Active immunization of cattle against partly purified follicular fluid from sheep.
Yearling cross-bred heifers were injected with 0.4 or 4 mg total protein in non-ulcerative Freund's adjuvant (Groups A and C, respectively; N = 5 per group), or adjuvant with C. parvum (Groups B and D, respectively; N = 5 per group). Control heifers were not treated (N = 9). No antibodies were detected in heifers in Groups A and C and so these were excluded from the analysis. There was no effect of the treatment on Group B or D heifers after the priming or first booster injection. After a second booster injection one Group D heifer gave a triple ovulation, and two Group D heifers and one Group B heifer gave double ovulations, but for one oestrous cycle only. Group B heifers also showed a significant rise in FSH concentrations after the second booster injection. Group D heifers were given a third booster injection; there was an increase in the mean number of large follicles per heifer, and a decrease in oestrous cycle length, but no increase in ovulation rate. These results indicate that a transient increase in ovulation rate can be induced by actively immunizing cattle against partly purified follicular fluid from sheep.
Price
C A
CA
Department of Reproduction and Growth Physiology, A.F.R.C. Institute of Animal Physiology, Roslin, Midlothian, U.K.
Morris
B A
BA
O'Shea
T
T
Webb
R
R
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D003352:Corynebacterium; D005260:Female; D007114:Immunization; D007265:Inhibins / Q000276:immunology*; D010060:Ovulation; D012756:Sheep
D007265:Inhibins