title: Relationship of plasma beta-carotene and vitamin A to luteal function in postpartum cattle.
abstract: The influence of plasma concentrations of beta-carotene and vitamin A on in vivo progesterone production by bovine corpora lutea after gonadotropin-releasing hormone-induced LH release was assessed in 39 postpartum dairy cows. Thirty Holsteins and nine Jerseys were given 100 micrograms gonadotropin-releasing hormone on d 12 of an estrous cycle, which began from 30 to 49 d postpartum. Concentrations of beta-carotene and vitamin A in plasma and progesterone and LH in serum were determined prior to gonadotropin-releasing hormone injection (0 h); serum progesterone and LH concentrations were also determined 1, 2, and 3 h after injection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Serum concentrations of progesterone and LH were increased by gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Incremental progesterone production in an analysis of covariance was influenced by breed as well as the interactions of breed with vitamin A, of season with beta-carotene, and of season with vitamin A. The regression coefficients were positive for beta-carotene and negative for vitamin A in all cases. In conclusion, luteal function in the postpartum cow appears to be related to plasma concentrations of beta-carotene and vitamin A.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs 06268.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Graves-Hoagland
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Hoagland
authors.forename: C O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Woody
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood*; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010906:Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012621:Seasons; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D019207:beta Carotene
chemical_list: D010906:Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids; D011374:Progesterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone