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Sequential Hormonal Changes in the Postpartum Dairy Cow

Hormonförändringar hos mjölkkor efter förlossningen

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 27, pages 280–295 (1986)Cite this article

Abstract

Peripheral plasma levels of 15-keto-13,14-dihydro-PGF2α, progesterone, Cortisol, LH and prolactin were studied in 6 primiparous postpartum dairy cows. The cows were followed by hormone measurements and clinical examinations from parturition until pregnancy was established. Blood was collected 3 times per day. The cervix, uterus and ovaries were examined by rectal palpation at 6–10 days intervals. The cows were observed for signs of oestrus twice daily and were additionally teased with a bull to provoke standing heat.

Four cows had a normal parturition and dropped their fetal membranes shortly afterwards. (NR group). The remaining 2 retained their fetal membranes for more than 24 h following parturition (RFM group). One out of 6 cows showed standing oestrus at the first ovulation, 4 animals were in oestrus at the second ovulation and all cows showed signs of oestrus at the third ovulation. Although the length of the first luteal phase varied from 9 to 22 days a corpus luteum was in all cases palpated. The secretion of progesterone during the first luteal phase was terminated by a PGF2α release.

A significant difference in 15-keto-13,14-dihydro-PGF2α levels between the 2 groups was found on days 0–4 (2.39 vs 6.87 nmol/1 at Ρ < 0.06). Postpartum prostaglandin F2α release as reflected by the level of 15-keto-13,14-dihydro-PGF2α lasted shorter in the NR group than in the RFM group (15–17 vs 21 days). Significant positive correlations between 15-keto-13,14-dihydro-PGF2α and Cortisol as well as between prolactin and Cortisol during the first 24 days postpartum were noted only in cows having normal parturition. The most pronounced daily prolactin variations occurred during the second luteal phase (NR group), when a significant difference between the times 8.00, 12.00 and 15.00 was recorded (14.7, 31.5 and 19.7 μg/l, respectively). Moreover, a partial negative correlation between log value of prolactin and arithmetical value of LH was found in these cows only during the first luteal phase after parturition.

Sammanfattning

På 6 mjölkkor, förstagångskalvare, studerades de perifera plasmanivåerne av 15-keto-13,14-dihydro-PGF2α, progesteron, kortisol, LH och och prolaktin efter förlossningen. Hormonmätning och klinisk undersökning gjordes fortlöpande under tiden från förlossningen till dess att ny dräktighet kunde konstateras. Blodprover samlades 3 gånger per dag. Cervix, uterus och äggstockar undersöktes genom rektalpalpation var 6–10 dag. Två gånger per dag gjordes observationer för att konstatera brunst och i närvaro av tjur testades ståreflexen.

Fyra av korna hade normal förlossning, och efterbörden avgick efter kort tid (NR-gruppen). De 2 övriga hade kvarbliven efterhörd i mer än ett dygn efter förlossningen (RFM-gruppen). En av 6 kor uppvisade ståbrunst vid den första ovulationen, 4 djur visade brunst vid den andra ovulationen, och alla djur visade tecken på brunst vid den tredje ovulationen. Längden på den första lutealfasen varierade mellan 9 och 22 dagar, men i samtliga fall kunde en gulkropp palperas. Progesteronproduktionen under den första lutealfasen avslutades i och med att PGF2α började frisättas.

Det påvisades en signifikant skillnad i 15-keto-13,14-dihydro-PGF2α-nivå mellan de 2 grupperna dag 0–4 (2,39 resp 6,87 nmol/1, P < 0,06). Frisättningen av prostaglandin F2α post partum varade längre i RFM-gruppen än i NR-gruppen (21 resp 15–17 dagar). Under de första dagarna påvisades en signifikant positiv korrelation mellan 15-keto-13,14-dihydro-PGF2α och kortisol liksom mellan prolaktin och kortisol hos de kor som hade normal förlossning. De mest uttalade dygnsvariationerna för prolaktin inträffade under den andra lutealfasen (NR-gruppen), när en signifikant skillnad noterades mellan klockslagen 8.00, 12.00 och 15.00 (14,7 resp 31,5 och 19,7 µg/1). Vidare noterades en partiell negativ korrelation mellan prolaktinets logvärde och det aritmetiska LH-värdet hos dessa kor, men bara under den första lutealfasen efter förlossningen.

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Acknowledgments

This work and the position of A. Madej were supported by grants from the Swedish Council for Forestry and Agricultural Research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Chemistry and Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden

    A. Madej, H. Kindahl, K. Larsson & L.-E. Edqvist

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  1. A. Madej
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  2. H. Kindahl
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  3. K. Larsson
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  4. L.-E. Edqvist
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Madej, A., Kindahl, H., Larsson, K. et al. Sequential Hormonal Changes in the Postpartum Dairy Cow. Acta Vet Scand 27, 280–295 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03548172

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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147