Contribution of the Adrenal Glands to Postpartum Anestrus in Suckled Cows
Abeygunawardena, Harischandra
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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/71346
Description
Title
Contribution of the Adrenal Glands to Postpartum Anestrus in Suckled Cows
Author(s)
Abeygunawardena, Harischandra
Issue Date
1987
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Hixon, James E.
Department of Study
Veterinary Medical Science
Discipline
Veterinary Medical Science
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Biology, Veterinary Science
Abstract
Suckling prolongs the postpartum anestrous (PPA) period in postpartum cows while inducing hypersecretion of adrenocorticoids. Hyperadrenocorticism affects reproductive function in cattle as well as in many species. To evaluate the role of adrenal glands in suckling-induced PPA in cattle two experiments were conducted. Exp. 1: Effects on luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion of 3 levels of exogenous corticosteroids; T$\sb1$ = no corticoids, T$\sb2$ = 75 mg of cortisone acetate (CA) + 20 mg of deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) daily and T$\sb3$ = 75 mg CA + 20 mg DOCA daily + 8 mg of dexamethasone every other day were tested on 6 intact ovariectomized (I-OVX) cows and 6 adrenalectomized (ADX-OVX) cows. T$\sb3$ caused suppression (p $<$ 0.05) of LH secretion in both groups while T$\sb2$ did not. Exp. 2: Ten pluriparous cows at parturition were randomly assigned either to intact-suckled (IS) or to ADX-suckled (ADXS) groups at the day of calving and all cows were suckled by two calves. On day 3 postpartum, adrenalectomy in ADXS cows or sham-adrenalectomy in IS cows was performed. ADXS cows received corticoid replacement (T$\sb2$). Commencing from day 10 postpartum at weekly intervals, sequential blood samples (12 min intervals) were collected for 24 hours until estrus or day 70 postpartum, whichever came first. On day 70 anestrous cows were weaned and 48-hours post-weaning sequential blood samples for 24 hours were collected. The weaned anestrous cows remained in the experiment until they resumed estrous cyclicity. Plasma was assayed for LH and cortisol. Adrenalectomy in postpartum suckled cows did not shorten the postpartum interval or facilitate LH secretion or affect weaning to estrus length or affect weaning-induced increase in LH. On the other hand, the frequency of LH pulses was negatively correlated with mean corticosteroid concentrations in both groups. These results suggest that suckling does not extend PPA period primarily by a mechanism involving adrenocorticoids. Nevertheless, the increased adrenocorticoids present in the suckled cow may facilitate the expression of the predominant mechanism(s) responsible for PPA.
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