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Prostaglandin F2a and Progesterone Profiles in Post-partum Cows with Short Luteal Phases

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 38, pages 323–330 (1997)Cite this article

Abstract

Sequential blood samples were collected at 3 h interval from 3 Swedish dairy cows starting from the day of first post-partum ovulation for 10 consecutive days to describe short luteal phases. All plasma samples were analysed for the concentrations of the main PGF2α metabolite, 15-ketodihydro-PGF2α, whereas levels of progesterone were monitored from all morning samples. The day of ovulation was judged when the largest follicle, being monitored by a real-time B mode ultrasound scanner, could not be detected at the next examination. A sustained rise above 0.5 nmol/1 of progesterone level was taken as a clear-cut value between non-luteal and luteal phases. Luteal phases of less than 8 days were registered as a short luteal phase during which the cows showed a total of 8 to 11 significantly elevated levels of the prostaglandin metabolite. The number of the significant increases of the metabolite was calculated using a skewness method. Analysis of these significant increases showed the first 1 to 4 episodes without altering the concentrations of progesterone. This would suggest that the developing corpus luteum is refractory in the beginning and thus, to induce luteolysis several PGF2a releases are required. The magnitude of progesterone concentrations during the short luteal phase is lower than the following phases.

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported by a grant from the Swedish Council for Forestry and Agricultural Research. The author wishes to express his sincere gratitude to Professor Hans Kindahl for his constructive criticism.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden

    M Bekana

  2. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Studies, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 34, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia

    M Bekana

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Correspondence to M Bekana.

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Bekana, M. Prostaglandin F2a and Progesterone Profiles in Post-partum Cows with Short Luteal Phases. Acta Vet Scand 38, 323–330 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03548478

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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147