Ultrasonography and hormone profiles of persistent ovarian follicles (cysts) induced with low doses of progesterone in cattle.

The aims of this study were to expose dominant ovarian follicles at the end of the oestrous cycle to low progesterone concentrations similar to those that occur during stress, and to examine the effect of a subsequent small increase in progesterone 10 days later. Half a progesterone releasing intravaginal device (0.5 PRID) was administered to 13 heifers from day 15 of the oestrous cycle. In group 1 (n = 7), one 0.5 PRID remained in place until day 40 or until each heifer ovulated. In group 2 (n = 6), the first 0.5 PRID was removed on day 28, and replaced immediately with a second 0.5 PRID. Ultra-sonography and blood collection (10 ml) were conducted each day for 26 days from day 14 and then on alternate days. The largest follicle that emerged during the first 5 days after insertion of the initial 0.5 PRID remained > 10 mm in diameter for 15.3 +/- 1.7 and 11.6 +/- 0.4 days in groups 1 and 2, respectively. This period of dominance, during which no other follicles emerged, was closely correlated with the duration of plasma oestradiol concentrations exceeding 10 pg ml(-1). In four heifers from group 1, the persistent follicle ovulated between days 30 and 37 (sub-group 1a; 0.5 PRID expelled). In three heifers from sub-group 1b (0.5 PRID retained), the dominant follicle secreted oestradiol for 17 +/- 5 days but remained detectable by ultrasonography for a total of 33 +/- 8 days (range 26-52 days). Monitoring continued beyond day 40 in these animals. In group 2, the new 0.5 PRID inserted on day 28 resulted in an increase in plasma progesterone concentration of 0.9 +/- 0.3 ng ml(-1). Simultaneously, oestradiol decreased by 10.1 +/- 3.3 pg ml(-1), and a new follicular wave emerged 5-7 days later. In conclusion, exposure to very low concentrations of progesterone produced persistent follicles that secreted oestradiol for 17 days. This oestradiol production could be disrupted by a second increase of 0.9 ng ml(-1) in peripheral progesterone concentration. In the absence of the second progesterone treatment, some of the persistent follicles remained detectable by ultrasonography for up to 52 days, despite cessation of oestradiol secretion.