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.