, thereby improving fertility, response to superovulation, and longevity in dairy cows.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document