Increase in progesterone and luteal blood flow without a luteolytic response after prostaglandin F2α treatment in early luteal-phase heifers

Ovulation: Parallels With Inflammatory Processes

The midcycle surge of LH sets in motion interconnected networks of signaling cascades to bring about rupture of the follicle and release of the oocyte during ovulation. Many mediators of these LH-induced signaling cascades are associated with inflammation, leading to the postulate that ovulation is similar to an inflammatory response. First responders to the LH surge are granulosa and theca cells, which produce steroids, prostaglandins, chemokines, and cytokines, which are also mediators of inflammatory processes. These mediators, in turn, activate both nonimmune ovarian cells as well as resident immune cells within the ovary; additional immune cells are also attracted to the ovary. Collectively, these cells regulate proteolytic pathways to reorganize the follicular stroma, disrupt the granulosa cell basal lamina, and facilitate invasion of vascular endothelial cells. LH-induced mediators initiate cumulus expansion and cumulus oocyte complex detachment, whereas the follicular apex undergoes extensive extracellular matrix remodeling and a loss of the surface epithelium. The remainder of the follicle undergoes rapid angiogenesis and functional differentiation of granulosa and theca cells. Ultimately, these functional and structural changes culminate in follicular rupture and oocyte release. Throughout the ovulatory process, the importance of inflammatory responses is highlighted by the commonalities and similarities between many of these events associated with ovulation and inflammation. However, ovulation includes processes that are distinct from inflammation, such as regulation of steroid action, oocyte maturation, and the eventual release of the oocyte. This review focuses on the commonalities between inflammatory responses and the process of ovulation.

Onset of luteolytic action of exogenous prostaglandinF-2α during estrous cycle in goats

The objectives of these two experiments were to determine the day of onset of luteolysis after exogenous PGF-2α administration during the estrous cycle and the fertility of this synchronized estrus in goats. In the first experiment, during the breeding season, 48 Nubian does were estrous synchronized, using intravaginal sponges impregnated with a progestin, and estrus was detected by vasectomized bucks. The does were divided at random into three groups of 16 does each to be treated at days 2, 3, and 4 of the estrous cycle (estrus = day 0). Then, at each day of injection, the does were again randomly divided to receive a single dose of natural prostaglandin F-2α im (PGF-2α; 5 mg/doe; treatment [TRE] group) or sterile saline solution (control [CON] group; 1 mL/doe). Finally, the following groups were originated: TRE-2, CON-2, TRE-3, CON-3, TRE-4, and CON-4. The overall estrus response after treatment with PGF-2α (TRE group, 70.8%) was higher than saline (CON group, 12.5%, P ≤ 0.001). Estrus response for TRE-2, CON-2, TRE-3, CON-3, TRE-4, and CON-4 was 25% (2 of 8), 12.5% (1 of 8), 87.5% (7 of 8), 12.5% (1 of 8), 100% (8 of 8), and 0% (0 of 8) for the same groups, respectively. Estrus response was different between day 2 and days 3 and 4 (P ≤ 0.04) and not between day 3 and day 4 (P ≥ 0.05). In the second experiment, 15 multiparous Boer does were estrous synchronized with control internal drug release (CIDR, 300 mg progesterone = P₄) and PGF-2_α and randomly divided to receive one single dose of PGF-2α im at days 2, 3 or 4, after synchronized estrus (n = 5 at each day). The does were detected twice a day for estrus, and blood was collected daily for P₄ determination for 11 days after the synchronized estrus. Each doe in estrus was bred by hand mating to a proven male. All the does with a functional corpus/corpora luteum/lutea (CL; ≥1.0 ng/mL of P₄) responded to PGF-2α with a drop in P₄ levels that either lasted only 24 h for the does that did not show estrus (0.27 ± 0.10 ng/mL; n = 4) or persisted longer in all the does that showed estrus (0.22 ± 0.18 ng/mL; n = 10; P = 0.47). Estrus response for days 2, 3, and 4 was 20% (1 of 5), 80% (4 of 5), and 100% (5 of 5), respectively (P = 0.05). The conception rate was 100%, 100%, and 80% for the same days of administration, respectively (P = 0.64). It was concluded that luteolytic action of PGF-2α begins at day 3 of the estrous cycle by inducing an ovulatory and fertile estrus in goats.

Evaluation of bovine luteal blood flow by using color Doppler ultrasonography

Since luteal vascularization plays a decisive role for the function of the corpus luteum (CL), the investigation of luteal blood flow (LBF) might give valuable information about the physiology and patho-physiology of the CL. To quantify LBF, usually Power mode color Doppler ultrasonography is used. This method detects the number of red blood cells moving through the vessels and shows them as color pixels on the B-mode image of the CL. The area of color pixels is measured with computer-assisted image analysis software and is used as a semiquantitative parameter for the assessment of LBF. Although Power mode is superior for the evaluation of LBF compared to conventional color Doppler ultrasonography, which detects the velocity of blood cells, it is still not sufficiently sensitive to detect the blood flow in the small vessels in the center of the bovine CL. Therefore, blood flow can only be measured in the bigger luteal vessels in the outer edge of the CL. Color Doppler ultrasonographic studies of the bovine estrous cycle have shown that plasma progesterone (P4) concentration can be more reliably predicted by LBF than by luteal size (LS), especially during the CL regression. During the midluteal phase, cows with low P4 level showed smaller CL, but LBF, related to LS, did not differ between cows with low and high P4 levels. In contrast to non-pregnant cows, a significant rise in LBF was observed three weeks after insemination in pregnant cows. However, LBF was not useful for an early pregnancy diagnosis due to high LBF variation among cows. When the effects of an acute systemic inflammation and exogenous hormones on the CL are examined, the LBF determination is more sensitive than LS assessment. In conclusion, color Doppler ultrasonography of the bovine CL provides additional information on luteal function compared to measurements of LS and plasma P4, but its value as a parameter concerning assessment of fertility in cows has to be clarified.