Androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone and testosterone in ovarian vein plasma and androstenedione in peripheral arterial plasma during the bovine oestrous cycle

Authors

T. H. Wise, USDA-ARS
D. Caton, University of Florida
W. W. Thatcher, University of Florida
A. Rami Lehrer, Volcani Center
M. J. Fields, University of Florida

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

1982

Comments

Published in J. Reprod. Fert. (1982) 66, 513-518

Abstract

Catheters were placed in the carotid artery via a facial artery (n = 12) and in the ovarian vein (n = 12), and, in conjunction, electromagnetic flow meters were placed around the ovarian artery (n = 6) in cyclic beef cows. Androstenedione was quantitatively the highest and dehydroepiandrosterone the lowest of the ovarian androgens measured. Ovarian androgens were correlated positively with each other (P < 0·05)but not with ovarian blood flow or day of the cycle. There was a trend for spikes of androgen release (ovarian vein concentration × ovarian blood flow) from the ovary to be greatest during the period of decreasing progesterone and CL regression. However, only with testosterone were spikes of release different (Days -13 to -9 < Days -8 to -4;P < 0·05;Day 0 = oestrus). The dynamic changes in ovarian androgens noted in this study were compatible with the concept of continuous follicular development and atresia throughout the oestrous cycle.