Role of leptin in regulating the bovine hypothalamic-gonadotropic axis

The physiological mechanisms through which nutrition mediates its effects in controlling reproduction are not well characterized. Both neural and endocrine components have been implicated in the communication of nutritional status to the central nervous system. Leptin, a hormone synthesized and secreted mainly by adipocytes, is heavily involved in this communication network. The objectives of studies reported herein were 1) to determine the effects of short-term restriction of nutrients on circulating leptin, leptin gene expression in adipose tissue, and leptin receptor (LR) gene expression in the adenohypophysis of ovariectomized cows; and 2) to investigate the responsiveness of the hypothalamic-adenohypophyseal (AP) axis of fasted and non-fasted cattle to leptin. Studies demonstrated that circulating concentrations of leptin and leptin gene expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue are decreased by fasting. Although 2 to 3 days of fasting did not affect patterns of release of luteinizing hormone (LH), cerebroventricular infusions of leptin increased mean circulating concentrations of LH in fasted, but not normal-fed cows, without affecting frequency or amplitude of pulses of LH. In vitro studies were conducted to determine whether the in vivo effects of leptin could be accounted for at the hypothalamic and/or AP levels. Leptin did not affect the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from hypothalamic-infundibular explants from either normal-fed or fasted cattle. Moreover, leptin did not affect the basal release of LH from bovine AP cells or AP explants from normal-fed cows. However, leptin induced a higher basal release of LH from AP explants of fasted cows and increased GnRH-stimulated release of LH from AP explants of normal-fed cows. Results demonstrate that leptin acts directly at the AP level to modulate the secretion of LH, and its effects are dependent upon nutritional status. Cellular mechanisms associated with the increased responsiveness of gonadotropes to leptin in fasted cows were investigated. Expression of LR and suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS-3) in the adenohypophysis did not account for the increased responsiveness of fasted cows to leptin. Therefore, although leptin clearly stimulates the hypothalamic-gonadotropic axis in nutrient-restricted cattle, it is unclear why cattle maintained under neutral or positive energy balance are resistant to leptin

Leptin gene expression and circulating leptin in relation to luteinizing hormone, growth hormone, insulin, and insulin-like growth factor-I in prepubertal heifers

Due to the character of the original source materials and the nature of batch digitization, quality control issues may be present in this document. Please report any quality issues you encounter to [email protected], referencing the URI of the item.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 38-55).Issued also on microfiche from Lange Micrographics.The present study tested the hypothesis that short-term fasting would reduce leptin gene expression, circulating leptin, and luteinizing hormone (LH) pulsatility in prepubertal heifers in association with a decrease in circulating concentrations of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). Twelve prepubertal crossbred heifers (average body weight = 315 [] 5 kg) were assigned randomly to one of two treatments in two replicates: 1) Control; normal feed consumption (n=6) and 2) Fasted; 48 h of total feed restriction (n=6). Blood samples were collected at 15-min intervals for 8 h on Days 0 and 2 of the experiment, and twice on Day 1. Subcutaneous fat samples were collected before treatment onset (Day -1) and at the end of the intensive blood sampling on Day 2. Acute feed restriction markedly reduced leptin messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in adipose tissue (p < 0.01) and circulating concentrations of leptin (p < 0.05), IGF-I (p < 0.01), and insulin (p = 0.05) compared to Controls on Day 2. Moreover, the treatment x day interaction (p < 0.076) and within-day contrasts (expressed as a percentage of Day 0 values) revealed that the mean frequency of LH pulses in the fasted group declined (p < 0.01) and was lower (p < 0.06) than in Controls on Day 2. Neither mean concentrations of growth hormone (GH) nor GH secretory dynamics were affected by acute feed restriction. Fasting-mediated decreases in leptin gene expression and circulating leptin, in association with reductions in secretion of IGF-I, insulin, and LH, provide a basis for investigating leptin as a metabolic hormone that signals energy status to the central reproductive axis in cattle

Onset of luteolytic action of exogenous prostaglandinF-2α during estrous cycle in goats

The objectives of these two experiments were to determine the day of onset of luteolysis after exogenous PGF-2α administration during the estrous cycle and the fertility of this synchronized estrus in goats. In the first experiment, during the breeding season, 48 Nubian does were estrous synchronized, using intravaginal sponges impregnated with a progestin, and estrus was detected by vasectomized bucks. The does were divided at random into three groups of 16 does each to be treated at days 2, 3, and 4 of the estrous cycle (estrus = day 0). Then, at each day of injection, the does were again randomly divided to receive a single dose of natural prostaglandin F-2α im (PGF-2α; 5 mg/doe; treatment [TRE] group) or sterile saline solution (control [CON] group; 1 mL/doe). Finally, the following groups were originated: TRE-2, CON-2, TRE-3, CON-3, TRE-4, and CON-4. The overall estrus response after treatment with PGF-2α (TRE group, 70.8%) was higher than saline (CON group, 12.5%, P ≤ 0.001). Estrus response for TRE-2, CON-2, TRE-3, CON-3, TRE-4, and CON-4 was 25% (2 of 8), 12.5% (1 of 8), 87.5% (7 of 8), 12.5% (1 of 8), 100% (8 of 8), and 0% (0 of 8) for the same groups, respectively. Estrus response was different between day 2 and days 3 and 4 (P ≤ 0.04) and not between day 3 and day 4 (P ≥ 0.05). In the second experiment, 15 multiparous Boer does were estrous synchronized with control internal drug release (CIDR, 300 mg progesterone = P) and PGF-2 and randomly divided to receive one single dose of PGF-2α im at days 2, 3 or 4, after synchronized estrus (n = 5 at each day). The does were detected twice a day for estrus, and blood was collected daily for P determination for 11 days after the synchronized estrus. Each doe in estrus was bred by hand mating to a proven male. All the does with a functional corpus/corpora luteum/lutea (CL; ≥1.0 ng/mL of P) responded to PGF-2α with a drop in P levels that either lasted only 24 h for the does that did not show estrus (0.27 ± 0.10 ng/mL; n = 4) or persisted longer in all the does that showed estrus (0.22 ± 0.18 ng/mL; n = 10; P = 0.47). Estrus response for days 2, 3, and 4 was 20% (1 of 5), 80% (4 of 5), and 100% (5 of 5), respectively (P = 0.05). The conception rate was 100%, 100%, and 80% for the same days of administration, respectively (P = 0.64). It was concluded that luteolytic action of PGF-2α begins at day 3 of the estrous cycle by inducing an ovulatory and fertile estrus in goats

Effect of copulation on estrus duration and ovulation time in goats

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of copulation on estrus duration and ovulation in goats. During the fall season, 14 multiparous Boer does were estrous synchronized with controlled internal drug release (300 mg), maintained in the vagina for 7 days, and received 50 μg of intramuscular GnRH device insertion and 5 mg of natural intramuscular PGF2α at device removal. The does were randomly divided into two equal groups: a treatment group (TRE; n = 7) and a control group (CON; n = 7). The TRE group received two copulas by fertile bucks within the first 4 hours of estrus onset, and the CON group received only mounts by the same males equipped with canvas aprons. Estrus detection was performed every 12 hours after controlled internal drug release removal within the first 24 hours and then every 4 hours for 5 days. Estrus was defined when a doe accepted mounting by the bucks equipped with canvas aprons. Each doe in estrus got the first transrectal ultrasonography at 24 hours after estrus onset and then every 4 hours until all the preovulatory follicles ovulated. Estrus onset for the TRE and CON groups was 40.3 ± 17.4 (mean ± standard deviation) and 43.3 ± 12.2 hours (P = 0.72), respectively. Estrus duration for the same groups was 28.6 ± 5.4 and 36.7 ± 5.3 hours (P = 0.02), respectively. The mean ovulation time for the TRE and CON groups was 31.4 ± 2.2 and 35.7 ± 3.7 hours (P = 0.04), respectively. The proportion of ovulations that occurred after the end of estrus in the TRE group was higher than in the CON group (86% vs. 33%, respectively; P = 0.05). The number of ovulations for the TRE group was 2.1 ± 0.7; for the CON group, there were 2.2 ± 0.5 ovulations (P = 0.92). It was concluded that copulation by a buck at the beginning of estrus reduced estrus duration and hastened the ovulation time in Boer goats

Effect of copulation on estrus duration, LH response, and ovulation in Boer goats

The objectives of this investigation were to determine the effect of copulation on estrus duration, LH response and ovulation in Boer goats. A controlled randomized study, with two replicates, in which does were divided at each replicate in treatment (COP; n = 12) and control (CON; n = 12) groups was performed. All the does were pluriparous and estrus synchronized with CIDR (progesterone 300 mg) maintained in the vagina for seven days, and received 50 μg of GnRH at device insertion and 5 mg of natural prostaglandin F-2 im at CIDR removal. The COP group received two copulas within the first 4 h of estrus onset, and the CON group was only permitted to be mounted. Estrus was detected twice a day during the first 24 h after pessary removal and then every 4 h by using bucks with canvas apron as teasers, led by leash for 96 h. Blood was collected during all the estrus period after each estrus detection and analyzed for LH by radioimmunoassay (RIA). In addition, at the second replicate ovulation time and number of ovulations were also monitored by transrectal ultrasonography using a linear 7.5 MHz probe beginning 24 h after estrus onset and repeated every 4 h until all the preovulatory follicles disappeared. Estrus onset was 36.7 ± 10.5 h and 35.5 ± 13.6 h for CON and COP groups, respectively (P = 0.82). Estrus duration for the same groups was 40.3 ± 9.9 h and 28.3 ± 4.7 h, respectively (P = 0.001). The LH peak time for the CON group was 17.7 ± 6.3 h, and for the COP group, it was 10.9 ± 2.6 h (P = 0.004). The LH peak magnitude for the same groups was 31.5 ± 16.2 ng/mL and 34.9 ± 20.7 ng/mL, respectively (P = 0.34). The LH peak duration was not different between groups (CON: 7.3 ± 1.6 h versus COP: 7.2 ± 2.4 h; P = 0.94). The first ovulation time for CON and COP groups was 33.7 ± 3.9 h and 29.1 ± 3.2 h (P = 0.05), and the last ovulation time for the same groups was 37.7 ± 3.9 h and 32.6 ± 2.5 h, respectively (P = 0.02). The overall time from LH peak to ovulation was 18.6 ± 4.8 h without differences between groups (CON: 16.3 ± 5.6 h versus COP: 20.6 ± 3.3 h; P = 0.15). The number of ovulations for the CON group was 2.2 ± 0.4, and for COP group, it was 2.1 ± 0.4 (P = 0.96). It was concluded that copulation reduced estrus duration and hastened LH peak and ovulation in Boer goats

Continuous presence of male on estrus onset, estrus duration, and ovulation in estrus-synchronized Boer goats

The objectives of the present study were to assess the effect of permanent contact of teasers without copulation on the interval from controlled internal drug release (CIDR) removal to estrus onset, estrus duration, ovulation time, number of ovulations, and interval from CIDR removal to ovulation time on estrus-synchronized Boer goats. During the fall season, a controlled randomized design experiment with two groups, control (CON; n = 18) and treatment (TRE; n = 18), was performed. The TRE group was maintained permanently in a pen with an aproned buck immediately after CIDR removal. The CON group was maintained in a different pen without permanent exposure to the male. All females were estrus synchronized with CIDR maintained in the vagina for 7 days and received 50 μg of GnRH im at device insertion and 5 mg of natural prostaglandin F-2α at device removal. Females were considered to be in estrus when they accepted mounting by the aproned bucks. Estrus was detected four times a day after CIDR removal (at 6 AM, 12 noon, 6 PM, and 12 midnight) using bucks with canvas apron as teasers. The ovulation time and number of ovulations were assessed by transrectal ultrasonography starting 24 hours after estrus onset and repeated every 6 hours until complete ovulation was detected. The estrus onset for the CON group was 44.0 ± 8.3 hours and for the TRE group, it was 37.0 ± 7.7 hours (P = 0.01). Estrus duration from the CON group was 43.7 ± 9.2 hours and for the TRE group, it was 38.3 ± 6.6 hours (P = 0.05). The first, last, and mean ovulation times for the CON group were 32.4 ± 5.3, 38.4 ± 3.4, and 35.4 ± 3.9 hours, and for the TRE group, the times were 31.8 ± 2.8, 36.7 ± 3.0, and 35.8 ± 3.6 hours, respectively (P = 0.85, P = 0.23, and P = 0.82, respectively). The number of ovulations for the CON and TRE groups was 2.6 ± 0.7 and 2.6 ± 0.6 ovulations, respectively (P = 0.96). The interval time for CIDR removal to ovulation for the CON group was 79.2 ± 8.2 hours and for the TRE group, the interval time was 73.2 ± 6.2 hours (P = 0.05). It was concluded that the permanent presence of male without copulation with estrus-synchronized does hastened estrus onset, reduced estrus duration, and decreased the interval time from CIDR removal to ovulation without modification of ovulation time and number of ovulations in Boer goats

Kisspeptin activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis of prepubertal ewe lambs

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RF9, a potent antagonist of RFRP3 receptor signaling, disinhibits secretion of LH in the seasonally anovulatory mare

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Accelerated body weight gain during the juvenile period alters the neuropeptide Y-kisspeptin circuitry in the hypothalamus of prepubertal heifers

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