Influence of hypo- or hyperthyroidism on ovarian function in Brahman cows.
Multiparous Brahman cows (n = 21) were randomly assigned during late fall within BW and body condition score (BCS) to receive either 3.0 mL of corn oil (C; n = 7), 3.0 mg/(cow x d) triiodothyronine (T3) s.c. in 3.0 mL of corn oil (HYPER; n = 7), or 4.0 mg/(kg x d) 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU; fed with concentrate) plus 3.0 mL/d corn oil (HYPO; n = 7). Water, minerals, and Coastal bermudagrass hay were available free choice, and all cows received 3.2 kg x cow(-1) x d(-1) of 5:1 corn:soybean meal concentrate. The feeding period extended through three normal estrous cycles. Blood samples were collected weekly during the first and second estrous cycle, or until d 42 for anestrous cows, and daily throughout the third cycle. Also, between d 9 and 14 of the third cycle, or after d 35 in anestrous cows, intensive samples were collected at 2-h intervals for 24 h. Serum T3, thyroxine (T4), and progesterone (P4) were measured in weekly and intensive samples, and cortisol, insulin, GH, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured in intensive samples. The altered thyroid status of HYPER and HYPO cows was evident (P < .001) during the third estrous cycle in mean daily T3, T4, and intensive TSH (P < .001) concentrations. Changes in BW and BCS were influenced by treatment (P < .001). A greater (P < .001) proportion of HYPER cows exhibited abnormal cycle length, and three of seven cows became anestrous. For cows that continued normal cycles, treatment did not affect (P > .05) the number of follicular waves, diameter of the dominant follicle, diameter of the ovulatory follicle, or P4 profiles during the third cycle. Insulin and GH concentrations did not differ (P > .05) among treatments in intensive samples, but, mean cortisol was greatest (P < .02) in HYPER cows. For Brahman cows that maintained normal estrous cycles, induced hyper-or hypothyroid status did not influence ovarian function.
De Moraes
G V
GV
Texas A&M University Agricultural Research & Extension Center, Overton 75684, USA.
Vera-Avila
H R
HR
Lewis
A W
AW
Koch
J W
JW
Neuendorff
D A
DA
Hallford
D M
DM
Reeves
J J
JJ
Randel
R D
RD
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004971:Estrus / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010053:Ovary / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011441:Propylthiouracil; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
D006728:Hormones; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D011374:Progesterone; D011441:Propylthiouracil; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine