Ovarian follicular cysts in dairy cows: an abnormality in folliculogenesis.
Ovarian follicular cysts are a major reproductive problem in lactating dairy cows. The primary physiological defect leading to the formation of ovarian follicular cysts is a failure of the hypothalamus to trigger the preovulatory surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) in response to estradiol. The factor responsible for this hypothalamic defect may be progesterone. Intermediate levels of progesterone have been shown to prevent ovulation and promote persistence of dominant follicles in normal cycling cows. Recently, we found that 66% of cows with ovarian follicular cysts had progesterone concentrations in an unusual, intermediate range (0.1-1.0 ng/mL) at the time of their detection. A majority of new follicles (76%) that develop in the presence of these intermediate progesterone concentrations became cysts. Only 10% ovulated. Based on these observations, a novel model for the formation and turnover of ovarian follicular cysts is proposed.
Department of Animal Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40546-0215, USA. wsilvia@ca.uky.edu
W J
WJ
Silvia
T B
TB
Hatler
A M
AM
Nugent
L F
LF
Laranja da Fonseca
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000503:physiopathology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010060:Ovulation; D011374:Progesterone / Q000502:physiology
D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone