J Vet Sci.  2008 Sep;9(3):273-279. 10.4142/jvs.2008.9.3.273.

Evaluation of the effect of a 3rd GnRH injection administered six days after the 2nd GnRH injection of Ovsynch on the reproductive performance of Japanese black cows

• Gaja AO
• Hamana K
• Kubota C
• Kojima T

• KMID: 1718580
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2008.9.3.273

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the reproductive performance of Japanese black cows following the 3rd injection of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue administered concurrently with Ovsynch-based treatment on day 6 (day 1 = the day of ovulation). In Experiment 1, 12 cows were allocated into three groups: a control group that was subjected to Ovsynch treatment and then injected with a placebo on day 6; group 1 (Ovsynch + GnRH), which was subjected to Ovsynch treatment and was injected with GnRH analogue on day 6, and group 2 (Ovsynch + controlled internal drug-release (CIDR) + GnRH), which received Ovsynch-CIDR treatment and was injected with GnRH analogue on day 6. Blood collection and ultrasonographic observation of the ovaries were conducted daily. Both treatments induced the formation of an accessory corpus luteum and significantly increased the cross-sectional area of the luteal tissue when compared to the control. However, plasma progesterone (P(4)) was significantly higher in the treatment groups than in the control group on days 11, 12, 17 and 18 in the group 1 and from day 10 to 21 in the group 2. In Experiment 2, 41 cows were assigned to the same three groups described above and then artificially inseminated on day 1. The pregnancy rates on day 45 did not differ among groups. In conclusion, administration of GnRH analogue on day 6 following Ovsynch-based treatment did not improve the reproductive performance of Japanese black cows, even though the P(4) concentration was higher in groups that received the GnRH.

Keyword

accessory corpus luteum; cow; GnRH analogue; Ovsynch

MeSH Terms

Animals
Cattle
Corpus Luteum/anatomy & histology/drug effects/physiology
Delayed-Action Preparations
Drug Administration Schedule
Estrus/drug effects/physiology
Female
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone/administration & dosage/*pharmacology
Japan
Ovulation/drug effects/physiology
Placebos
Progesterone/blood
Reproduction/drug effects/*physiology

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Experiment 1 protocol. All cows were pre-synchronized using single or double intra muscular injection of prostaglandin F2α analogue 11 days apart. Next, 12 cows were randomly allocated into three experimental groups. Ovsynch synchronization was then induced 8 ± 1 days after the last PGf2α injection. The cows in group 1 (Ovsynch + GnRH) were synchronized with Ovsynch followed by injection of 100 µg of GnRH analogue on day 6 (the day on which the 2nd GnRH analogue injection of Ovsynch protocol was administered was considered to be day 0). The cows in group 2 (Ovsynch + CIDR + GnRH) were synchronized with Ovsynch + CIDR followed by injection of 100 µg of GnRH analogue on by day 6. The remaining cows (Control) were synchronized with Ovsynch followed by injection with physiological saline (placebo) on day 6. All cows were monitored daily by real time ultrasonography until the next estrus. In addition, blood samples were collected daily from the time at which Ovsynch treatment began until ovulation in the first estrous cycle following the administration of Ovsynch. PGF; prostaglandin F2α. GnRH; gonadotropin releasing hormone. CIDR; controlled internal drug-release.

• 

  Fig. 2 Experiment 2 protocol. Multiparous Japanese black cows (n = 41) were randomly assigned into the three experimental groups (Ovsynch, Ovsynch + GnRH, and Ovsynch + CIDR + GnRH) that are described in the experiment 1 protocol, and then inseminated 16 to 20 h after receiving the 2nd GnRH analogue injection (day 0). On day 45, the cows were evaluated by palpation of the rectum to determine if they were pregnant.

• 

  Fig. 3 Cross-sectional area of dominant Follicles (DF) of different size and the cross-section area of the subsequently formed corpus luteum (CL). Values shown are the mean ± SD. Letters (a, b) and (a, c) on the same day indicate a statistical difference (p < 0.05). The DF at one day before ovulation was assigned to one of the following 3 categories based on its diameter, regardless of the group it was from: large (>13 mm), medium (<13 mm >11 mm), and small (<11 mm).

• 

  Fig. 4 Progesterone (P4) concentration of the control (Ovsynch) and experimental groups (Ovsynch + GnRH, and Ovsynch + CIDR + GnRH). Values shown are mean ± SD. Letter (a,b) indicates the value is significantly different from (c) (p < 0.05) on the same day.

• 

  Fig. 5 (A) Corpus luteum (CL) cross-sectional area (c-s area) and progesterone concentration of the control group (Ovsynch). Values are the mean ± SD. The progesterone (P4) concentration was positively correlated with the cross-sectional area of CL (r = 0.87). (B) Summation of the CL cross-sectional area (2 CL) and progesterone concentration of the Ovsynch + GnRH group. Values are the mean ± SD. The progesterone (P4) concentration was positively correlated with the cross-sectional area of the CL (r = 0.89). (C) Summation of the CL cross-sectional area (2 CL) and the progesterone concentration of the Ovsynch + CIDR + GnRH group. Values are the mean ± SD. The progesterone (P4) concentration was positively correlated with the cross-sectional area of the CL (r = 0.95).

• 

  Fig. 6 Cross-sectional area of the corpus luteum (CL) from the control (Ovsynch) and experimental groups (Ovsynch + GnRH, and Ovsynch + CIDR + GnRH). Value are the mean ± SD. (a, b) differ significantly from (c) from day 11 to day 23 (p < 0.05).

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