Feedback effects of estradiol and progesterone on ovulation and fertility of dairy cows after gonadotropin-releasing hormone-induced release of luteinizing hormone.

An experiment was conducted with the objective to determine the effects of estradiol, progesterone, presence of a corpus luteum (CL), and size of a dominant follicle on the characteristics and patterns of GnRH-induced LH release and subsequent ovulation during a timed artificial insemination (TAI) program, or a combination of these. In 70 lactating dairy cows, a total of 163 blood collection periods resulting in a GnRH-induced LH release were analyzed. Concentrations of LH were measured in hourly samples (0 through 6 h after GnRH) during each of the blood collection periods, whereas concentrations of progesterone and estradiol were measured in the sample before GnRH treatment (0 h). Measures of LH included time to LH peak concentration during the 6-h blood collection period, the 2 largest concentrations of LH, mean, and variance of the 6 LH concentrations under each LH curve. Individual and combination effects of CL presence and a dominant follicle ≤ or >13.5mm, in addition to individual and combination effects of progesterone: low (<0.45 ng/mL; n=83), medium (0.53 to 2.41 ng/mL; n=25), and high (2.66 to 10.7 ng/mL; n=55), and estradiol: low (<4.0 pg/mL; n=89) and high (≥4.0 pg/mL; n=74) were independent variables in models to determine their influence on characteristics of LH and ovulation. Injections of GnRH induced LH release during 6 h after each of 163 injections. Measures of GnRH-induced LH concentration were inhibited at greater concentrations of progesterone and in the presence of a CL. In contrast, GnRH-induced LH concentrations were increased when estradiol was ≥4.0 pg/mL, but relatively unaffected by the size of the dominant follicle. Furthermore, resulting incidences of ovulation were decreased at greater progesterone concentrations and presence of a CL, and increased at greater estradiol concentrations and presence of follicles >13.5mm. In cows with or without a CL, the presence of a follicle >13.5mm did not increase mean LH concentration or incidence of ovulation. We conclude that when progesterone concentration exceeded 0.5 ng/mL at the time of GnRH treatment, subsequent LH concentrations and ovulation were suppressed. At that same concentration of progesterone or when concentrations of estradiol were ≥4 pg/mL, TAI pregnancy outcomes were improved in the face of similar incidences of ovulation suggesting greater progesterone or lesser estradiol at the time of AI may inhibit pregnancy establishment by other mechanisms.