Estimation of melatonin in bovine plasma: patterns in Jersey heifers treated with cloprostenol at two times of day.

The estimation of melatonin in bovine plasma by radioimmunoassay is described and some aspects of specificity are discussed. Mean values for individual heifers ranged from 0.025 to 0.25 nmol/l during the day and were significantly (P less than 0.01) raised in each animal to mean values of 0.19 to 1.41 nmol/l at night. The hormonal changes after cloprostenol injections were not affected by the time of day at which the heifers were treated.

The effects of progesterone and oestradiol-17beta treatment on plasma hormone levels and on the reproductive behaviour of ewes in late anoestrus and early in the breeding season.

PIP: The effects of progesterone and estradiol-17beta on plasma hormone levels and on reproductive behavior in ewes in late anestrus or the early breeding season were investigated. The ewes received sc implants of progesterone in conjunction with injections of estradiol-17beta. Removal of the implants in anestrous ewes was followed by a surge of plasma gonadotropins 20-48 hours later. The time from removal to the surge was significantly (p less than .001) shortened (7-20 hours) when estradiol was injected at the time of removal. 21 of 23 noncyclic ewes exhibited cyclical activity following treatment. 15 of these showed estrous behavior during the 4 days following removal of the implants. However, only 1 conception occurred in this group, while the conception rate was 82 percent among 17 ewes showing behavioral estrus at 15-21 days after implant removal. Removal of the implants from cyclic ewes had little effect on their estrous cycles, and no gonadotropin surge was observed. However, the injection of estradiol at the time of implant removal produced some degree of estrous synchronization in cycling animals.^ieng

Pregnancy diagnosis in sows based on serum oestrone sulphate concentration.

Serum oestrone sulphate concentration was measured in samples taken from 1275 sows of four breeds or crossbreeds (large white, landrace, large white cross landrace and monarch hybrid) during the period 25 to 30 days after mating. A simple, direct radioimmunoassay using 20 microliter serum was employed for the estimation of oestrone sulphate and pregnancy diagnoses were made on the basis that more than 0.5 ng oestrone sulphate/ml serum indicated a pregnant sow and less than 0.5 ng/ml indicated non-pregnancy. Overall accuracy of pregnancy diagnosis based on oestrone sulphate was 98 per cent; this was not influenced by breed or day sampled (within the range tested). For pregnant sows, there was a positive correlation between serum oestrone sulphate level and litter size, although individual values could not be used to predict litter size for particular sows. Oestrone sulphate concentration was also measured in samples taken from pregnant monarch sows during the last third of the gestation period and the level was more than 0.5 ng/ml in 99 per cent of samples taken on day 77 or later. Thus, measurement of serum oestrone sulphate level in samples taken more than 76 days after mating could be used as a confirmatory test of pregnancy.

Plasma progesterone, androstenedione and testosterone concentrations in freemartin heifers.

Plasma concentrations of testosterone, androstenedione and progesterone in freemartins, and normal cyclic and non-cyclic heifers were studied. The plasma testosterone concentrations were in general less than 10 pg/ml in all animals. The mean androstenedione concentration of 28 pg/ml in 10- to 12-month-old freemartins was significantly lower than the mean of 58 to 60 pg/ml for normal 10- to 12-month-old heifers. At 24 months of age the mean androstenedione concentration in the freemartins had risen significantly to 65 pg/ml.

The acute effects of oestradiol-17beta and synthetic LH-RH on plasma LH levels in freemartin heifers.

Injection of oestradiol was followed by a surge of plasma LH within 24 h in only 7 of 12 freemartins. Elevations of plasma LH were less than those reported for normal non-cyclic heifers, but some freemartins showed a delayed, or more prolonged, LH response. Responsiveness to oestradiol was not related to degree of chimaerism or plasma androstenedione level, and most of the animals responded similarly in two trials carried out 4 months apart, during which time plasma androstenedione levels had more than doubled. Freemartins which showed an LH surge after oestradiol treatment released greater amounts of LH after the injection of LH-RH than did non-responders.

Plasma hormone levels and reproductive behaviour in anoestrous ewes after treatment with progesterone and PMSG.

Plasma progesterone and gonadotrophin levels were studied in anoestrous ewes treated during June or July with a subcutaneous progesterone implant and/or an injection of oestradiol or PMSG. Of 32 ewes treated with progesterone during July, 9 showed a gonadotrophin surge after removal of the implant, and 10 ewes showed oestrous behaviour during the following 4 days. Six ewes conceived at this induced oestrous. Progesterone treatment during June was much less effective, with only 2 of 19 treated ewes showing a gonadotrophin surg and oestrous behaviour. Administration of PMSG at the time of implant removal in the June experiment was followed by a gonadotrophin surge and oestrous behaviour in 18 of 19 ewes, and 15 ewes conceived at the induced oestrus. An injection of PMSG, without progesterone pretreatment, stimulated a gonadotrophin surge and ovulation, but did not result in oestrous behaviour. The treatments employed appeared to initiate cyclic ovarian activity in the July experiment, but not in the June experiment.

The acute effect of oestrogen injection on plasma LH in freemartin heifers.

The acute effects on plasma LH concentrations of an injection of oestradiol-17beta were studied in 7 non-cyclic heifers and 19 freemartins. One freemartin showed a normal LH surge due to the positive feedback effect of oestrogen on the hypothalamus. Of the other 18 freemartins, 4 showed positive increases in plasma LH and 6 were unclassified. There was no correlation between the degree of chimaerism and responsiveness to oestrogen. The results also showed that injected oestradiol suppressed the spontaneous fluctuations of plasma LH.

The effect of progesterone implants on ovulation and plasma levels of LH, FSH and progesterone in anoestrous ewes.

The effects of 100-mg progesterone implants in anoestrous ewes on plasma progesterone and gonadotrophin levels are described. Implant removal resulted in a surge of plasma gonadotrophins and ovulation, but there was no evidence of behavioural oestrus in 90% of the ewes. These results are discussed.