Circulating bovine pregnancy associated glycoproteins are associated with late embryonic/fetal survival but not ovulatory follicle size in suckled beef cows.

The objective was to examine the relationship between ovulatory follicle size and embryo and fetal survival by using circulating concentrations of bovine pregnancy associated glycoproteins (bPAG) to detect the presence of an embryo or fetus and monitor placental function. Before examining the relationship between bPAG, ovulatory follicle size, and embryo and fetal survival, the half-life of bPAG was determined in Exp. 1. The half-life of bPAG after PGF2α-induced abortion on d 32 to 36 postinsemination was 35.8 ± 21.9 h (mean ± SD; range 7.1 to 78.5 h). In Exp. 2, suckled beef cows (n = 91) were treated with the CO-Synch protocol (GnRH on d -9, PGF2α on d -2, and GnRH and AI 48 h later [d 0]) and classified into 1 of 2 ovulatory follicle size groups: 1) small follicle (<12.5 mm; n = 25) or 2) large follicle (≥ 12.5 mm; n = 66). The first increase (P < 0.0001) in serum bPAG occurred in pregnant cows on d 24 after insemination and circulating bPAG decreased before a decrease in progesterone in 3 of 4 cows that lost an embryo or fetus. Pattern of secretion of bPAG in serum from d 24 to 60 after insemination (d 0) was affected by day (P < 0.0001), but not ovulatory follicle size. In Exp. 3, suckled beef cows (n = 1164) were administered the CO-Synch protocol either with (donor cows; n = 810) or without (recipient cows; n = 354) AI on d 0. Single embryos (n = 394) or oocytes (n = 45) were recovered from the donor cows [d 7; embryo transfer (ET)] and all live embryos were transferred into recipients the same day. Cows were classified on d 0 as having a small (<12.5 mm) or large (≥ 12.5 mm) ovulatory follicle, and randomly chosen as donors or recipients to remove confounding effects of ovulatory follicle size on fertility. Serum concentration of bPAG at d 28 was not affected by ovulatory follicle size (P = 0.85), embryo stage at ET (P = 0.75), embryo quality at ET (P = 0.64), estradiol at GnRH2 (P = 0.62) or serum progesterone at ET (d7; P = 0.14). Compared with cows that maintained pregnancy (n = 176), cows that exhibited late embryonic or fetal mortality (n = 19) after d 28 had decreased (P < 0.05) concentrations of bPAG on d 28. In summary, there was no relationship between serum bPAG and ovulatory follicle size or embryo stage or quality at ET; however, cows that lost an embryo after d 28 had reduced concentrations of bPAG on d 28 compared with cows that maintained pregnancy.

Preovulatory estradiol and the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy in suckled beef cows.

In postpartum beef cows, GnRH-induced ovulation of small dominant follicles decreased pregnancy rates and increased late embryonic/fetal mortality. In Exp. 1, single ovulation reciprocal embryo transfer (ET) was used to examine the relationship between preovulatory serum concentrations of estradiol at GnRH-induced ovulation in donor and recipient cows and establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Suckled beef cows (n = 1,164) were administered GnRH (GnRH1, 100 µg) on d -9 (GnRH1), PGF(2α) on d -2, and GnRH2 (GnRH2, 100 µg) on d 0 (CO-Synch protocol) either with (donors; n = 810) or without (recipients; n = 354) AI. Single embryos (n = 394) or oocytes (n = 45) were recovered from the donor cows (d 7; ET) and all live embryos were transferred into recipients. Serum concentration of estradiol at GnRH2 was positively correlated with follicle size at GnRH2 (r = 0.45, P < 0.01) and progesterone at ET (r =0.34, P < 0.01). Donor cows with greater estradiol at GnRH2 were more likely to yield an embryo than an unfertilized oocyte (P < 0.01). Donor and recipient cows were retrospectively divided into 4 groups [low estradiol (<8.4 pg/mL) or high estradiol (≥8.4 pg/mL)] based on serum concentration of estradiol at GnRH2. Pregnancy rate at d 27 for low-low (n = 78), low-high (n = 80), high-low (n = 91), and high-high (n = 101) groups (donor-recipient, respectively) was 45, 65, 43, and 61% respectively (P < 0.02). Because recipient cows with greater estradiol concentration at GnRH2 had greater pregnancy rates in Exp. 1, the objective of Exp. 2 was to evaluate the effect of estradiol supplementation on pregnancy rate. Ovulation was synchronized in suckled beef cows (n = 600) using the CO-Synch protocol with the insertion of a controlled internal drug release (CIDR; intravaginal progesterone supplement) from d -9 until d -2. Approximately one-half of the cows (n = 297) received an injection of estradiol cypionate (ECP; 0.5 mg intramuscularly) 24 h before AI. Compared with the no treatment (Control) cows, ECP treatment increased (P < 0.01) pregnancy rates of cows induced to ovulate smaller dominant follicles (<12.2 mm). In conclusion, GnRH-induced ovulation of small dominant follicles was associated with reduced serum estradiol, fertilization rate (donor cows), and pregnancy establishment (recipient cows). Furthermore, ECP supplementation during the preovulatory period increased pregnancy rates in cows induced to ovulate smaller dominant follicles.

Factors affecting preovulatory follicle diameter and ovulation rate after gonadotropin-releasing hormone in postpartum beef cows. Part I: Cycling cows.

Cows induced to ovulate small dominant follicles were reported to have reduced pregnancy rates compared with cows that ovulated large follicles. The reason for the presence of small dominant follicles at the time of GnRH-induced ovulation in timed AI protocols is unknown. The objectives of this experiment were to examine the role of day of the estrous cycle at initiation of treatment on ovulation after the first GnRH injection (GnRH1) and associated effects on growth rate and final size of the ovulatory follicle at the second GnRH injection (GnRH2), serum concentrations of estradiol at GnRH2, and subsequent luteal concentrations of progesterone in suckled beef cows. Estrous cycles of cows were manipulated to be at 1 of 5 specific days of the cycle (d 2, 5, 9, 13, and 18, d 0 = estrus; n = 12 per treatment group) at the beginning of the CO-Synch protocol (GnRH1 on d -9, PGF(2alpha) on d -2, and GnRH2 on d 0). Day of the estrous cycle at GnRH1 did not affect the size of the preovulatory follicle or the proportion of cows ovulating at GnRH2 (P = 0.65 and 0.21, respectively). When all cows were included in the analysis, cows that ovulated after GnRH1 had similar follicle size at GnRH2 compared with cows that did not ovulate after GnRH1 (11.4 and 10.4 mm, respectively; P = 0.23). When only cows that could ovulate after GnRH1 (excluding cows treated on d 2) were included in the analysis, cows that ovulated to GnRH1 had a larger follicle at GnRH2 than cows that did not ovulate after GnRH1 (11.4 and 9.5 mm, respectively; P = 0.04). Follicle growth from d -5 to 0 was similar between cows that ovulated after GnRH1 and cows that did not (1.01 vs. 0.89 mm/d, respectively; P = 0.75). There was a tendency for faster follicle growth rate in cows that ovulated a large follicle (>11 mm) compared with cows that ovulated a small follicle (< or = 11 mm; 1.01 vs. 0.86 mm/d, respectively; P = 0.07). Serum concentrations of estradiol at GnRH2 and progesterone after ovulation were reduced in cows that ovulated small follicles compared with cows that ovulated large follicles (P = 0.006 and 0.005, respectively). In summary, day of the estrous cycle at initiation of synchronization did not affect ovulatory follicle size, but follicle growth rates affected the size of the follicle at GnRH2. Cows that ovulated a small follicle had reduced serum concentrations of estradiol at GnRH2 and progesterone after ovulation.

Factors affecting preovulatory follicle diameter and ovulation rate after gonadotropin-releasing hormone in postpartum beef cows. Part II: Anestrous cows.

There is large variation in dominant follicle diameter at the time of GnRH-induced ovulation in the CO-Synch protocol [a first GnRH injection on d -9 (GnRH1), followed by PGF(2alpha) on d -2, and a second GnRH injection (GnRH2) with timed AI on d 0], and the reason for the presence of small dominant follicles at GnRH2 is not known. Our hypothesis was that ovulatory response to GnRH1 and progesterone exposure [controlled intravaginal drug-releasing insert (CIDR; EAZI-Breed, Pfizer Animal Health, New York, NY)] would affect ovulatory follicle size at GnRH2 in anestrous cows. This study used a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments in which anestrous suckled beef cows (n = 55) either ovulated (Ov1+) or failed to ovulate (Ov1-) after GnRH1 and either received (CIDR+) or did not receive (CIDR-) a 7-d CIDR treatment (from GnRH1 to PGF(2alpha)), resulting in the following treatment groups: Ov1+CIDR+, Ov1-CIDR+, Ov1+CIDR-, and Ov1-CIDR- (n = 9, 17, 11, and 18, respectively). The Ov1+ cows had larger follicles at GnRH2 (12.3 vs. 11.0 mm; P = 0.04), a decreased proportion of small follicles within cows that ovulated to GnRH2 (2/16 vs. 14/23; P = 0.003), and a similar growth rate of the ovulatory follicle from d -5 to 0 (d 0 = GnRH2; 1.1 +/- 0.06 vs. 1.1 +/- 0.07 mm/d; P = 0.99) compared with Ov1- cows. Administration of a CIDR had no effect on follicle diameter at GnRH2 (11.8 vs. 11.2 mm; P = 0.3), proportion of small ovulatory follicles at GnRH2 (7/19 vs. 9/20; P = 0.6), and follicular growth rate from d -5 to 0 (d 0 = GnRH2; 1.2 +/- 0.07 vs. 1.1 +/- 0.07 mm/d; P = 0.76). Administration of a CIDR, but not ovulation to GnRH1, increased follicle growth from d -2 to 0 (d 0 = GnRH2; P = 0.03 and 0.9, respectively). Large follicles (>11 mm) had a similar growth rate from d -5 to 0 (d 0 = GnRH2; P = 0.44) compared with small follicles (1.1 +/- 0.07 vs. 1.2 +/- 0.07 mm/d), but the large ovulatory follicles were larger at d -5 compared with small ovulatory follicles (P < 0.001). Follicle diameter was positively correlated with serum concentrations of estradiol at GnRH2 (r = 0.622; P < 0.0001). In summary, ovulation to GnRH1, but not CIDR administration, resulted in increased dominant follicle diameter at GnRH2 in anestrous suckled beef cows. Large follicles were already larger 5 d before GnRH2 but grew at a rate similar to small follicles; follicle size was positively correlated with serum concentrations of estradiol at the time of GnRH-induced ovulation.

Effect of ovulatory follicle size and expression of estrus on progesterone secretion in beef cows.

Induced ovulation of small dominant follicles (SF, < 12 mm; CO-Synch protocol) in postpartum beef cows resulted in formation of corpora lutea (CL) that exhibited a delayed rise in progesterone (P4) compared with CL from large dominant follicles (LF, > 12 mm). Experiment 1 characterized P4 concentrations from ovulation to subsequent estrus among GnRH-induced or spontaneously ovulated SF (or= 12 mm) to determine if P4 secretion by CL formed from GnRH-induced SF remains lower postovulation in nonlactating beef cows. Nonlactating beef cows were induced to ovulate 48 h after PGF(2alpha) (CO-Synch; GnRH on d - 9, PGF(2alpha) on d - 2, and GnRH on d 0) or exhibited estrus and spontaneously ovulated after PGF(2alpha). Follicle size was measured at the second GnRH in cows induced to ovulate or approximately 3 h after the onset of estrus for cows that ovulated spontaneously. Cows were classified into 1 of 4 groups: 1) GnRH-induced ovulation-SF (or= 12 mm; Ind-LF; n = 16); 3) spontaneous ovulation-SF (or= 12 mm; Spon-LF; n = 22). Serum concentrations of P4 from d 3 to 15 were reduced in the Ind-SF compared with the Ind-LF (P = 0.05), Spon-SF (P = 0.07), and Spon-LF (P = 0.03). Experiment 2 characterized P4 concentrations (0 to 60 d postAI) among GnRH-induced or spontaneously ovulated SF (or= 13 mm) to determine if P4 secretion by CL formed from GnRH-induced SF remained lower during early gestation. Ovulation was induced with GnRH 48 h after PGF(2) (CO-Synch) or occurred spontaneously, and ovulatory follicle size was measured at AI. Lactating cows were classified into 1 of 3 groups: 1) GnRH-induced ovulation-SF (or= 13 mm; Ind-LF; n = 43); or 3) spontaneous ovulation-LF (>or= 13 mm; Spon-LF; n = 27). The increase in P4 concentrations was greater (P = 0.06) in pregnant (d 2 to 12) compared with nonpregnant cows. Also, the increase in P4 from d 2 to 12 was greater (P = 0.01) in the Ind-LF compared with the Ind-SF groups, but there was no difference (P = 0.94) among groups in P4 from d 14 to 60 in pregnant cows. Follicle size at AI influenced the increase in P4 in cows that failed to conceive (P = 0.007), but not among cows that became pregnant (P = 0.32) to AI. In summary, P4 secretion after GnRH-induced ovulation of SF was decreased from d 2 to 12 compared with that of LF, but was similar among pregnant cows from d 14 to 60 postAI (d 0).

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone-induced ovulation and luteinizing hormone release in beef heifers: effect of day of the cycle.

The COSynch protocol has been used to synchronize ovulation and facilitate fixed-time AI in beef cattle. Establishment and maintenance of pregnancy was negatively affected, in previous studies, by GnRH-induced ovulation of small dominant follicles (/=10 mm) and increased ovulatory response after GnRH 2.

Rehabilitation of the anterior cruciate ligament in the athlete.

Recent medical advances in diagnosis, surgical technique, bracing and postoperative rehabilitation have greatly improved subjective and objective results following anterior cruciate ligament surgery. A team approach involving patient, therapist, athletic trainer, and surgeon is vital to a successful outcome. Surgical rationale and postoperative rehabilitation should be based on sound scientific data, recognising the need for static and dynamic knee stability. The rehabilitation programme should incorporate principles which enhances the well-being of the musculoskeletal system, avoiding potential problems such as periarticular contractures, disuse atrophy, negative cartilage changes, and cardiopulmonary deconditioning. This article is an attempt to summarise the scientific data and principles, and describe a rehabilitation programme which adheres to the data and principles outlined.