110 Pregnancy rate and embryo viability in response to chorionic gonadotrophins given for oestrus induction and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone 5 days after timed laparoscope-aided insemination of lactating and non-lactating goats

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 162
Author(s):  
M. Calle ◽  
L. Dawson ◽  
M. Rojas ◽  
E. Loetz

Gonadotrophins are included in oestrous/ovulation synchronization (E/OS) regimens when breeding early in the transitional phase to promote follicular development. However, the time of use has been a matter of debate. Hence, the objective of this study was to determine whether equine and human chorionic gonadotrophins (eCG and hCG, respectively) given 24h before or 24h after concurrent removal of intravaginal progestagen (P4) and prostaglandin (PGF2α) delivery influences pregnancy rate (PR) and/or embryo viability (EV). Relatedly, the influence of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) 5 days post-breeding (dpb) on PR and/or EV was also considered. A prospective randomised control trial was conducted using lactating and non-lactating Alpine breed goats of different parity, average±s.e. age, and bodyweight (3.7±2.6), and (52.5±7), respectively. Goats were time-bred at 48h after P4 removal by laparoscopy (LAI; n=75) or by natural service (NS; n=29) during the early transitional breeding phase in mid-September through mid-December (corresponding to 12:12h daylight/darkness). E/OS used an intravaginal device containing 300mg of P4 for 12±1d. At P4 removal, 2mL of PGF2α was administered IM. Twenty-four hours before (E) or 24h after (L) P4 removal, an IM dose of 1.5mL containing 120IU of eCG and 60IU of hCG was given. A third control (C) group (n=38) was not exposed to gonadotrophins. GnRH analogue was given (n=51) 5 days after insemination, and the remaining goats (n=53) received an IM dose of 2mL of saline solution. PR was evaluated at 18 to 24 (dpb) by non-return to oestrus (NRE), at 30 dpb by pregnancy-specific protein B (PSPB), and at 40 dpb by ultrasound imaging (UI). EV was determined from the difference between pregnancy outcomes for NRE and PSPB, and PSPB and UI. Statistical analysis (JMP/SAS vs.11; SAS Institute Inc.) were obtained using logistic regression. All concomitant variables (i.e. parity, bodyweight, days of P4 exposure, and lactation were not influenced by PR or EV; P>0.07). The overall PR was 71% for LAI and 69% for NS and, as shown in Table 1, was similar (P>0.49) at all times (at 18 to 24, 30, and 40 dpb). Likewise, the breeding procedure did not influence the levels of EV at 30 or 40 dpb. E/OS protocol or the use of GnRH 5 dpb did not affect PR or EV at any of the time points evaluated. Table 1. Main effect mean comparisons and logistic model probabilities for pregnancy rate (PR) and embryo viability (EV) by main treatment effect Response variable (days post-breeding) Breeding procedure E/OS Protocol Gonadotrophin LAI NS P> Control Early Late P> GnRH Placebo P> PR at 18–24 77 72 0.49 76 73 78 0.83 78 74 0.49 PR at 30 68 66 0.65 66 65 70 0.82 71 64 0.43 PR at 40 69 69 0.78 66 69 73 0.77 73 66 0.43 EV at 30 89 90 0.94 86 94 90 0.65 92 87 0.46 EV at 40 88 95 0.42 86 89 94 0.73 92 87 0.43

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 202
Author(s):  
M. Calle ◽  
L. Dawson ◽  
M. Rojas ◽  
E. Loetz

Oestrus and ovulation synchronisation (E/OS) regimens containing equine chorionic gonadotrophin (ECG) are used for follicular stimulation during the early transitional reproductive phase and goat anestrus. However, the effects of ECG when applied at different times are unknown. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the influence of ECG, breeding procedure, and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) on pregnancy, embryonic viability, and kidding rate in dairy goats. We used 41 alpine goats (mean±standard deviation: 3.82±1.2 years old; 57.0±6.0kg of bodyweight; 1.75-2.25 body condition score; 195±16.7 days in milk; range of 1-4 kiddings). This study took place during the transitional phase (12h of daylight, 12h of dark) in September (35.9° N, 97.3° W) using controlled internal drug release intravaginal inserts (300mg of progestagen; P4) for 11, 12, or 13 days with a 2-mL intramuscular dose containing 10mg of dinoprost tromethamine at P4 removal. The E/OS protocols differed on the time when the 1-mL intramuscular dose of P.G. 600© (Merck Animal Health; 120 and 60IU of ECG and human chorionic gonadotrophin, respectively) was given (i.e. early=24h before P4 removal; late=24h after P4 removal), and the traditional control group did not receive P.G. 600. Time breeding, either by laparoscopic-aided insemination using frozen-thawed semen (n=28) or natural (n=13), was scheduled 48h after P4 removal. To improve embryo survival, 5 days post-breeding (dpb) 21 goats received 1mL of GnRH analogue intramuscularly as 50µgmL−1 gonadorelin diacetate tetrahydrate, and 20 control goats received 1mL of placebo intramuscularly. Pregnancy rate (PR) was evaluated at d 18-24 by non-return to oestrus, d 30 by pregnancy-specific protein B, and d 40 by ultrasound. Kidding rate was determined for females with at least one newborn. Logistic regression was used to establish statistical significance. Days of P4 exposure did not influence any response variable (P>0.20). Table 1 summarises the results; age influenced all PR evaluations. The number of kiddings and administration of GnRH at 5 dpb had a significant effect on PR, whereas bodyweight, days in milk, E/OS protocol, and breeding procedure were not influential. Embryo viability and kidding rate were not influenced by any variable. In short, P.G. 600 had no bearing on any response variable analysed. Late-lactating goats can be evaluated early in the transitional breeding phase using PR at 18-24, 30, or 40 dpb. As indicated by the lack of effect on embryo viability at 30 and 40 days, the mechanism by which GnRH increases PR was not by decreasing embryo mortality. Table 1.Logistic model independent variable probabilities on response variables1 Response variable Age (years) BW Kidding DIM E/OS protocol GnRH Breeding procedure PR 18-24 d 0.02 0.65 0.15 0.52 0.37 0.21 0.30 PR 30 d 0.01 0.56 0.05 0.58 0.61 0.05 0.39 PR 40 d 0.001 0.12 0.01 0.60 0.62 0.02 0.35 EV 30 d 0.62 0.96 0.61 0.63 0.30 0.32 0.36 EV 40 d 0.44 0.90 0.26 0.36 0.46 0.17 0.40 KR 0.83 0.93 0.63 0.86 0.42 0.29 0.35 1BW=body weight; DIM=days in milk; E/OS=oestrus/ovulation synchronisation; GnRH=gonadotrophin-releasing hormone; PR=pregnancy rate; EV=embryo viability at 30 and 40 d; KR=kidding rate.


2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 163
Author(s):  
F. Encinas ◽  
M. Rojas ◽  
L. Dawson ◽  
E. Loetz

Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) or equine and human chorionic gonadotrophins (eCG and hCG) were evaluated for oestrus/ovulation synchronization (E/OS), as well as the influence of GnRH 5 days post-breeding (dpb) on embryo viability (EV), and progesterone (P4) levels on Day 16 and 30 after laparoscopic AI (LAI) or natural service (NS). Fifty-four lactating/non-lactating Alpine breed goats (average of 3.82±1.2s.d. years of age) of mixed parity were E/OS during the early transitional breeding phase using 12±1 day of 300mg of P4 and 2mL of prostaglandin F2α analogue given at P4 removal. The experiment included a sub-group from a larger study in which a completely randomised design was used. The germane data were arranged as a 2×2×2 factorial. This study focused on goats receiving 120IU of eCG and 60IU of hCG (n=40), or GnRH analogue (n=14) 24h after P4 removal. At 5 dpb, 25 goats received 1mL (IM) of GnRH and the control (n=29) received 1mL of physiologic saline. Goats were time-bred 48h after P4 withdrawal by LAI (n=33) or NS (n=21). Pregnancy was diagnosed at 18 to 24, 30, and 40 dpb by non-return to oestrus, pregnancy-specific protein B, and ultrasound, respectively. EV was evaluated as the difference between pregnancy diagnosis results. Blood serum P4 was evaluated at 5, 16, and 30 dpb. A logistic regression model was used for statistical analysis. Pregnancy rate (PR) for LAI or NS, at 18–24, 30, and 40 days was 73 vs. 76%, 67 vs. 62%, and 64 vs. 67%, respectively (P>0.72). In contrast, when GnRH was used for E/OS, the 5 dpb GnRH influenced EV at 30 days (95 vs. 81%; P=0.06) but not at 40 days (89 vs. 86%; P>0.35), compared with placebo. Similarly, with the exception of PR at 40 days (43 vs. 72%; P=0.05), for the GnRH and eCG/hCG E/OS groups, respectively, PR was not affected (P>0.12) by either E/OS or GnRH 5 dpb or their interaction (P>0.35) at any pregnancy diagnosis (i.e. 18–24, 30, or 40 dpb). Likewise, levels of P4 at 5, 16, and 30 dpb did not affect PR at 18–24, 30, and 40 dpb (P>0.92, 0.71, and 0.11). As shown in Table 1, the level of P4 was not influenced for goats receiving GnRH or placebo at 5, 16, or 30 dpb. The baseline mean P4 blood serum level for goats receiving GnRH 5 dpb differed at 16 but not at 30 dpb (P<0.001). Table 1 Blood serum progesterone (P4, ng mL−1) in response to gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) or placebo given 5 days post-breeding Sampling day GnRH Placebo P >1 Mean ±SE Mean ±SE 5 (baseline) 6.2a 0.83 5.7a 0.72 0.66 16 11.7b 1.11 11.0b 1.05 0.65 30 6.2a 0.89 7.6c 0.84 0.26 a–cMean values with different superscripts within a column signify statistical difference for GnRH (P<0.001) and placebo (P<0.02). 1Probability for mean differences in the same row.


1988 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 487-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher H. Knight ◽  
Colin J. Wilde

SummaryFive lactating goats which had kidded normally in March were mated during seasonal anoestrus in May, at the time of peak milk production, after ovulation had been induced using gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (Knight et al. 1988). Milk yield was unaffected by the hormone treatment, and decreased at the same rate as that of control (non-pregnant) goats for the first 8 weeks of the pregnancy. Thereafter yield declined more quickly in the test goats and just before parturition (in October) was 57% of the control value. Following parturition in the test animals, yield rose rapidly as the second lactation was established. None became ‘dry’ at any stage. Yield continued to decline with advancing lactation in the controls, which were mated normally in October or November and dried-off in December. During their second (‘extra’) lactation in the winter the test animals produced 12% less than in a normal second lactation in summertime; during the year the extra lactation meant that the test animals produced 73% more milk than the controls. In some, a second concurrent pregnancy was established during the extra lactation, with the resuit that three lactations were obtained in the time normally taken for two. Mammary cell number and proliferation rate were both higher in the pregnant animals than in the controls in week 23 of the first lactation.


1990 ◽  
Vol 127 (2) ◽  
pp. 273-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. M. Picton ◽  
C. G. Tsonis ◽  
A. S. McNeilly

ABSTRACT The hypogonadotrophism model induced by the chronic administration of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist was used to investigate the effects of different concentrations of FSH with or without LH pulses on the stimulation of follicular development in the ewe. Continuous administration of an agonist (buserelin) by osmotic minipump to thirty-six Welsh Mountain ewes from the early luteal phase for 5 weeks resulted in a sustained suppression of the plasma concentration of FSH and inhibited the pulsatile release of LH. The inhibition of gonadotrophin secretion was due to the desensitization and/or down-regulation of pituitary gonadotroph function, since the agonist-treated animals showed no response to a challenge of 1 μg GnRH. During week 6 of agonist treatment, ewes were infused with either 4-hourly pulses of ovine LH (9 μg/pulse), low concentrations of ovine FSH (3 μg/h) or high concentrations of FSH (9 μg/h) alone or with 4-hourly pulses of LH. After 5 days of gonadotrophin infusion, there was no difference between the mean number of follicles per ewe from the animals treated with LH alone, low concentrations of FSH with or without LH pulses or the high concentration of FSH alone compared with the mean number of follicles from control ewes on day 8 of the luteal phase. Infusion of the high concentration of FSH alone stimulated the development of an increased number of large oestrogenic follicles (follicles > 2·5 mm in diameter and secreting > 3·7 nmol oestradiol/h in vitro) compared with control ewes. The addition of high-amplitude LH pulses to the infusion of the high concentration of FSH prevented follicles developing beyond 2·5 mm in diameter, but doubled the number of small follicles (≤2·5 mm) present in the ovaries. These results show that normal follicular development can be induced by physiological concentrations of FSH alone in the absence of pulsatile LH release. The addition of high-amplitude LH pulses antagonized this stimulatory effect of FSH on follicle growth in the ewe. Journal of Endocrinology (1990) 127, 273–283


1991 ◽  
Vol 128 (3) ◽  
pp. 449-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. M. Picton ◽  
A. S. McNeilly

ABSTRACT Ewes chronically treated with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist were used to investigate the importance of the peripheral concentration of LH in FSH-stimulated follicular development. Twenty-four Welsh Mountain ewes were treated with two agonist implants containing 3·3 mg buserelin. During week 6 of treatment all the ewes were given a 72-h continuous infusion of ovine FSH alone (3 μg/h) or FSH with large (7·5 μg)- or small (2·5 μg) amplitude pulses of ovine LH delivered at 4-hourly intervals. The importance of baseline LH throughout the FSH infusion was evaluated in six animals which were treated with a specific antiserum against bovine LH (LH-AS) 15–20 h before the start of FSH treatment. In the absence of LH-AS, infusion of FSH alone or with large or small pulses of LH stimulated the development of a normal number of small follicles (≤ 2·5 mm in diameter) and large follicles (> 2·5 mm in diameter). These follicles had normal diameter and steroid secretion compared with control ewes on day 8 of the luteal phase. In contrast, the animals pretreated with LH-AS developed no follicles > 2·0 mm in diameter but the number of small follicles per ewe was significantly (P < 0·05) increased. These results support the hypothesis that FSH in the absence of pulsatile LH release stimulates preovulatory follicular development in ewes treated with GnRH agonist. The follicular response to LH pulses of different amplitude is dependent on both the stage of development of the follicle and the peripheral concentration of FSH. The endogenous basal level of LH present throughout the FSH infusion is essential for FSH to induce follicle growth beyond > 2·5 mm in diameter. Journal of Endocrinology (1991) 128, 449–456


1995 ◽  
Vol 132 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
John AM Mattheij ◽  
Hans JM Swarts

Mattheij JAM, Swarts HJM. Induction of luteinized unruptured follicles in the rat after injection of luteinizing hormone early in pro-oestrus. Eur J Endocrinol 1995;132:91–6. ISSN 0804–4643 The cause of formation of luteinized unruptured follicles (LUF) is unknown. Formation of LUF was studied after injection of a varying small dose of luteinizing hormone (LH) with or without subsequent injection of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH); in addition, the effect of suppression of prolactin on LUF formation was studied. Luteinization without ovulation occurred in virtually all graafian follicles, if 0.5–1.0 μg of LH was injected some hours before the presumed endogenous LH surge (suppressed by Nembutal); with increasing doses of LH progressively increasing numbers of ovulations were observed. If in early pro-oestrus 1 μg of GnRH was given 4 h after 1 μg of LH, formation of LUF was partly prevented; if the interval between LH and GnRH was 8 h or more, the great majority of graafian follicles developed into LUF. If early in pro-oestrus 1 μg of LH was given and 8 h later 0.1 μg of a potent GnRH analogue, about 50% of the follicles became LUF; in similarly treated rats, suppression of prolactin by ergocryptine reduced but did not prevent LUF formation. The data support the idea that deficient LH secretion in the period before ovulation may be involved in the formation of LUF. John AM Mattheij, Department of Human and Animal Physiology, Haarweg 10, 6709 PJ Wageningen, The Netherlands


1986 ◽  
Vol 111 (2) ◽  
pp. 228-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Mongioi ◽  
Grazia Maugeri ◽  
Maria Macchi ◽  
Aldo Calogero ◽  
Enzo Vicari ◽  
...  

Abstract. A gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue, D-Ser[TBU]LRH-EA10, (GnRH-A), at a dose of 200 μg was given daily for 2 months to 6 women with polycystic ovarian disease (PCO). Prior to therapy the patients presented elevated LH, testosterone (T), oestrone (E1) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the circulation. In response to GnRH-A, these subjects exhibited a marked decrease in circulating T, DHT and androstenedione (A) levels as measured 24 h after GnRH-A injection, by 4 weeks and onwards (P < 0.05). After 2 weeks of daily administration, the serum LH profile, evaluated by sampling at 2, 4. 7 and 24 h after injection of GnRH-A, was not different from baseline, whereas after 4, 6 and 8 weeks the levels were significantly lower (*P < 0.01). The profile of serum T levels was unmodified at the second week, but significantly decreased thereafter (*P <0.01). At the end of treatment, the E1 concentrations, elevated in pre-injection condition, were markedly decreased. These data demonstrate that in PCO subjects, GnRH-A significantly lowered the elevated levels of androgens commonly found in these patients. The close correlation observed between reduced serum LH and androgen concentrations suggests that pituitary desensitization could be responsible for the reduction in androgen levels, and may be evidence for a gonadotrophin dependence of the elevated concentrations of T in these patients.


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