Skip to main content
Download PDF
  • Published:

Bovine Steroid Hormone and SHBG Concentrations Postpartum and during the Oestrous Cycle

Koncentrationerna av steroidhormoner och SHBG hos kor postpartum och under sexualcykeln

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 31, pages 459–469 (1990)Cite this article

Abstract

Changes in consecutive estimates of milk progesterone concentrations and serum steroid hormone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) concentrations in the postpartum period were examined in Finnish Ayrshire and Friesian dairy cows which were divided according to feeding into a hay group and a silage group. Milk progesterone concentrations rose above 10 nmol/1, indicating the start of ovarian luteal activity, slightly earlier in the silage group (28.4 ± 8.7 (S.D.) days, n = 19) than in the hay group (33.4 ± 10.3, n = 28) after calving. Likewise, the first normal oestrous cycles began slightly earlier in cows fed with silage. On the other hand, no differences in the beginning of ovarian luteal activity were observed between the breeds. Serum oestradiol-17β, oestrone, testosterone, 5α-dihydrotestosterone (5α-DHT), pregnenolone and progesterone concentrations were fairly unchanged during postpartum anoestrus after uterine involution and before ovarian cyclic activity. After first ovulation, considerable increases in milk and serum progesterone concentrations were observed. The increase was accompanied by elevations in serum pregnenolone and 5α-DHT concentrations. In the late luteal phase, progesterone, 5α-DHT and pregnenolone concentrations rapidly declined, leading to low hormone levels in pro-oestrus. Thereafter, serum pregenolone and 5α-DHT concentrations slightly increased during the follicular phase. On the other hand, oestradiol-17β concentrations were elevated in pro-oestrus and decreased after that, being lowest at met-oestrous. Serum testosterone concentrations appeared to be unchanged during postpartum anoestrus and over the oestrous cycle. Serum SHBG concentrations were unchanged during postpartum anoestrus and over the oestrous cycle, as well as in pregnant animals. The serum SHBG concentrations were about double those found in women with normal menstrual cycles, whereas oestradiol concentrations were much lower. At present, it cannot be explained how the biological effects of oestradiol become evident under such conditions.

Sammanfattning

Två koraser (Ayrshire och Friesian) med olika utfodringar studerades under en postpartum period. Progesteronkoncentrationerna i mjölk ökade en månad efter kalvningen men varken ras eller utfodring påverkade igångsattningen av sexualcykler. Koncentrationerna av steroidhormoner (testosteron, dihydrotestosteron, progesteron, pregnenolon, estradiol och estron) i blodet forblev på en oförändrad låg nivå under den postpartala anestrusperioden. Därefter konstaterades en ökning av progesteron i blodet samtidigt med en signifikant ökning av dihydrotestosteron och pregnenolon. Koncentrationerna minskade igen under den follikulära fasen. Koncentrationerna av serum SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin) var relativt hoga men någon variation på grund af sexualcykler forekom inte. Koncentrationen av SHBG i blodet ökade inte under dräktigheten, vilket är fallet hos gravida kvinnor.

References

  • Apter D, Jänne O, Karvonen P, Vihko R: Simultaneous determination of five sex hormones in human serum by radioimmunoassay after chromatography on lipidex-5000. Clin. Chem. 1976, 22, 32–38.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Apter D, Bolton N, Hammond G, Vihko R: Serum sex hormone-binding globulin during puberty in girls and in different types of adolescent menstrual cycles. Acta endocr. (Kbh.) 1984, 107, 413–419.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bermudez J, Doerr P. Lipsett M: Measurement of pregnenolone in blood. Steroids 1970, 16, 505–512.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bolton N, Ruokonen A, Vihko R: Stimulation of the synthesis of steroids and steroid sulphates in human testicular tissue in vitro by hCG and by 8-bromo-cyclic AMP. J. Steroid Biochem. 1985, 22, 481–485.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bulman D, Lamming GE: Milk progesterone levels in relation to conception, repeat breeding and factors influencing acyclicity in dairy cows. J. Reprod. Fertil. 1978, 54, 447–458.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bulman D, McKibbin P, Appleyard W, Lamming GE: Effect of a progesterone-releasing intravaginal device on the milk progesterone levels, vaginal flora, milk yield and fertility of cyclic and non-cyclic dairy cows. J. Reprod. Fert. 1978, 53, 289–296.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dobson H, Dean P: Radioimmunoassay of oestrone, oestradiol-17α and -17β in bovine plasma during the oestrous cycle and last stages of pregnancy. J. Endocr. 1974, 61, 479–486.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dobson H: Plasma gonadotropins and oestradiol during oestrus in the cow. J. Reprod. Fertil. 1978, 52, 51–53.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dunn J, Nisula B, Rodbard D: Transport of steroid hormones: Binding of 21 endogenous steroids to both testosterone-binding globulin and corticosteroid-binding globulin in human plasma. J. Clin. Endocr. 1981, 53, 58–68.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Glencross R, Munro I, Senior B, Pope G: Concentrations of oestradiol-17β, oestrone and progesterone in jugular venous plasma of cows during the oestrous cycle and in early pregnancy. Acta endocr. (Kbh.) 1973, 73, 374–384.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hammond G, Ahonen V, Vihko R: The radioimmunoassay of testosterone, 5α-dihydrotestosterone and their precursors in the human testis. J. Androl. (suppl.) 1978, 2, 391–399.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hammond GL, Lähteenmäki PLA: A versatile method for the determination of serum Cortisol binding globulin and sex hormone binding globulin binding capacities. Clin. Chim. Acta 1983, 132, 101–110.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heap R, Holdsworth R, Gadsby J, Laing J, Walters D: Pregnancy diagnosis in the cow from milk progesterone concentration. Brit. vet. J. 1976, 132, 445–463.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffmann B, Günzler O, Hamburger R, Schmidt W: Milk progesterone as a parameter for fertility control in cattle; methodological approaches and present status of application in Germany. Brit. vet. J. 1976, 132, 469–476.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hsu B, Siiteri P, Kuhn R: Interactions between corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) and target tissue. In: Forest MG, Pugeat M (eds.): Binding Proteins of Steroid Hormones. Colloque Inserm. John Libbey Eurotext Ltd., London 1986, 149, pp. 577–591.

  • Jänne O, Luukkainen T, Vihko R: Solvolyzable steroid conjugates in human plasma after metyrapone administration. Eur. J. Steroids 1967, 2, 457–471.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jänne O, Apter D, Vihko R: Assay of testosterone, progesterone and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone in human plasma by radioimmunoassay after separation on hydroxyalkoxypropyl Sephadex. J. Steroid Biochem. 1974, 5, 155–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lamming GE, Bulman D: The use of milk progesterone radioimmunoassay in the diagnosis and treatment of subfertility in dairy cows. Brit. vet. J. 1976, 132, 507–517.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leinonen P: Estrone and estradiol concentrations in the testis and spermatic and peripheral venous blood of elderly men: the influence of estrogen treatment. J. Steroid Biochem. 1980, 13, 737–742.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McKay S, Jenkin G, Thorburn G: Peripheral plasma concentrations of pregnenolone sulphate, pregnenolone, progesterone and 20α-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one in ewes throughout the oestrous cycle. J. Endocr. 1987, 113, 231–237.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosner W, Khan M, Romas N, Hryb D: Interactions of plasma steroid-binding proteins with cell membranes. In: Forest MG, Pugeat M (eds.): Binding Proteins of Steroid Hormones. Colloque Inserm, John Libbey Eurotext Ltd., London 1986, 149, pp. 567–575.

  • Schallenberger E, Schöndorfer A, Walter D: Gonadotropins and ovarian steroids in cattle. I. Pulsatile changes of concentrations in the jugular vein throughout the oestrous cycle. Acta endocr. (Kbh.) 1985, 108, 312–321.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schams D, Schallenberger E, Menzer K, Stangl J, Zottmeier K, Hoffman B, Karg H: Profiles of LH, FSH and progesterone in postpartum dairy cows and their relationship to the commencement of cyclic functions. Theriogenology 1978, 10, 453–468.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shemesh M, Ayalon N, Shalev E, Nerya A, Schindler H, Milguir F: Milk progesterone measurement in dairy cows: correlation with estrus and pregnancy determination. Theriogenology 1978, 9, 343–352.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shrimanker K, Salter L, Patterson R: Binding of steroid hormones and anabolic agents to bovine sex-hormone binding globulin. Horm. Metab. Res. 1985, 17, 454–457.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Siiteri P, Murai J, Hammond G: The serum transport of steroid hormones. Recent Progr. Hormone Res. 1982, 38, 452–510.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevenson J, Britt J: Relationship among luteinizing hormone, estradiol, progesterone, glucocorticoids, milk yield, body weight and postpartum ovarian activity in Holstein cows. J. Anim. Sci. 1979, 47, 570–577.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suzuki Y, Hagaki E, Mori H, Hosoya T: Isolation of testosterone-binding globulin from bovine serum by affinity chromatography and its molecular characterization. J. Biochem. 1977, 81, 1721–1731.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Suzuki Y, Sinohara H: Subunit structure of sex-steroid-binding plasma proteins from man, cattle, dog and rabbit. J. Biochem. 1984, 96, 751–759.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tabei T, Mickelson K, Neuhaus S, Petra P: Sex steroid binding protein (SBP) in dog plasma. J. Steroid Biochem. 1978, 9, 983–988.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wallenstein S, Zucker C, Fleiss J: Some statistical methods useful in circulation research. Circulat. Res. 1980, 47, 1–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van de Wiel D, Kalis C, Nasir Hussain Shah S: Combined use of milk progesterone profiles, clinical examination and oestrus observation for the study of fertility in the postpartum period of dairy cows. Brit. vet. J. 1979, 135, 568–577.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webb R, Lamming GE, Haynes N, Foxcroft G: Plasma progesterone and gonadotropin concentrations and ovarian activity in postpartum dairy cows. J. Reprod. Fertil. 1980, 59, 133–143.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vesanen M, Isomaa V, Alanko M, Vihko R: Cytosol estrogen and progesterone receptors in bovine endometrium after uterine involution postpartum and in the estrous cycle. Anim. Reprod. Sci. 1988, 17, 9–20.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Chemistry, University of Oulu, and Farmos Diagnostics, SF-90220, Oulunsalo, Finland

    M. Vesanen, V. Isomaa, N. J. Bolton, M. Alanko & R. Vihko

  2. Department for Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hautjärvi, Finland

    M. Vesanen, V. Isomaa, N. J. Bolton, M. Alanko & R. Vihko

Authors
  1. M. Vesanen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. V. Isomaa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. N. J. Bolton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Alanko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. R. Vihko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vesanen, M., Isomaa, V., Bolton, N.J. et al. Bovine Steroid Hormone and SHBG Concentrations Postpartum and during the Oestrous Cycle. Acta Vet Scand 31, 459–469 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03547529

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03547529

Keywords

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147