title: Cystic ovarian follicles and thyroid activity in the dairy cow.
abstract: Thyroid activity affects the functionality of the reproductive axis and thyroid dysfunction has been associated with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and polycystic ovarian syndrome, in human medicine. This study investigates serum17-<beta> estradiol, progesterone, thyrotropic and thyroid hormone levels, in cyclic dairy cows on heat (Group H) and in dairy cows with ovarian follicular cysts (Group FC). Both 17-<beta> estradiol and progesterone serum concentrations were statistically higher in cystic than in cyclic cows (estradiol: 8.51±1.91 vs 6.32±1pg/mL) (progesterone: 0.49±0.17 vs 0.13±0.03ng/mL), whereas TSH and fT4 serum concentrations were statistically lower in cows with cystic ovarian follicles (COF), compared to cyclic ones (TSH: 2.48±1.31 vs 3.56±1.03ng/mL) (fT4: 5.86±1.69 vs 8.63±1.08). fT3 serum levels were similar, in both cystic and cyclic subjects (2.94±0.65 vs 3.02±0.9, respectively). Based on these results it was decided to examine the function of the thyrothropic axis of dairy cows in a similar manner to that conducted on humans. If severe hypothyroidism should be found, a hormone replacement therapy could be attempted in cystic cows refractory to "ordinary" therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergencies and Organ Transplantation, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, s.p. per Casamassima, km 3, Valenzano (Bari), Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mutinati
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Sciorsci
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003612:Dairying; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000473:pathology; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D013972:Thyrotropin