• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.157-161
• /
• 2014

The study aimed to determine the physical characteristics of estrus mucus and conception rates in dairy cattle. Samples of estrus mucus from the cervix were collected from 108 dairy cattle during heat and were examined for color and consistency. Samples were taken from bred animals at starting from day of breeding to the completion of one estrus cycle. The color of the cervical mucus was studied based on its transparency while the consistency was based on the thinness and thickness of the cervical mucus. The dairy cattle were bred and the pregnancy diagnosis was performed at the $60^{th}$ day post breeding. Findings showed that the estrus mucus of the dairy cattle was transparent in 58.3%, turbid in 31.5% and dirty in 10.2%. It was further observed that the mucus consistency of the dairy cattle was thin in 74.1% and thick in 25.9%. In the pregnant group, 67.3% mucus samples were found transparent, turbid in 23.6% and dirty in 9.1%. However, the corresponding figures for the non-pregnant group had 49.1%, 39.6% and 11.3%. The consistency of cervical mucus was found to be thin in 74.1% and thick in 25.9% of dairy cattle. The conception rates of dairy cattle with thin and thick consistency of cervical mucus were 81.8% and 18.2%, respectively. Pregnant was associated with consistency of cervical mucus (p<0.10). Findings indicated that dairy cattle with thin consistency of cervical mucus and had clear discharge were pregnant cows.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.147-152
• /
• 1995

The purpose of this study was to examine the estrus synchronization and superovulation of pigs with hormone treatments. Three different kinds of procedures for synchronization and superovulation were used as follow: I) gilts in natural estrus behavior (control): 2) gilts synchronized with 20mg altrenogest for 9 days regardless of the estrus cycle; 3) gilts received PG600 (400IU PMSG + 200 IU hCG) in 15 day of the estrus cycle; and then gilts administrated with PMSG (1,500 IU) and hCG (750 IU) after altrenogest and PG600 treatment for superovulation. Estrus was checked daily with a boar, in estrus synchronization, the intervals from hormone treatment to estrus were different between PG600 (43/47) and altrenogest (13/53) within 6 days. The percentage of animals displaying a estrus response were not different by hormone treatments. The average number of corpora lutea (C.L) and ovulated embryos were similar between PG600 25.4${\pm}$13.1, 19.0$\pm$12.8 and altrenogest 25.5${\pm}$0.7, 15.0${\pm}$4.2, respectively, but was increased (P<0.05) by hormone treatment compared to that 12.9${\pm}$1.8, 12.7${\pm}$3.9 in the control. The number of normal embryos after ovulation was higher in the control than hormone treatment. Therefore, these results suggest that altrenogest and PG600 treatment could be a valuable for cut down the labour and cost by synchronization.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.529-534
• /
• 1991

Plasma progesterone concentrations were measured from 97 Che-ju native mares throughout the estrous cycle, Day 20 to 23, 5 to7 months of pregnancy, and gestation period (<1 to 7 months) using the radioimmunoassay techniques for pregnancy diagnosis. Plasma progesterone concentrations during the estrous cycle were the lowest (<1.0ng/ml) at estrus, remained high from 9 to 18 days (3.7~7.6ng/ml) and drastically decreased thereafter to reach minimal concentrations at the next estrus. Plasma progesterone concentrations at Day 21 to 24 were a significantly different between in pregnant mares (>5.7ng/ml) and in non-pregnant mares (<1.0ng/ml). The accuracy of the pregnancy diagnosis based on plasma progesterone concentrations at Day 20 to 23 was 86.7% for positive and 100% for negative, whereas on 5 to 7 months was 66.7% for positive and 71.0% for negative, respectively. Plasma progesterone concentrations during the gestation period(1 to 7 months) increased after 1 month of pregnancy, with peak concentrations(>8.0ng/ml) occurring between 60 to 100 days of pregnancy, and decreased below 1.7ng/ml after 6 months of pregnancy.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.27-31
• /
• 2000

Recently, there is a worldwide concern that a great number of man-made chemicals have a hormone-like action both in humans and in animals. EPA and OECD are developing screening programs using validated test systems to determine whether certain substances may have an effect on humans. In the present study, the establishment of in vivo short-term test system for pubertal female assay with thyroid to detect endocrine disrupting chemicals was tried using a model substance, methoxychlor (MC), a chlorinated hydrocarbon insencticide. Forty female rats were assigned to four groups. MC was administered at dose levels of 0, 8, 40 and 200mg/kg by gavage to female rats from day 21 post partum to the completion of vaginal opening. We evaluated body weight change, age at vaginal opening, onset of estrous cyclicity, age at first esturs, ovary weight, and serum concentrations of thyroxine and thyroid stimulating hormone in female rats. The age at vaginal opening of females receiving 40 200mg/kg was significantly younger than control. The onset of estrus cyclicity and age at first estrus of females receiving 200mg/kg was also younger than controls. There was no effect of treatment on body weight, ovary weight, and hormone concentration. Based on these results, it can be concluded that application of MC at dose level of 40mg/kg affects the vaginal opening and application of MC at dose level of 200mg/kg accelerates the vaginal opening and the onset of estrus cylicity.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.225-233
• /
• 2000

The aim in this study was to obtain the basic data for estimation of optimal mating time and ovulation time by finding out the relationship between vaginal cytology and reproductive hormone profiles during the estrous cycle in 36 Korea Jin-do bitches. A characteristic features of vaginal cytology during the estorous cycle were the high proportion of superficial cell, anuclear cell and erythrocyte in proestrus, superficial cell, anuclear cell and erythroucyte in estrus, parabasal cell, small and large intermediate cell and leukocytes in diestrus, and parabasal cell and small intermediate cell in anestrus, respectively. Cornification index(CI) was the high proportion in proestrus and estrus, then it was decreaed in diestrus and anestrus. It indicated that the CI was significantly high proportion in proestrus and estrus in comparison with the other phases. Plasma progesterone concentration was below 1.0ng/ml at the first day of vulval bleeding in pregnant and non-pregnat bitches, and then it was increaed slowly. When Day 0 was timed from the day that plasma progesterone concentration was first increased above 4.0ng/ml, plasma progesterone concentrations at Day 0 in pregnant and non-pregnant above 4.0 ng/ml, plasma progesterone concentrations at Day 0 in pregnant and non-pregnant bitches were $5.2{\pm}0.3ng/ml and 5.7{\pm}0.5ng/ml$$46.5{\pm}3.3 ng/ml$ in pregnant bitches and at Day 20 with $39.8{\pm}0.1ng/ml$ in nonpregnant bitches. It indicated that plasma progesterone concentration was higher in pregnant bitches than in non-pregnant bitches. Hereafter plasma progesterone concentration was decreased steadily. At Day 63 which is parturition day, plasma progesterone concentration was decreased below 1.0ng/ml with $0.8{\pm}0.2ng/ml$ in pregnant bitches whereas in the non-pregnant bitches at Day 75 were decreased below 1.0ng/ml with 40.5{\pm}0.4ng/ml$. Plasma progesterone concentrations was maintained below 1.0ng/ml during anestrus in all of them. The plasma estradiol-17 $\beta$ concentration was increased above 1.0 pg/ml at the first day of vulval bleeding and it showed a peak Day-1 with 38.2 pg/ml. Thereafter it was sharply decreased after Day 0, which was the day that plasma progesterone concentration was first increase above 4.0ng/ml, and was maintained below basal levels. In relationship between CI and reproductive hormones, plasma estradiol-17 $\beta$concentration showed a peak at Day-3 and CI showed a peak at Day-1 which was the second day after plasma estradiol-17 $\beta$ peak, and plasma progesterone concentration was first increased above 4.0ng/ml at Day 0 which was the first day after CI peak. CI was first increased above 80% at Day-6 which was the third day before plasma estradio-17 $\beta$ peak and it was maintained above 80% between Days-6 and Day 3 during 10 days, and showed above 90% at Day-3 which was the day that plasma estradiol-17 $\beta$peak and was maintained above 90% between Day-3 and Day 3 during 7 days. In conclusion, ovulation in Koran Jin-do bitches occurred at the first day after CI peak, at the third day after plasma estradiol-17 $\beta$peak and the day when plasma progesterone concentration was first increased above 4.0 ng/ml. And it was estimated that the optimal mating time was the day when the CI was maintained above 90% and plasma progesterone concentration was between 3.0~8.0ng/ml. Therefore plasma progesterone concentration measurement was used for determination of an accurate ovulation time and the optimal mating time but also vaginal cytology, which is low-priced with equipment and is the simple examination method, was reliable method for estimating estrous cycle, optimal breeding time and ovulation time in Korea Jin-do bitches.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.349-354
• /
• 1990

The effects of $PGF2{\alpha}$ on the conception rate and the plasma levels of estradiol-$17{\beta}$ and progesterone of anestrus Cheju mares were investigated at the breeding and non-breeding seasons. The results obtained from this studies are as follows; 1. The durations of the estrus and diestrus after $PGF_2{\alpha}$ treatment persisted shorter than control cycle (p<0.05), but ovulation time was fast. 2. The levels of estradiol-$17{\beta}$ and progesteron before $PGF_2{\alpha}$ treatment showed 103.8pg/ml, 8.0ng/ml in breeding season and 72.8pg/ml, 4.7ng/ml in non-breeding season, respectively. 3. The levels of estradiol-$17{\beta}$ rose to 115.4~154.0pg/ml, and 90.8~27.0pg/ml from 2nd to 6th day after the treatment of $PGF_2{\alpha}$, in breeding and non-breeding seasons, respectively, while progesterone level dropped to 1ng/ml with the sign of estrus and at 8th day rose in breeding season (p<0.05). 4. Of thirty anestrus mares investigated for $PGF_2{\alpha}$ administration, 87.5% showed estrus on an average of 3.8 days after treatment and the conception rate was 62.5% in breeding season, but the estrus and conception rates dropped 40% and 20% in non-breeding season, respectively.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.321-325
• /
• 2014

The present study was performed on farm animals to test the effectiveness of progesterone-releasing intravaginal device (Cue-Mate$^{(R)}$ 1.56 g) and injection of prostaglandin $F_{2{\alpha}}$ ($PGF_{2{\alpha}}$) for synchronization estrus in Hanwoo cattle. The cattle were at random stage of the estrus cycle. The cows were artificially inseminated at day 7 after Cue-Mate withdrawal, using commercial semen from Korean native bulls. There was a season effect on the estrus synchronization rate. It was higher in spring (94.3%) followed by winter (93.3%), autumn (90.4%) and summer (67.2%). In summary, The results of this study revealed that season has influences on estrus behavior of cattle with no significant effect on pregnancy rate. In summary, we suggest summer reproductive management to alleviate the effects of heat stress. It should be based on intensive cooling combined with hormonal treatment. Given that different subgroups of cows benefit differently from the treatments, selective hormonal administration should be considered.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.188-196
• /
• 2010

The objective of this study was to characterize the litter sizes in Huanghuai goats with high prolificacy (HP, five or more kids born per litter on at least one occasion), and to compare their peripheral blood concentrations of progesterone and estradiol with those of goats with poor prolificacy (PP, up to three kids born per litter on any occasion). The circulating concentrations of progesterone and estradiol were measured by radioimmunoassay from daily blood samples taken during natural estrus cycles and at 1-5 days after ovariectomy. Estrus was synchronized using two doses of a prostaglandin analog. Litter size for the HP goats increased up to a parity of five and decreased thereafter. The percentage of goats with litter sizes of $\geq$4 from parities 3 to 6 ranged from 44.5% to 58.3%. Although small differences in litter size were obtained for goats of parities three, four and six relative to five, parity five does had the highest mean litter size. Progesterone concentrations began to rise earlier and were higher in the HP than in the PP goats on most days of the luteal phase, but not during the follicular phase of the cycle or after ovariectomy. There was a significant difference between the two groups (p<0.05) in the magnitude of the progesterone plateau. Mean estradiol concentrations in the HP group remained significantly higher than in the PP group (p<0.05) during the estrus cycle. There were two estradiol peaks in the HP goats during the early luteal phase, but only one in the PP group. Measurements of individual corpora lutea (CL) in vitro showed that there was a greater prevalence of small CL (<6 mm in diameter) in the HP group than in the PP group (p<0.05). After ovariectomy, the estradiol level on day 1 was significantly higher than at the nadir during the estrus cycle in both the HP (p<0.01) and PP (p<0.05) goats, while levels decreased by 12.3% and 26.2% respectively compared with the mid-luteal period in HP and PP goats (p<0.05). The overall mean estradiol concentrations in HP goats were lower than in the PP group, but no significant differences were found between groups at 1-5 days after ovariectomy.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.29-36
• /
• 2003

Progesterone levels in the blood plasma or skim milk of cows are considered to be very useful indicator fur the detection of estrus cycle and early pregnancy diagnosis. During 13 to 14 days after estrus the level of progesterone in plasma or skim milk were not different between the inseminated arid non-inseminated cows. In the pregnant cows the peak level of progesterone reached on 14th day after artificial insemination (AI), but in the absence of conceptus the level declines after the 14th day slowly, and then very rapidly towards the basal level after the 17th day. This low level persists about 4 days, including those of estrus and ovulation a highly characteristic pattern which differs so markedly from that in the pregnant cows. Progesterone levels in blood plasma or skim milk can provided a reliable diagnosis of early pregnancy and monitoring ovarian activity in cows. The mean $\pm$ standard deviation of milk urea nitrogen(MUN) and protein concentration in the cows at 9 herds were 17.7$\pm$2.35 mg/dL and 3.2$\pm$0.17%, respectively. The days of nonpregnant after parturition was shorter in the cows in which the lower level of MUN than higher level of MUN concentration.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.38-44
• /
• 1990

This study was carried out to produce superior dairy cattle by embryo transfer. Seven dairy cows were superovulated with divided injection of FSH 4Omg for 5 days started on day 9 to 14 of the estrus cycle and injection of PGF$_2$$\alpha$ 45mg on day 4 of FSH injection. Donor cows were flushed to collect embryos on day 7 or 8 of the estrus cycle. Fresh embryos collected were transferred to synchronized dairy recipients or frozen using glycerol 3 step method to he equilibrated. And 35 embryos which were frozen using glycerol 6 step method were imported from U.S.A. After glycerol dilution of frozen embryos was done by reverse density during freezing. frozen-thawed embryos were transferred to synchronized dairy or beef recipients. The results obtained were as follows; 1. Total of 24 embryos were collected from 7 donor cows flushed and transferable embryos were 18 (75.0%). 2. Among 24 embryos. morula, early blastocyst, blastocyst, expanded blastocyst and unfertilized ova were 3 (12.5%), 1 (4.2%), 10 (41.6%), 4 (16.7%) and 6 (25.0%), respectively. 3. Heat inducing rate after 1st and 2nd injections of PGF$_2$$\alpha$ in Holstein and beef cattle was 83.3% and 71.4% and 62.5% and 69.2%, respectively. 4. Among 56 recipients, 23 head were pregnant (41.1%). The pregnancy rate of fresh embryos was 50.0% (1/2 heads) and the pregnancy rate of frozen embryos which were frozen using glycerol 3 step and using glycerol 6 step imported from U.S.A. was 52.6%(l0/19 heads) and 34.3%(12/35 heads), respectively. 5. The pregnancy rate of blastocyst (60.0%) was higher than that of morula (39.0%), early blastocyst (25.0%) and expanded blastocyst (0%). 6. The pregnancy rate of grade I embryos (52.2%) was higher than that of grade 2 (34.6%) and grade 3 (28.6%). 7. The pregnancy rate according to synchrony of recipient with donor was higher in simultaneous recipient (55.0%) and +l2hrs' (53.8%) than -24hrs' (23.5%), -l2hrs' (20.0%) and +24hrs' (0%).