Basal and estradiol-induced release of gonadotropins in dairy cows with naturally occurring ovarian cysts.

A study was conducted to identify relationships between serum sex steroid concentrations and release of gonadotropins in dairy cows with ovarian cysts. Cows with ovarian cysts were grouped according to sex steroid profiles as being under estrogenic (n = 6) or low steroid (n = 6) influence. All cows were submitted to a sampling and treatment protocol to 1) record basal pulsatile release of gonadotropins and 2) determine whether luteinizing hormone (LH) or follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) was released after sequential administration of exogenous estradiol and gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) treatments were given 30 h apart. Basal LH was higher in the estrogen-influence group (P < 0.05). There were no differences between groups in basal FSH concentrations or frequency and amplitude of pulsatile LH or FSH release. Only one of the twelve cows, an individual from the low steroid group, had a preovulatory-like surge of gonadotropins after exogenous estradiol. All cows released LH and FSH in response to GnRH treatment, with no differences between groups. These results show that 1) there is considerable variation in pulsatile release of gonadotropins in cows with ovarian cysts, even among individuals with similar sex steroid profiles, and 2) suggest that a factor in the persistence, and perhaps initiation, of the cystic condition is refractoriness to the positive feedback effect of estradiol on gonadotropin release.