Various Factors Affecting Resumption of Ovarian Activity in Postpartum Cattle

Doctoral Seminar
Various factors affecting resumption of ovarian activity

in postpartum cattle
S.RAJA
Assistant Professor
Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics
Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal 637 002
TAMIL NADU VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY
Objectives
✓ Importance and Introduction

✓ Puerperium
✓ Uterine Involution
✓ Factors Affecting Uterine Involution
✓ Postpartum Ovarian Activity (Ovarian Rebound)
✓ Factors Affecting The Postpartum Ovarian Activity
✓ Effect Of Some Drugs On Postpartum
✓ Conclusion
S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

Importance
Pregnancy Involution Breeding

1 3 5
2 4 6
Pregnancy
Parturition Cyclicity
resumption
Introduction
▪ Attention of many research groups

▪ An important role in the economic outcome of cattle and buffalo operations
▪ Aim to develop treatments to improve fertility and productivity.
▪ calving interval of 12 months in cows and 13–15 months in buffaloes-60 days and
85–115 days
Disturbances during this period due to delay of uterine involution or

resumption of estrous activity
likely to prolong the calving interval - productive efficiency

Fate of parturition
Following parturition in the cow, there is a significant period of sexual

quiescence of variable length.
This period of reproductive quiescence was found to be longer in

suckling or intensively milked animals.
This acyclic period is generally considered as the postpartum anestrous

period.
postpartum period constitutes an important period in the reproductive life of

dairy cows because of its enormous influence upon subsequent fertility
Events required for the Goal
Ovarian activity needs to Estrus behaviour

be re-established after should be manifested Conception
parturition
Uterine involution
Uterine involution takes approximately 25 - 47 days in dairy cows and 37 - 56 days in
suckled beef cows
postpartum infertility
(Dobson and Kamonpatana, 1986)
(Kindahl et al., 1992)
Postpartum anestrus
Postpartum anestrus is affected by both major and minor factors

(Short et al., 1990; Peters, 1984; Hanzen, 1986)
1. SUCKLING and NUTRITION are considered the two major factors that impact
postpartum anestrus.
2. Minor factors affecting the postpartum anestrus are: Season, breed, age and
parity, and carryover effects from the previous pregnancy.

Puerperium
Period from parturition until the genital organs return to its normal
physiological and histological condition
(Thakur et al., 2020)
Early Clinical whole

puerperium puerperium puerperium
Up to 9 days PP: 21 days PP
Resume size Upto 42 days PP
placenta must be
without histological regains normal
dropped
histology
naturally/Manually
physiological and anatomical re-adjustments in both the uterus and

ovaries for the restoration of her reproductive capacity
Puerperium on endocrine status
Puerperal intermediate or pre- post-ovulatory
period ovulatory period period
onset of pituitary first ovulation and lasts

calving to the onset
sensitivity to GnRH until until complete uterine
of pituitary
first ovulation at 20-30 involution at 40-45 days
sensitivity to GnRH
days postpartum postpartum
uterine involution, resumption of ovarian function, elimination of

bacterial contamination
Uterine Involution
The restoration of the uterus to its normal non-pregnant size and

function after parturition is termed uterine involution
➢ rate of myometrial contractions, (Hafez 2000; Elmetwally 2016;
Elmetwally 2017).
➢ elimination of bacterial infection and

➢ histological regeneration of the endometrium
➢ Reduction in the size of the uterus occurs in decreasing logarithmic scale, the
greatest change occurring during the first days after calving
(Noakes 2001).

Uterine involution results from three overlapping processes:
• Uterine contraction
• Loss of tissue and
• Tissue repair
In dairy cattle the time taken for complete uterine involution ranged
from 26 to 52 days
(Elmetwally et al., 2016)

Sequential events during involution (UTERUS)
Day 5 Rapid necrosis
stratum compactum is with leukocyte-laden necrotic layer.
Necrotic material starts to slough and contributes to the lochia.
Small blood vessels-oozing of blood, causing a red coloration of the lochia
Day 8 Regeneration of the epithelium in not seriously damaged and is completed in the inter-
caruncular areas by day 8.
Day 10 Most of the necrotic caruncular – liquefaction changes
Day 15 sloughing is completed, leaving only stubs of blood
Day 19 This eventually becomes smooth, owing to the disappearance of the vessels
Day 25 Complete re-epithelialization by centripetal growth of cells (complete healing occurs is variable).
Day 40-60 Whilst these changes are taking place the caruncles are becoming smaller- they consist of small
protrusions 4-8mm in diameter and 4-6mm high
S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22 (Elmetwally, 2012; 2017)
Sequential events during involution (CERVIX)
10 to 12 hours Its almost impossible to insert a hand through it into the uterus and by 96
hours it will admit just two fingers
2 days The mean external diameter is 15cm
10 days 9-11 cm
30 days 7-8 cm
60days 5-6 cm
(Elmetwally, 2012; 2017)

Involution of Cervix
S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22 (PL Senger, 2005)
FACTORS AFFECTING UTERINE INVOLUTION
➢ Season Nutrition
➢ Milk Yield
➢ Age
➢ Abnormal parturition
➢ Subclinical uterine infection
➢ Uterine Infection

Postpartum Ovarian Activity (Ovarian Rebound)
The series of events leading to estrus and ovulation in postpartum cows

are similar to that of normal cyclic cows and are very dependent upon a
fully functional hypothalamic-pituitary interaction
Resumption of ovarian cyclicity depends upon the recovery rate of the

hypothalamus-pituitary interaction that appears to occur in three
distinct phases.

First Phase
Begins 2-4 weeks after parturition

characterized by repletion of anterior pituitary store of LH
Depletion/repletion cycle of anterior pituitary LH is clearly a major limiting factor for early postpartum recovery
Second Phase
Related to an increase in the sensitivity of the hypothalamus to the

positive feedback effect of estradiol.
Third Phase
Recovery requires an escape from the effects of suckling
(Elmetwally, 2018
Second Phase
Related to an increase in the sensitivity of the hypothalamus to the

positive feedback effect of estradiol.
(Senger, 2005)
Postpartum Follicular dynamics
▪ The follicular growth was detected in the early postpartum period at about 4 to 5
days postpartum.
▪ The ovarian changes occur every 4 days during the postpartum period in dairy
cows and the mean interval from parturition to the appearance of ovarian
follicles (0.5 to 1.0cm in diameter) was 15.0+0.2 days in normal cows.
➢ The average number of small follicles (3 to 5mm diameter) is decreased by day 25

postpartum
➢ The number of large follicles (10 to 15mm or more than 5mm in diameter) is increased
with increasing postpartum days

(Lucy, 1991)
Postpartum Follicular dynamics

(Crowel, 2014)
FACTORS AFFECTING THE POSTPARTUM OVARIAN ACTIVITY
Parturition is usually followed by a normal physiological quiescence period and

the length of this period is variable and can be affected by many factors
(Gordan 1996)
1. Nutritional Status
2. Body Condition Score
3. Suckling Vs Milking
4. Periparturient Abnormalities
5. Milk Yield
6. Season
7. Age And Parity
8. Stress, Infection
9. Other Environmental Factors
S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22 (PL Senger, 2005)
1. Nutrition
Consequences of inadequate or improper nutrition before the beginning of

postpartum period include delayed postpartum estrus, silent estrus, delayed ovulation,
decreased ovulation rate and increased embryonic mortality
Adequate nutrition during the postpartum period is even more critical in primiparous
cow because of nutritional requirements for growth, in addition to those for lactation
during the postpartum period
Dry matter intake (DMI) of dairy cows declines and is at its lowest (1.7–2.0% of body
weight) at parturition. Simultaneously, with the growth of foetus the nutrient
requirements increase and are at their peak before parturition as well as immediately
after parturition.
(Bakshi et al., 2017).
Nutrition contd.,
➢ DCAD
➢ Calcium
➢ Phosphorus
➢ Sodium
➢ Vitamin A
(Bakshi et al., 2017).

2. Suckling
Suckling is considered an exteroceptive stimulus that plays a major role in governing

reproductive cycles in female mammals.
The first ovulation and first estrus tend to occur earlier in dairy than in beef suckler
cows.
The onset of ovulation and estrous cycle are also delayed in milking cows. High yielding
cows tend to stop cycling spontaneously or exhibiting a longer cyclic period

3. Postpartum Disturbances
• Endometritis developed as a result of untreated retained placenta did not affect

the early resumption of ovarian activities despite retarded uterine involution and
large quantities of purulent vaginal discharge
Cows with dystocia, stillbirth and vaginal prolapse showed

an increase in open days, the number of inseminations
required per conception and calving interval resulting in
heavy economic losses

4. Metabolic Diseases and Season
• It was found that milk fever increases the uterine involution period
and number of service per conception.
• Also, seasonal variations were found to have an influence on

postpartum ovarian activity

5. Age or Parity
The age of parity did not affect the resumption of ovarian activity
although primiparous may have a longer interval than multiparous
cows.
An increase of acyclic period after calving was observed to be more

frequent among both heifers and cows after their fourth calving

Postpartum ovarian changes
1. Regression of the corpus luteum of pregnancy (corpus albicans)
2. Resumption of follicular activity

(El-Wishy, 2007)
Postpartum ovarian changes
Regression of the corpus luteum of pregnancy (corpus albicans)
✓ Postmortem examination of the ovaries of postparturient animals revealed that the
average diameter of the corpus luteum of pregnancy was 3.5 mm on the day of calving
and 2 mm 7 days later.
✓ None was protruding from the ovarian surface by Day 15
S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22 (El-Wishy, 2007) (Agrawal et al., 1979)
Resumption of follicular activity
Day Follicular activity

0 Negligible follicular development
1-15 3-7 mm total number of follicles was more
21 8 mm
30-60 7.5-15 mm
6 days earlier Initiation of Follicular activity in contralateral side
Restoration of pulsatile LH secretion could be a limiting factor for development and maturation
of dominant follicles
Large sized follicles were reported in non suckler cows
(El-Wishy, Anim Reprod Sci., 2007)

Negative energy balance (NEB) and its effect on ovarian activity
Extensive evidence that NEB can affect follicular and luteal development and also
the quality of the oocyte-irregularity of cycle
Problems include
• Delay to the first ovulation (DOV1),
• Cycles which are longer than the normal range (prolonged corpus luteum, PCL) and
• Long intervals between successive luteal phases, when cows fail to ovulate again at
an appropriate time (DOV2)
S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22 (Taylor, 2003) (Wathes, 2003).
Initiation of follicle waves after calving occurs regardless of NEB status, but the development
to a preovulatory size and likelihood of ovulation is decreased when BCS is poor
IGF-I in the follicular fluid reflects systemic IGF-I concentrations, whereas IGF-II is
derived locally from theca cells. Both IGF-I and IGF-II enhances the ovarian action of
gonadotropins and stimulate follicle cell proliferation and steroidogenesis
Insulin also acts directly on bovine antral follicles, appearing less potent than IGF-I at
stimulating proliferation but equipotent in relation to estradiol production
S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22 (Wathes, 2003).

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22 (Wathes, 2007).

Subclinical uterine infection- Défense Mechanism
After parturition, the physiological barrier of the genital system becomes loosen and the
pathogenic opportunistic microorganisms invade the uterus.
The endometrial immunity responds to bacterial agents via production of pro-inflammatory

cytokines (Fischer et al., 2010; Patra et al., 2014)
which control the uterine infection through stimulation of immune cell mobilization into the
uterus (Patra et al., 2014).
uterus pro-inflammatory cytokines is magnified by their paracrine actions that results in

further production and eventually systemic increase in cytokines (Stassi et al., 2017).
Levels of TNF-α was considered a key cytokine which involved in adhesion molecules, like E-Selectin
and IL-8 expression that play an important role in PMNs recruitment (Bhadaniya et al., 2019;).
On the parallel line, serum and endometrial IL-8 levels were promoted in SCE group.
C-reactive protein is an essential element of innate system defence that regulates the inflammatory
response and acts as a safeguard against infection - motivate anti-inflammatory cytokines production
Elevations in the circulating CRP of SCE buffaloes at W5 and W7 as well as their positive correlation
with PMNs%

Elevated cytokines plays a important role in subclinical infection;
however its must to limit the infect by proving the defense mechanism;
hence administration of Antihistaminic/anti-inflammatory agents may
inhibit the normal defense mechanism

Prostaglandin F2 alpha Metabolite
ng/ml
16
14 14
12
10
5
4 4
0 0.2 0.1
-10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25
-2
Days
Postpartum anestrus Ovarian Overview

Effect of Some Drugs on Postpartum, Uterine Involution and Postpartum Ovarian Rebound
Use of Prostaglandin F2α during Early Puerperium
✓ The PGF2α is important for uterine involution and ovarian function. The
duration of increased PGF2α production in the postpartum period negatively
correlated with the number of days to complete uterine involution and the
interval between parturition and resumption of normal ovarian activity.
✓ Ovarian activity increased during the early postpartum period following PGF2α
administration. Also, partial suppression of PGF2α synthesis during the early
postpartum period reduced ovarian activity.

Effect of Some Drugs on Postpartum, Uterine Involution and Postpartum Ovarian Rebound
Use of Methylergometrine maleate during Early Puerperium
✓ Methylergometrine maleate during post-partum period effectively hastened the

uterine involution rate in HF cross bred cow. (Alagar et al. 2016)
✓ Uterine involution was significantly faster in crossbred cows injected with

vitamin E, selenium and cloprostenol

Uses of GnRH during Early Puerperium
• To start cycling by 3 weeks postpartum

• To have their uteri involuted and infection free by 4 weeks
postpartum,
• To express estrus behaviour at their second cycle and each cycle
afterwards until bred and
• To conceive at first breeding 50-85 days postpartum

Conclusion
1. Changes which are present during the postpartum period in dairy cows play a crucial role in the
determination of future fertility
2. Consequences of inadequate or improper nutrition before the beginning of postpartum period
include delayed postpartum estrus, silent estrus, delayed ovulation, decreased ovulation rate and
increased embryonic mortality.
3. Postpartum NEB may also have long term carryover effects on fertility through damage to developing
oocytes, thus reducing conception rates
4. Elevated cytokines plays an important role in subclinical infection
5. Administration of Antihistaminic/anti-inflammatory agents may inhibit the normal defense
mechanism.
6. Administration of prostaglandins and gonadotropins may improve the postpartum reproductive
performance in dairy cows.
References
1. Alagar, S., Selvaraju, M., Ezakialnapolean, R. and Doraisamy, K. 2016. Effect of Methylergometrine Maleate on uterine
involution in postpartum cows. J. Cell Tissue Res., 16(3): 5817-5819
2. Arthur, G.H., Noakes, D.E. and Pearson, H. (1996). Veterinary Reproduction and obstetrics. 7th Ed., Balliere and Tindal,
London, pp. 197-201
3. Bakshi, M. P. S., M. Wadhwa and Harinder P. S. Makkar. CAB Reviews 2017. Feeding of high-yielding bovines during
transition phase 12, No. 006. doi: 10.1079/PAVSNNR201712006
4. Elmetwally, M.A., Montaser, A., Elsadany, N., Bedir, W., Hussein, M. and Zaabel, S. (2016). Effects of Parity on Postpartum
Fertility Parameters in Holstein Dairy Cows. IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science, 9, 91-99.
5. Elsayed DH, El-Azzazi FE, Mahmoud YK, Dessouki SM, Ahmed EA. Subclinical endometritis and postpartum ovarian
resumption in respect to TNF-α, IL-8 and CRP in Egyptian buffaloes. Anim Reprod. 2020;17(1):elocation.
https://doi.org/10.21451/10.21451/1984-3143-AR2019-0027
6. El-Wishy, A B. 2007. The postpartum buffalo: I. Endocrinological changes and uterine involution. Animal Reproduction
Science, 97: 201–215
7. Gobiraju, S,, P. Vasan, M.R. Purushothaman, K. Rajendran, S. Senthilkumar, P.C. Sakthivel, G. Gomathi and A. Ajantha.
2017 Dietary Cation – Anionic Balance (DCAB) To Prevent Milk Fever. Int. J Sci., Envt. and Tech., 6(4): 2283 – 2290
8. Gohar, M.A., Elmetwally, M.A., Montaser, A., Zaabel, S.M. (2018). Effect of Oxytetracycline Treatment on Postpartum
Reproductive Performance in Dairy Buffalo-Cows with Retained Placenta in Egypt. Journal veterinary healthcare, 1, 45-53

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Doctoral Seminar

Various factors affecting resumption of ovarian activity

✓ Importance and Introduction

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

Pregnancy Involution Breeding

▪ Attention of many research groups

Disturbances during this period due to delay of uterine involution or

likely to prolong the calving interval - productive efficiency

Following parturition in the cow, there is a significant period of sexual

This period of reproductive quiescence was found to be longer in

This acyclic period is generally considered as the postpartum anestrous

postpartum period constitutes an important period in the reproductive life of

Ovarian activity needs to Estrus behaviour

Postpartum anestrus is affected by both major and minor factors

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

Early Clinical whole

physiological and anatomical re-adjustments in both the uterus and

onset of pituitary first ovulation and lasts

uterine involution, resumption of ovarian function, elimination of

The restoration of the uterus to its normal non-pregnant size and

➢ elimination of bacterial infection and

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

(Elmetwally et al., 2016)

Day 10 Most of the necrotic caruncular – liquefaction changes

Day 15 sloughing is completed, leaving only stubs of blood

2 days The mean external diameter is 15cm

(Elmetwally, 2012; 2017)

➢ Subclinical uterine infection

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

The series of events leading to estrus and ovulation in postpartum cows

Resumption of ovarian cyclicity depends upon the recovery rate of the

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

Begins 2-4 weeks after parturition

Related to an increase in the sensitivity of the hypothalamus to the

Related to an increase in the sensitivity of the hypothalamus to the

➢ The average number of small follicles (3 to 5mm diameter) is decreased by day 25

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

Parturition is usually followed by a normal physiological quiescence period and

Consequences of inadequate or improper nutrition before the beginning of

(Bakshi et al., 2017).

Suckling is considered an exteroceptive stimulus that plays a major role in governing

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

• Endometritis developed as a result of untreated retained placenta did not affect

Cows with dystocia, stillbirth and vaginal prolapse showed

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

• Also, seasonal variations were found to have an influence on

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

An increase of acyclic period after calving was observed to be more

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

1. Regression of the corpus luteum of pregnancy (corpus albicans)

2. Resumption of follicular activity

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22

Regression of the corpus luteum of pregnancy (corpus albicans)

✓ Postmortem examination of the ovaries of postparturient animals revealed that the

and 2 mm 7 days later.

✓ None was protruding from the ovarian surface by Day 15

Day Follicular activity

Large sized follicles were reported in non suckler cows

(El-Wishy, Anim Reprod Sci., 2007)

• Delay to the first ovulation (DOV1),

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22 (Wathes, 2003).

S Raja TANUVAS VCRI NKL Doctoral Seminar 2021-22 (Wathes, 2007).