Systemic effect of follicle-stimulating hormone and intraovarian effect of the corpus luteum on complete regression vs recovery of regressing wave-2 follicles in heifers

An intraovarian mechanism that enhances the effect of an FSH surge on recovery of subordinate follicles in heifers

The effect of the future dominant follicle (DF), corpus luteum (CL), and side (left ovary [LO] and right ovary [RO]) on FSH-induced recovery (increase in diameter) of regressing subordinate follicles was studied in heifers. The DF of wave 2 and the largest subordinate follicle remained intact (controls, n = 14 heifers) or were ablated (n = 14 heifers) on a mean of 13 d postovulation when the DF was ∼10 mm (hour 0). Concentration of FSH (P < 0.0004) and diameter of subordinate follicles (P < 0.0002) decreased between hours -48 to 0 combined for the control and ablation groups. Thereafter, follicle diameter continued to decrease in the controls. Concentration of FSH increased (P < 0.05) and diameter of subordinates began to increase at hour 12 in the ablation group. Follicle-stimulating hormone increased to hour 24 and then returned to the hour 0 concentration by hour 72, completing the induced FSH surge. Concentration of LH began to increase at hour 0 in each group and at a similar rate between groups. Follicle recovery in the ablation group was compared among 8 subgroups as defined by the 2 sides and 4 intraovarian patterns (DF-CL pattern, both structures in same ovary; DF pattern, DF alone; CL pattern, CL alone; and devoid pattern, both structures absent). Follicle diameter increased (P < 0.05) between hours 24 and 48, and diameter at hours 24, 48, 72, and 96 involved a 3-way interaction (P < 0.0001) of pattern, side, and hour. The interaction was similar when diameter of the DF that originated from a recovered subordinate was either included or excluded in the analysis. Diameter of subordinate follicles in the ablation group at hour 96 was greater (P < 0.05) in the DF-CL/RO and DF/RO subgroups than that in the devoid/LO, devoid/RO, and CL/LO subgroups. The DF-CL/LO and CL/RO subgroups were intermediate. For follicles that decreased in diameter before hour 0, a greater (P < 0.05) percentage increased after hour 0 when the ovary contained a DF and was in the RO (DF-CL/RO and DF/RO subgroups) than for the remaining subgroups even after excluding the DF that originated from a subordinate. Results supported the hypotheses that (1) an induced FSH surge can stimulate the recovery of regressing subordinate follicles and (2) recovery of regressing subordinate follicles by FSH involves an intraovarian mechanism. Our interpretation is that the intraovarian mechanism that enhances the stimulatory effect of FSH on recovery of subordinate follicles was effective only in RO and only when it contained a DF.

Temporal relationships between minor, preovulatory, or periovulatory FSH surges and the emergence and development of 2-mm follicles of wave 1 in Bos taurus heifers

The number and day of emergence (first detection) of 2-mm follicles and the number and day when the 2-mm follicles reached 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-mm during wave 1 were determined every 0.5 d (n = 9 heifers). Emergence of the follicles at each of the indicated diameters was normalized to the beginning and ending nadir and the peak of each of a minor FSH surge, the preovulatory surge, and the periovulatory surge. Relative to the day of ovulation (day 0), the minor FSH surge, preovulatory surge, and periovulatory surge encompassed (nadir to nadir) days -7.0 to -2.5 (peak, day -4.0), days -2.5 to -0.5 (peak, day -1.0), and days -0.5 to 4 (peak, day 0), respectively. Distinct mean nadirs occurred between the minor and preovulatory surges and between the preovulatory and periovulatory surges. A small percentage of 2-mm follicles (12%) and 3-mm follicles (2%) emerged during the minor FSH surge. The 4-mm follicles emerged during the preovulatory surge (24% of follicles) and periovulatory surge (76%). The 5-mm and 6-mm follicles emerged only during the periovulatory surge. The first increase (P < 0.05) in number of 2-, 3-, and 4-mm follicles began at 1.5, 1.0, and 0 d, respectively, before the nadir at the beginning of the preovulatory surge. The first increase (P < 0.05) in number of 5- and 6-mm follicles began at 0.5 and 0 d, respectively, before the intervening nadir between the preovulatory and periovulatory surges. Results demonstrated that each of the 3 surges including the minor surge contributed to the emergence of follicles at various diameters during wave 1. The emergence of 2-mm follicles during the descending portion of the minor surge indicated that smaller follicles (eg, 1 mm) apparently emerged during the major portion of the minor surge. The increasing diameter of the 2 largest follicles was not interrupted during the distinct intervening nadir between the preovulatory and periovulatory FSH surges.

Characteristics and functions of a minor FSH surge near the end of an interovulatory interval in Bos taurus heifers

The apparent function of a minor FSH surge based on temporality with follicular events was studied in 10 heifers with 2 follicular waves per interovulatory interval. Individual follicles were tracked from their emergence at 2 mm until their outcome was known, and a blood sample was collected for FSH and LH assay every 12 h from day -14 (day 0 = ovulation) to day 4. A minor FSH surge occurred in each heifer (peak, day -4.6 ± 0.2). Concentration of LH increased (P < 0.05) during the FSH increase of the minor surge but did not decrease during the FSH decrease. A minor follicular wave with 8.2 ± 2.0 follicles occurred in 6 of 10 heifers. The maximal diameter (mean, 3.4 ± 0.9 mm) of 77% of the minor-wave follicles occurred in synchrony on day -4.4 ± 0.4. Most (59%) of minor-wave follicles regressed before ovulation and 41% decreased and then increased in diameter (recovered) on day -1.9 ± 0.3 to become part of the subsequent wave 1. A mean of 3.7 ± 0.9 regressing subordinate follicles from wave 2 recovered on the day before or at the peak of the minor FSH surge. The growth rate of the preovulatory follicle decreased (P < 0.02) for 3 d before the peak of the minor FSH surge and then increased (P < 0.03). Concentration of LH increased slightly but significantly temporally with the resurgence in growth rate of the preovulatory follicle. A minor LH surge peaked (P < 0.0002) on day 3 at the expected deviation in growth rates between the future dominant and subordinate follicles. Results indicated on a temporal basis that the recovery of some regressing subordinate follicles of wave 2 was attributable to the minor FSH surge. The hypothesis was supported that some regressing follicles from the minor follicular wave recover to become part of wave 1.