Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-induced ovulation occurs later but with equal occurrence in lactating dairy cows: comparing hCG and gonadotropin-releasing hormone protocols.

This study assessed the effects of two hormones, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), on ovulatory responses during different diestrous stages in lactating dairy cows. Estrous cycles of 21 cows were synchronized and were enrolled in stage 1 of the experiment. The cows were treated with a prostaglandin (PG) F2α analog either 9 to 10 days [mid-diestrus (MD) group] or 5.5 to 6.5 days [early-diestrus (ED) group] after synchronized ovulation (day 0 = first PGF2α administration). On day 2, the cows were administrated 250 µg GnRH or 3000 IU hCG. Ovulation was determined every 2 h from 24 to 36 h after GnRH or hCG administration, and then every 4 h up to 72 h until ovulation. Cows in stage 2 were administered these treatments in the reverse order. The results indicated that average ovulation times in cows treated with GnRH in the MD group (GnRH-MD group) and cows treated with GnRH in the ED group (GnRH-ED group) were 30.0 ± 1.0 h and 28.8 ± 0.4 h, respectively. However, ovulation times for cows treated with hCG in the MD group (hCG-MD group) and cows treated with hCG in the ED group (hCG-ED group) were 35.8 ± 4.6 h and 32.8 ± 2.2 h, respectively, and ovulation occurred significantly later in the hCG-treated groups than in the GnRH-treated groups. In summary, we found that hCG-induced ovulation occurred later than GnRH-induced ovulation regardless of different diestrous peroids; however, the two treatments did not differ in terms of percentage of ovulation.

Effect of GnRH on ovulatory response after luteolysis induced by two low doses of PGF2α in lactating dairy cows.

This study investigated the effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) on ovulatory response after complete luteolysis induced by two low doses of prostaglandin (PG)F2α in lactating dairy cows. Cows (n = 18) ranging between 45 and 65 days in milk were recruited for synchronization by a modified Ovsynch-48 protocol (GnRH-7 days-375 µg PGF2α-1 day-250 µg of PGF2α-1 day-GnRH) over a total of 23 estrous cycles. Synchronized cows (n = 16) were randomly assigned to GnRH and Saline groups in stage 1 of the experiment after 9-10 days of ovulation in synchronization. On days 0 and 1 (day 0 = first PGF2α administration), cows were treated with 375 and 250 µg PGF2α, respectively. On day 2, cows in the GnRH and Saline groups were administered 250 µg GnRH or 2.5 mL of 0.9% saline, respectively. Serum progesterone (P4) levels were measured and changes in the corpus luteum (CL) were ultrasonically monitored daily from day 0-3 to assess complete luteolysis. Preovulatory follicle diameter and ovulatory response were evaluated by ultrasonography. In stage 2, cows were treated in a manner converse to that in stage 1. The synchronization rate was 69.6% (16/23). In stages 1 and 2, cows showed complete luteolysis with P4 concentration <1 ng/mL or remaining CL area <50%. Average ovulation time was 29.3 ± 0.5 h, which mostly occurred between 28 and 30 h after GnRH injection. However, all cows in the Saline group ovulated later than 36 h post-injection, with an average time of 52.7 ± 8.6 h. There was no difference in preovulatory follicle diameter between the two groups (16.8 ± 0.5 and 17.3 ± 0.5 mm for GnRH and saline groups, respectively). Although ovulation rate was not correlated with treatment, the rate within 48 h of GnRH injection (93.3%) tended to be higher compared with that in the Saline group (60.0%). Thus, GnRH administration increased ovulation rate following complete luteolysis induced by two low doses of PGF2α. These results indicate that this simple protocol for dairy cows is an effective alternative to timed artificial insemination programs in the field.