Skip to main content
Download PDF
  • Published:

Follicular Development in Lactating, Post Weaning and Anoestrous Primiparous Sows

Follikelutvecklingen hos ungsuggor under diperioden och efter avvänjningen

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 28, pages 421–427 (1987)Cite this article

Abstract

The ovarian follicular system was studied in 4 lactating sows (6 or 8 weeks lactation period), 4 post weaning sows (2 or 4 days after weaning) and 5 post weaning anoestrous sows (22 days after weaning) by macroscopical and microscopical examinations. Blood sampling was performed daily in the post weaning anoestrous sows. The results showed that none of the sows had ovulated during lactation and after weaning. Only small and medium sized follicles were present in the ovaries of the sows. The blood levels of oestradiol-17β and progesterone were low throughout the post weaning period in the anoestrous sows. Microscopical examination showed that all sows had more normal than atretic follicles. In the lactating sows all follicles were below 5 mm in size, the majority being small (1.00–2.99 mm in diameter). The post weaning sows had follicles up to 5.00–5.99 mm and 23–24% of the follicles were medium sized (3.00–5.99 mm in diameter). The post weaning anoestrous sows had no follicles above 5 mm in diameter but many normal medium sized follicles.

Sammanfattning

Follikelaktiviteten i äggstockarna studerades såväl makroskopiskt som mikroskopiskt hos 4 lakterande suggor (6 och 8 veckors diperiod), 4 avvandra suggor (2 och 4 dagar efter avvänjningen) och 5 suggor som inte visat brunst inom 22 dagar efter avvänjningen. Blodprov togs dagligen från de suggor som inte visade brunst. Resultaten visade att ingen sugga hade ovulerat under diperioden eller efter avvänjningen. Äggstockarna innehöll endast små och medelstora folliklar. Blodplasmanivåerna av 17β-östradiol och progesteron var låga under hela observationsperioden hos de suggor som inte visat brunst. Samtliga suggor hade fler normala än atretiska f olliklar i äggstockarna (≥1 mm i diameter). Hos de lakterande suggorna var samtliga folliklar mindre än 5 mm i diameter (majoriteten 1,00–2,99 mm i diameter). Hos de nyligen avvanda suggorna innehöll äggstockarna folliklar som var upp till 5,00–5,99 mm i diameter och 23–24% av folliklarna var medelstora (3,00–5,99 mm i diameter). De suggor som inte visat brunst hade inga folliklar större än 5 diameter, men ett flertal medelstora folliklar.

References

  • Almond G M, Dial G D, Pressing A L, Hilley HD: LH response of seasonally anestrous sows to estradiol. Proc. 9th Int. Pig. Vet. Soc. Congr. Barcelona, Spain. July 15–18, 1986, p. 48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andersson-Dalin A-M: The effect of a PMSG/HCG preparation in anoestrous sows and gilts. Nord. Vet. Med. 1984,36, 201–206.

    Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong J D, Britt J H: Pulsatile administration of gonadotropin–releasing hormone to anestrous sows: Endocrine changes accociated with GnRH–induced and spontaneous estrus. Biol. Reprod. 1985,33, 375–380.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ash R W, Heap R B: Oestrogen, progesterone and corticosteroid concentrations in peripheral plasma of sows during pregnancy, parturition, lactation and after weaning, J. Endocr. 1975,64, 141–154.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boilert B, Edqvist L-E, Johansson E D B, Lindberg P, Martinsson K: The influence of conjugated estrogens in radioimmunoassays using different antibodies against oestraidiol-17β. Steroids 1973,22, 891–894.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bosu W Τ K, Edqvist L-E, Lindberg P, Martinsson K, Johansson Ε D B: The effect of various dosages of lynesterol on the plasma levels of oestro–gens and progesterone during the menstrual cycle in the rhesus monkey. Contraception 1976,13, 677–684.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burger IF: Sex physiology of pigs. Onderstepoort J. Vet. Res. 1952, Suppl. 2, 3–218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox Ν Μ, Britt J H: Relationships between endogenous gonadotropin–releasing hormone, gonadotropins, and follicular development after weaning in sows. Biol. Reprod. 1982,27, 70–78.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cox Ν Μ, Esbenshade Κ L, Britt J H: Treatment of longterm anestrous sows with estradiol benzoate and GnRH: Response of serum LH and occurrence of estrus. Theriogenology 1983,20, 499–507.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dial G D, BeVier G D, Hixor J E, Gustafsson Β Κ: Endocrine pathogenesis of postweaning anestrus in swine: Response of the persistently anestrous sow to hormonal stimuli. Amer. J. Vet. Res. 1984,45, 1737–1742.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Einarsson S, Settergren I: Fertility and culling in some pig breeding herds in Sweden. Nord. Vet. Med. 1974,11, 427–442.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karlberg K: Factors affecting postweaning oestrus in the sow. Nord. Vet. Med. 1980,32, 185–193.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • King G J: Occurrence of postweaning estrus in primi–parous and pluriparous sows. Proc. 5th World Int. Pig Vet. Soc. Congr., Zagreb, Yugoslavia 1978, paper K.A. 12.

    Google Scholar 

  • King R H, Williams I H, Barker I: Induction of oestrus in anoestrous, first litter sows with pregnant mare’s serum gonadotrophin. Anim. Reprod. Sci. 1982,5, 41–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kunavongkrit A: Clinical and endocrinological studies in primiparous post partum sows: Effect of lactation length and litter size. Acta vet. scand. 1984,25, 260–279.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kunavongkrit A, Einarsson S, Settergren I: Follicular development in primiparous lactating sows. Anim. Reprod. Sci. 1982,5, 47–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kunavongkrit A, Kindahl Η, Madej A: Clinical and endocrinological studies in primiparous zero–weaned sows: 2. Hormonal patterns of normal cycling sows after zero-weaning. Zbl. Vet. Med. A. 1983,30, 616–624.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Linde C, Einarsson S, Petersson H: Reproductive performance in gilts through their first two parities. Nord. Vet. Med. 1984,36, 207–214.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maclean C W: Observations on non–infectious infertility in sows. Vet. Rec. 1969,85, 675–682.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Palmer W M, Teague Η S, Venzke W G: Macroscopic observations on the reproductive tract of the sow during lactation and early postweaning. J. Anim. Sci. 1965,24, 541–545.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Radev G, Andreev A, Kostov L: The influence of age and season on the weaning to oestrus period in sows. Commun. Abstr., 8th Int. Congr. Anim. Reprod. & A. I., Krakow 1976, p. 208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rajakoski E: The ovarian follicular system in sexually mature heifers with special reference to seasonal, cyclical and left–right variation. Acta Endocrinol. (Kbh.) 1960, Suppl. 52, 1–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez H, Kunavongkrit A: Chronic venous catheterization for frequent blood sampling in unrestrained pigs. Acta vet. scand. 1983,24, 318–320.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Self Η L, Grummer R H: The rate and economy of pig gains and reproductive behaviour in sows when litters are weaned at 10 days, 21 days or 56 days of age. J. Anim. Sci. 1958,17, 862–868.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shaw Η J, Foxcroft G R: Relationships between LH, FSH and prolactin secretion and reproductive activity in the weaned sows. J. Reprod. Fert. 1985,75, 17–28.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Warnick A C, Casida LE, Grummer R H: The occurence of estrus and ovulation in postpartum sows. J. Anim. Sci. 1950,9, 66–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

We would like to thank Miss Catharina Falkenberg and Mrs. Kerstin Lindblad for excellent histological assistance, also Dr. P. Bunjamanee, Dr. L. C. Fu, Dr. M. Soetimboel and Dr. Nussara Vadhanakul for exellent technical assistance. This work was supported by the Swedish Council for Forestry and Agricultural Research. A scholarship awarded to S. Roja–nasthien by the Swedish Institute, is acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obtetrics and Gynaecology and Department of Clinical Chemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden

    S. Rojanasthien, S. Einarsson & I. Settergren

Authors
  1. S. Rojanasthien
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Einarsson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. I. Settergren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rojanasthien, S., Einarsson, S. & Settergren, I. Follicular Development in Lactating, Post Weaning and Anoestrous Primiparous Sows. Acta Vet Scand 28, 421–427 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03548610

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03548610

Keywords

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147