title: Enhancement of ovarian follicle development in heifers by treatment with recombinant bovine somatotrophin: a dose-response study.
abstract: Treatment with recombinant bovine somatotrophin (bST) can enhance the development of ovarian antral follicles in cattle. The underlying mechanism was examined further by performing a dose-response study to investigate the effects of bST on peripheral concentrations of somatotrophin, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), insulin, FSH and LH, and ovarian follicle development. Twenty mature heifers were randomly divided into five groups and injected s.c. at 6 h intervals for 7 days with 25% of one of the following daily doses of bST: 0, 3.13, 6.25, 12.5 or 25.0 mg. Ovarian follicular dynamics were monitored by real-time ultrasonography. Blood samples were collected daily during the experiment, and every 15 min for 8 h on days 1 and 5 of bST treatment. Treatment with bST increased (P < 0.01) peripheral concentrations of somatotrophin in a dose-dependent manner. Serum concentrations of both IGF-I and insulin were significantly (P < 0.01) increased in all heifers given 12.5 or 25.0 mg bST per day. Peripheral concentrations of IGF-I and insulin in all animals in the group given 3.13 mg bST and two heifers in the group given 6.25 mg bST were not different from those in the control group, while concentrations in the other two heifers given 6.25 mg bST were significantly (P < 0.01) higher. The number of ovarian follicles < 5 mm in diameter was increased (P < 0.05) in response to bST, but only in heifers (n = 10) with significantly increased serum concentrations of IGF-I and insulin. There were no effects of treatment on peripheral concentrations of FSH, LH and progesterone, and on the numbers of follicles > 5 mm in diameter. In conclusion, this study has demonstrated in vivo that the effect of treatment with bST on ovarian follicle development appears to be mediated through an increase in circulating IGF-I or insulin concentrations, rather than via an alteration in the secretion of pituitary gonadotrophins or a direct effect of bST on ovarian follicles.
authors.affiliation: Roslin Institute (Edinburgh), Midlothian, UK.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baxter
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Bramley
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Webb
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011897:Random Allocation; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D011374:Progesterone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D013006:Growth Hormone