Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-l7hp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T05:04:45.090Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Plasma concentrations of cortisol and progesterone during the period of reproductive development in beef and dairy heifers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 August 2016

N. C. Rawlings ,
J. P. Kastelic ,
A.C. O. Evans ,
P. M. Bartlewski ,
A. P. Beard ,
R. K. Chandolia  and
S. J. Cook
N. C. Rawlings*
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4 Canada
J. P. Kastelic
Affiliation:
Agriculture and Agri -Food Canada, Lethbridge Research Centre, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1J 4B1, Canada
A.C. O. Evans*
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4 Canada
P. M. Bartlewski
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4 Canada
A. P. Beard
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4 Canada
R. K. Chandolia
Affiliation:
Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary Sciences, CSS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, 125004, India.
S. J. Cook
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4 Canada
*
E-mail:[email protected]
Department of Animal Science and Production, University College of Dublin, Faculty of Agriculture, Bellfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
Get access

Abstract

The plasma concentrations of cortisol and progesterone during reproductive maturation in the heifer calf were examined. Six beef heifer calves were handled and bled every 2 weeks (control), 30 were left unhandled (naive). At 13, 21, 30, 39 and 47 weeks of age, a different group of naive heifers and the control heifers were bled every day for 5 days (puberty seen at 57·4 (s.e. 1·3) weeks). Thirty-nine dairy heifer calves were allocated to seven groups to receive adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) at either 4, 7, 9, 16, 26, 36 or 46 weeks of age (puberty expected around 43 weeks of age). Plasma concentrations of cortisol increased at 21, 30 and 39 weeks of age in frequently handled and naive beef heifers; the increase was greater at these ages in the naive beef heifers (age and treatment P < 0·01). No age trend was apparent for plasma concentrations of cortisol and progesterone prior to ACTH injections (t = 0) in frequently handled dairy heifers. Adrenal progesterone secretion did not change with age in beef heifers, but naive beef heifers had greater plasma concentrations than frequently handled beef heifers. ACTH induced cortisol release in dairy heifers as early as 4 weeks of age (P < 0·05), but the response was greater in dairy heifers 16 weeks old and older (P < 0·05). A progesterone response to ACTH in dairy heifers was not seen until animals were 9 weeks old. It is concluded that as heifers mature reproductively, there is a parallel increase in the sensitivity of the adrenal gland to ACTH and handling stress.

Keywords

corticotropinheifershydrocortisoneprogesteronepuberty
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 75 , Issue 2 , October 2002 , pp. 281 - 288
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 2002

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abouzite, M., Aldaker, M. B., Fellat, S., Sahibi, H. and Baddouri, K. 1997. Postnatal development of the kidney concentrating ability, the renin-angiotensin system and the adrenocortical hormones in the calf. Reproduction, Nutrition, Development 37: 285–292.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Alam, M. G. S., Dobson, H. and Fitzpatrick, R. J. 1986. Endocrine response to different doses of ACTH in cows. British Veterinary Journal 142: 239–245.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Alexander, D. P., Britton, H. G., James, V. H. T., Nixon, D. A., Parker, R. A., Wintour, E. M. and Wright, R. D. 1968. Steroid secretion by the adrenal gland of foetal and neonatal sheep. Journal of Endocrinology 40: 1–13.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Arai, M. and Widmaier, E. P. 1993. Steroidogenesis in isolated adrenocortical cells during development in rats. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 92: 91–97.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Asher, G. W., Barrell, G. K., Adam, J. L. and Staples, L. 1988. Effects of subcutaneous melatonin implants on reproductive seasonality of farmed fallow deer (Dama dama). Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 84: 679–691.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Asher, G. W., Peterson, A. J. and Duganzich, D. 1989. Adrenal and ovarian sources of progesterone and secretion in young female fallow deer (Dama dama). Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 85: 667–675.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Balfour, W. E., Comline, R. S. and Short, R. V. 1959. Changes in the secretion of 20-hydroxy-4-pregn-4-en-3-1-one by the adrenal gland of young calves. Nature 183: 467–468.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Blingh Tynan, M., Bhagwat, S. A. and Castonquay, T. W. 1993. The effects of chronic cold exposure on diurnal corticosterone and aldosterone rhythms in Sprague-Dawley rats. Physiology and Behavior 54: 363–367.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bramham, C. R., Southard, T., Ahlers, S. T. and Sarvery, J. M. 1998. Acute cold stress leading to elevated corticosterone neither enhances synaptic efficacy nor impairs LTP in the dentate gyrus of freely moving rats. Brain Research 789: 245–255.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cabello, G. 1980. Plasma cortisol and aldosterone levels in healthy and diarrhoeic calves. British Veterinary Journal 136: 160–167.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Comline, R. S., Hall, L. W., Lavelle, R. B., Nathanielsz, P. W. and Silver, M. 1974. Parturition in the cow: endocrine changes in animals with chronically implanted catheters in the foetal and maternal circulations. Journal of Endocrinology 63: 451–472.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cooper, C., Evans, A. C. O., Cook, S. and Rawlings, N. C. 1995. Cortisol, progesterone and beta-endorphin response to stress in calves. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 95: 197–201.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dobson, H. and Smith, R. F. 1995. Stress and reproduction in farm animals. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, Supplement 49: 451–461.Google ScholarPubMed
Ducharme, J. R., Morera, A. M., Laurin, P., Collu, R., Audi, L., Jequier, J. C. and Saez, J. 1979. Further studies on the relationship of adrenal and gonadal steroids in pubertal development in female rats. Hormone Research 10: 130–142.Google ScholarPubMed
Dvorak, M. 1971. Evaluation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical function in young healthy and diarrhoeic calves by means of insulin hypoglycaemia. Zentralblatt für Vetirinarmedizin 18A: 653–660.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edwards, A. V., Hardy, R. N. and Malinowska, K. W. 1974. Effects of infusions of synthetic adrenocorticotrophin in the conscious calf. Journal of Physiology 239: 477–498.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Eguchi-Yasunobu. 1994. Experimental studies on perinatal development of adrenal and thyroid glands in the rat. Acta Anatomica Nipponica 69: 355–372.Google Scholar
Ektov, B. A., Kot, M. M. and Batyrbaev, A. 1982. Some blood values of calves differing in sensitivity to stressors. Veterinariya 6: 58–59.Google Scholar
Evans, A. C. O., Adams, G. P. and Rawlings, N. C. 1994a. Endocrine and ovarian follicular changes leading up to the first ovulation in prepubertal heifers. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 100: 187–194.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Evans, A. C. O., Adams, G. P. and Rawlings, N. C. 1994b. Follicular and hormonal development in prepubertal heifers from 2 to 36 weeks of age. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 102: 463–470.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fairclough, R. J., Hunter, J. T., Welch, R. A. S. and Payne, E. 1975. Plasma corticosteroid concentrations in the bovine foetus near term. Journal of Endocrinology 65: 139–140.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Glickman, J. A. and Challis, J. R. G. 1980. The changing response pattern of sheep fetal adrenal cells throughout the course of gestation. Endocrinology 106: 1065–1371.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gwazdauskas, F. C., Thatcher, W. W. and Wilcox, C. J. 1972. Adrenocorticotropin alteration of bovine peripheral plasma concentrations of cortisol, corticosterone and progesterone. Journal of Dairy Science 55: 1165–1169.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hartmann, H., Meyer, M., Steinbach, G., Deschner, F. and Kreutzer, B. 1973. General adaptation syndrome in calves. I. Normal behaviour of the blood picture and the content of glucose and 11-hydroxycorticosteroids. Archiv für Experimentelle Veterinärmedizin 27: 811–823.Google Scholar
Henricks, D. M., Dickey, J. F. and Hill, J. R. 1971. Plasma estrogen and progesterone levels in cows prior to and during estrus. Endocrinology 89: 1350–1355.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Honaramooz, A., Chandolia, R. K., Beard, A. P. and Rawlings, N. C. 1998. Excitatory amino acid regulation of gonadotropin secretion in prepubertal heifer calves. Biology of Reproduction 59: 1124–1130.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kinder, J. E., Bergfeld, E.G. M., Wehrman, M. E., Peter, K. E. and Kojima, F. N. 1995. Endocrine basis for puberty in heifers and ewes. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, Supplement 49: 393–407.Google ScholarPubMed
Madill, D. and Bassett, J. M. 1973. Corticosteroid release by adrenal tissue from foetal and newborn lambs in response to corticotrophin stimulation in a perifusion system in vitro . Journal of Endocrinology 58: 75–87.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Massip, A., Weuters-Ballman, P., Beckers, J. F. and Ectors, F. 1977. Plasma cortisol in the calf from birth to 14 days old. Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Séances de l’Academie des Sciences 285D: 563–565.Google Scholar
Meijs-Roelofs, H. M. A. and Moll, J. 1978. Sexual maturation and the adrenal glands. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 52: 413–418.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Michael, A. E. and Cooke, B. A. 1994. A working hypothesis for the regulation of steroidogenesis and germ cell development in the gonads by glucocorticoids and 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11-beta-HSD). Molecular Cellular Endocrinology 100: 55–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moberg, G. P., Anderson, C. O. and Underwood, T. R. 1980. Ontogeny of the adrenal and behavioral responses of lambs to emotional stress. Journal of Animal Science 51: 138–142.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rawlings, N. C. and Cook, S. J. 1991. The effects of acclimation to confinement on gonadotrophin and cortisol secretion during the estrous cycle of the ewe. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 71: 327–332.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Redbo, I. 1998. Relations between oral stereotypies, open-field behavior, and pituitary-adrenal system in growing dairy cattle. Physiology and Behavior 64: 273–278.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Riegle, G. D. and Nellor, J. E. 1967. Changes in adrenocortical function during aging in cattle. Journal of Gerontology 22: 83–87.Google ScholarPubMed
Schams, D., Schallenberger, E., Gombe, S. and Karg, H. 1981. Endocrine patterns associated with puberty in male and female cattle. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, Supplement 30: 103–110.Google ScholarPubMed
Stoebel, D. P. and Moberg, G. P. 1982a. Repeated acute stress during the follicular phase and luteinising hormone surge of dairy heifers. Journal of Dairy Science 65: 92–96.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stoebel, D. P. and Moberg, G. P. 1982b. Effect of adrenocorticotropin and cortisol on luteinising hormone surge and estrous behavior of cows. Journal of Dairy Science 65: 1016–1024.Google ScholarPubMed
Vescovi, P. P., Michelini, M., Maninetti, L., Pedrazzoni, M., Pioli, G. and Passeri, M. 1993. Short time cold exposure and plasma levels of beta-endorphin, ACT, GH, PRL and cortisol in human subjects. Neuroendocrinology Letters 15: 243–254.Google Scholar
Welsh, T. H. and Johnson, B. H. 1981. Stress-induced alterations in secretion of corticosteroids, progesterone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone in bulls. Endocrinology 109: 185–190.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wieringa, G. L., Curtis, R. A. and Willoughby, R. A. 1976. The influence of preconditioning on plasma corticosteroid levels, rectal temperatures and the incidence of shipping fever in beef calves. Canadian Veterinary Journal 17: 280–286.Google ScholarPubMed
Wintour, E. M., Brown, E. H., Denton, D. A., Hardy, K. J., McDougall, J. G., Oddie, C. J. and Whipp, G. T. 1975. The ontogeny and regulation of corticosteroid secretion by the ovine foetal adrenal. Acta Endocrinologica 79: 301–316.Google ScholarPubMed