Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-dfsvx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-27T13:54:04.492Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A comparison of plasma prolactin, LH and progesterone concentrations during oestrus and early pregnancy in ewe lambs and ewes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

M. C. G. Davies  and
N. F. G. Beck
M. C. G. Davies
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, Penglais, Aberystwyth, Dyfed SY23 3DD
N. F. G. Beck
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, Penglais, Aberystwyth, Dyfed SY23 3DD
Get access

Abstract

An investigation was conducted to compare, the LH, prolactin and progesterone profiles of ewe lambs with ewes during oestrus and early pregnancy. Peak LH concentration was significantly lower (P < 0·05) and duration of release tended to be shorter during oestrus in ewe lambs. Furthermore, this smaller LH peak tended to be associated with a lower ovulation rate. LH pulse rate, amplitude and concentration were similar in both groups during day 13 of pregnancy. However, LH concentration was higher in ewe lambs compared with ewes on day 28 of pregnancy. Peak prolactin concentration was lower during oestrus in ewe lambs (P < 0·05) but there was no difference between the two groups during early pregnancy. Plasma progesterone concentrations were similar in both groups until day 13 of pregnancy. Thereafter, mean progesterone concentration was lower, from day 14 to 30, in the ewe lambs (P < 0·05). These results indicate that in ewe lambs and ewes maintained under identical conditions plasma hormone profiles differ during oestrus and early pregnancy. Moreover, these differences probably contribute towards the lower reproductive performance of ewe lambs.

Keywords

LHprolactinprogesteronereproductionsheep
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 57 , Issue 2 , October 1993 , pp. 281 - 286
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1993

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abraham, G. E., Swerdloff, R., Tulchinsky, D. and Odell, W. D. 1971. Radioimmunoassay of progesterone. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 32: 619–624.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ashworth, C. J., Sales, D. I. and Wilmut, I. 1989. Evidence for an assocation between the survival of embryos and the periovulatory plasma progesterone concentration in the ewe. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 87: 23–32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baird, D. T. 1992. Luteotrophic control of the corpus luteum. Animal Reproduction Science 28: 95–102.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baird, D. T., Swanson, I. A. and McNeilly, A. S. 1981. The relationship between LH, FSH and prolactin concentrations and the secretion of androgens and oestrogens by the preovulatory follicle. Biology of Reproduction 24:1013–1025.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bindon, P. 1971. The role of progesterone in implantation in sheep. Australian journal of Biological Science 24:149–158.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Davies, M. C. G. 1988. Factors affecting embryonic mortality in ewe lambs. PhD. thesis, University of Wales, Aberystwyth.Google Scholar
Davies, M. C. G. and Beck, N. F. G. 1992. Plasma hormone profiles and fertility in ewe lambs given progestagen supplementation after mating. Theriogenology 38: 513–526.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Denamur, J. 1974. Luteotrophic factors in sheep. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 38: 251–259.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Downing, J. M. 1980. Studies on the attainment of puberty and reproductive performance in Clun Forest ewe lambs. Ph.D. thesis, University of Wales, Aberystwyth.Google Scholar
Dyrmundsson, Ó. R. 1973. Puberty and early reproductive performance in sheep. 1. Ewe lambs. Animal Breeding Abstracts 41: 272–289.Google Scholar
Dyrmundsson, Ó. R. 1983. The influence of environmental factors on the attainment of puberty in ewe lambs. In Sheep production (ed. Haresign, W.), pp. 393–408. Butterworths, London.Google Scholar
Flint, A. P. F., Parkinson, T. J., Stewart, H. J., Vallet, J. L. and Lamming, G. E. 1991. Molecular biology of trophoblast interferons and studies of their effects in vivo. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 43: suppl, pp. 13–25.Google ScholarPubMed
Foster, D. L. and Crighton, D. B. 1974. Luteinising hormone (LH) release after a single injection of LH-releasing hormone (LH-RH) in the ewe at three different reproductive stages and comparison to natural LH release at oestrus. Theriogenology 2: 87–100.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hamra, A. M. and Bryant, M. J. 1979. Reproductive performance during mating and pregnancy in young female sheep. Animal Production 28: 235–243.Google Scholar
Haresign, W. and Acritopoulou, S. 1978. Controlled breeding in sheep using the prostaglandin analogue, ICI 80996. Livestock Production Science 5: 313–319.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hunter, M. G. 1991. Characteristics and causes of the inadequate corpus luteum. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 43: suppi, pp. 91–99.Google ScholarPubMed
Karsch, F. J., Foster, D. L., Bittman, E. L. and Goodman, R. L. 1983. A role for oestradiol in enhancing LH pulse frequency during the follicular phase of the estrous cycle of sheep. Endocrinology 113:1333–1339.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Karsch, F. J., Moenter, S. M. and Caraty, A. 1992. The neuroendocrine signal for ovulation. Animal Reproduction Science 28: 329–341.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lamming, G. E., Mosely, S. R. and McNeilly, J. R. 1974. Prolactin release in sheep. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 40:151–168.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McNeilly, A. S. 1980. Prolactin and the control of gonadotrophin secretion in the female. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 58: 537–549.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McNeilly, A. S. and Andrews, P. 1974. The purification and characterisation of caprine prolactin. Journal of Endocrinology 60: 359–367.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McNeilly, A. S. and Land, R. B. 1979. Effect of suppression of plasma prolactin on ovulation, plasma gonadotrophins and corpus luteum function in LH-RH treated anoestrous ewes. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 56: 601–609.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Quirke, J. F. 1979. Control of reproduction in adult and ewe lambs and estimation of wastage in ewe lambs following treatment with progestagen impregnated sponges and PMSG. Livestock Production Science 6: 295–305.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Quirke, J. F. 1981. Regulation of puberty and reproduction in female lambs—a review. Livestock Production Science 8: 37–53.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Quirke, J. F., Hanrahan, J. P. and Gosling, J. P. 1981. Duration of oestrus, ovulation rate, time of ovulation and plasma LH, total oestrogen and progesterone in Galway adult ewes and ewe lambs. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 61: 265–272.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Quirke, J. F., Adams, T. E. and Hanrahan, J. P. 1983. Artificial induction of puberty in ewe lambs. In Sheep production (ed. Haresign, W.) pp. 409–429. Butterworths, London.Google Scholar