Sequences of pituitary, ovarian and uterine hormone secretion during the first 5 weeks of pregnancy in dairy cattle.

Blood samples were collected frequently from permanent catheters placed in the aorta and caudal vena cava of 36 heifers in order to monitor the release pattern of LH, FSH, progesterone, oestradiol-17 beta, oxytocin, PGF-2 alpha, PGE-2 and PGI-2 (determined as its 6-keto-PGF-1 alpha metabolite). The frequency of secretory bursts of both gonadotrophins and progesterone was similar in early pregnant and cyclic animals, whereas the amplitude of LH and progesterone increased between 2 and 4 weeks of gestation. Concentrations of circulating oestradiol-17 beta and oxytocin were already lower at Days 4-7 in pregnant than in cyclic animals. Oestradiol-17 beta originated after Day 14 from the uterus rather than the ovary. A sustained release of oxytocin most probably from the posterior pituitary gland and a concomitant decrease of progesterone occurred in about two-thirds of pregnant animals during Days 19-23. Insemination could induce releases of PGF-2 alpha lasting up to 2 h. In addition, basal concentrations of PGF-2 alpha during the first 6 days after oestrus were approximately 2-fold higher in inseminated than in non-inseminated cyclic heifers. A parallel increase of PGF-2 alpha and PGI-2 occurred between Days 30 and 33 of gestation. Early embryonic mortality resulted, at least up to Day 35, in 4-7 concomitant secretory bursts of PGF-2 alpha and luteal oxytocin. There was a delay of 20-26 h between the first and second release. The present results from in-vivo experiments point towards major endocrine changes in cattle within a few days after conception, resulting in an early inhibition of follicular oestradiol-17 beta and luteal oxytocin facilitating the suppression of luteolytic releases of PGF-2 alpha.