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Sartori, 2011
Sartori, 2011
Sartori, 2011
a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t
Article history: Several studies using transrectal ovarian ultrasonic scanning in Bos taurus (B. taurus) cattle
Available online 21 February 2011 and more recently in Bos indicus (B. Indicus) females evaluated the reproductive cycles of
heifers and cows under different conditions. In general, B. indicus cattle have more follicles
Keywords: and more follicular waves during the estrous cycle and ovulate from smaller follicles than
Follicle B. taurus. Consequently B. indicus females have smaller corpora lutea and it is assumed cir-
Corpus luteum
culating concentrations of estradiol and progesterone are also less. However, these findings
Hormone
may vary depending on the nutritional status and regimen in which the animals are man-
Estrus
Nutrition aged. Moreover, there are significant differences between B. taurus and B. indicus regarding
Zebu follicle size at the time of deviation of the dominant follicle. These differences in ovarian
function between B. indicus and B. taurus, e.g. greater antral follicle population are, proba-
bly, the main reasons for the great success of in vitro embryo production programs in Zebu
cattle, especially in Brazil.
© 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
0378-4320/$ – see front matter © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2011.02.006
R. Sartori, C.M. Barros / Animal Reproduction Science 124 (2011) 244–250 245
Fig. 1. Mean (±SE) profiles of dominant follicles (DF) and corpus luteum diameters for Nellore cows and heifers having estrous cycles with two (n = 20; A)
or three (n = 14; B) waves of follicular development. OF = Follicle from which ovulation occurred. Figure extracted from Figueiredo et al. (1997).
average. Moreover, during the estrous cycle, follicle devel- during the emergence of the first wave of follicular devel-
opment and regression occurs in a wave-like pattern in opment. Buratini et al. (2000) recorded approximately 50
cattle. One of the first studies performed in Nellore cattle small follicles in the ovaries of Nellore heifers. Similarly,
(Figueiredo et al., 1997) reported that estrous cycle length when data were combine from recent studies in 115 Nellore
was on average 20.7 (n = 20) and 22.0 (n = 14) d for “two-” heifers that had the emergence of 190 waves of follicu-
and “three-wave” animals, respectively. Similar differences lar development that were synchronized with the aid of
in estrous cycle length between “two-”and “three-wave” hormonal treatment (2 mg estradiol benzoate im associ-
animals were reported in Holstein cattle (Sartori et al., ated with an intravaginal progesterone device), the average
2004). Other studies in B. taurus have described the occur- number of follicles ≥3 mm at the onset of the wave was
rence of two to four waves of follicular development during 41.5 (R. Sartori, unpublished). By evaluating the ovaries on
the estrous cycle, with predominance of two waves, and Day 17 of the estrous cycle (Day 0 = estrus) from heifers
very rarely four waves (Sirois and Fortune, 1988; Townson after slaughter, Segerson et al. (1984) detected a greater
et al., 2002). The study by Figueiredo et al. (1997) has number of small follicles in Brahman than in Angus heifers.
observed “two-”and “three-wave” cycles in Nellore cat- Likewise, Alvarez et al. (2000) also observed a greater num-
tle (Fig. 1), with the majority of cows having two (83.3%, ber of follicles at time of follicular wave emergence in
n = 18) and heifers three (64.7%, n = 16) waves of ovar- Brahman (39 ± 4) compared to Senepol (33 ± 4), or Angus
ian follicular development. These authors also reported (21 ± 4) multiparous lactating cows. Recently, Carvalho
that 70% of Nelore females (n = 10), observed during two et al. (2008) recorded a greater number (33.4 ± 3.2 com-
consecutive estrous cycles, repeated the same pattern of pared to 25.4 ± 2.5) of small follicles at wave emergence in
follicular wave development of the previous cycle (i.e., Zebu (Nellore and Gir) than European (Angus and Holstein)
“two or three waves”). After evaluating 117 inter-ovulatory breeds. Those significant differences in ovarian follicle pop-
intervals (estrous cycles) from 17 Brahman heifers, Rhodes ulation between B. indicus and B. taurus breeds may be
et al. (1995) recorded that 26.5%, 66.7%, and 6.8% of estrous associated with differences in circulating IGF-I, as reported
cycles had either two, three, or four waves of ovarian follic- by Alvarez et al. (2000) and subsequently discussed in this
ular developer during an estrous cycle, respectively and the review. This greater antral follicle population in B. indicus
estrous cycle length lasted, on average 20.9 d. In five Brah- cattle is also one of the main reasons for the great success
man heifers examined over more than 12 estrous cycles, of in vitro embryo production in Zebu cattle in Brazil (Viana
it was reported that the same follicular wave pattern was and Camargo, 2007) because of a greater yield of oocytes
repeated 60–87.5% of the time. Other studies in Nellore during ovum “pick up” (OPU). Consequently, B. indicus cows
heifers (Sartorelli et al., 2005; Mollo et al., 2007), Gir cows produce more embryos in vitro per OPU session than B.
(Gambini et al., 1998; Viana et al., 2000), and Brahman taurus cows (Gimenes et al., 2010).
cows (Zeitoun et al., 1996) have reported a predominance Another very distinctive difference between B. indicus
of “three-wave” estrous cycles, but also observed animals and B. taurus cattle appears to be that the maximum diame-
with two, four, and even a few with five “waves” per estrous ter of the dominant follicle is smaller at about 10–12 mm in
cycle. To-date, there is only one documented study that Nellore compared with about 16–20 mm in Holsteins with
has directly and simultaneously compared reproductive evidence of significant variability in both types of cattle. For
variables in Nellore and another European breed (Carvalho example, in Holstein cattle, follicles from which ovulation
et al., 2008). occurs with diameters of between 12 and 22 mm have been
At the onset of each follicular wave, approximately 24 reported in heifers and cows (Savio et al., 1988; Ginther
small (3–5 mm) antral follicles were detected in B. taurus et al., 1989; Sartori et al., 2006; Carvalho et al., 2008). Simi-
cattle (Ginther et al., 1996). However, in B. indicus, cattle larly, but with a lesser variation, ovulatory follicles ranging
a greater numbers of small follicles have been recorded from 10 to 13 mm in diameter have been recorded in
246 R. Sartori, C.M. Barros / Animal Reproduction Science 124 (2011) 244–250
Table 1
Ovarian follicular diameter and day of follicle diameter deviation in growth rate of B. indicus cattle.
Reference Animal category (n) Diameter of the Diameter of the greatest Day of deviation
dominant follicle at subordinate follicle at (Ovulation = Day 0)
deviation (mm) deviation (mm)
Nellore (Figueiredo et al., 1997; Sartorelli et al., 2005; Car- in Nellore heifers and cows when the greatest growing
valho et al., 2008; Machado et al., 2008) and Brahman follicle reaches 5–6 mm in diameter (Table 1). After that
(Rhodes et al., 1995) cattle, with the exception of the stud- stage, the dominant follicle continues to grow and the sub-
ies that evaluated the influence of feed intake on ovarian ordinate(s) undergo atresia. Because cattle are generally
function (Mollo et al., 2007; Martins et al., 2008), which monovulatory, the presence of a single dominant follicle
observed a greater variation. In another study (Alvarez is the most common finding at ultrasound examination of
et al., 2000), larger follicles from which ovulation occurred the ovaries. However, co-dominance (two or more domi-
were recorded in B. indicus (Brahman) than in Bos tau- nant follicles) can occur, especially in high producing dairy
rus (Angus or Senepol) cows (15.6 ± 0.5, 12.8 ± 0.4, and cows (Sartori et al., 2002, 2004; Lopez et al., 2005). There
13.6 ± 0.4 mm, respectively). are very few reports of co-dominance observed in Zebu cat-
Growth rate of the follicles from which ovulation occurs tle (Sartorelli et al., 2005). This is consistent with twinning
and other dominant follicles was less in Nellore cattle rate being very infrequent in Nellore cows.
(0.9 mm/d; Figueiredo et al., 1997; Carvalho et al., 2008) All the studies in Nellore cattle cited in Table 1 reported
than in European breeds (1.1–2.0 mm/d, Sirois and Fortune, that follicle diameter deviation occurred 2.3–2.8 d after
1988; Knopf et al., 1989; Sartori et al., 2004; Carvalho ovulation when the greatest growing follicle had reached
et al., 2008). Therefore it would appear that Nellore cattle a diameter between 5.3 and 6.2 mm. Although follicle size
have smaller dominant follicles and follicles from which at deviation differs substantially between genetic groups,
ovulations occurs than B. taurus breeds because of lesser the time of deviation in B. indicus in relation to ovulation
follicular growth rate. is similar to the ones reported in Holstein cattle (Ginther
Due to the positive correlation between size of et al., 1996; Sartori et al., 2001).
ovulatory follicle and corpora lutea size (Sartori et al., Similar to the study performed in Holstein cows (Sartori
2002), it is not surprising that corpus luteum volume in et al., 2001), Gimenes et al. (2008) designed an experi-
Nellore cows is also smaller than in European breeds. ment to determine the size at which the dominant follicle
While studies report average maximum corpora lutea acquires ovulatory capacity in B. indicus heifers. Heifers
volumes of 7303 mm3 (∼24.1 mm diameter) for Holstein (n = 29) were monitored every 24 h by ultrasonography,
heifers and 11248 mm3 (27.8 mm diameter) for lactating from ovulation until the largest growing follicle reached
Holstein cows (Sartori et al., 2004), corpora lutea vol- diameters between 7.0 and 8.4 mm (n = 9), 8.5 and 10.0 mm
umes reported in Nellore cattle range from 1987 mm3 (n = 10), or > 10.0 mm (n = 10). At that time, heifers were
(15.6 mm diameter) to 5199 mm3 (∼21.5 mm diameter; treated im with 25 mg of pLH and monitored by ultrasonog-
Figueiredo et al., 1997; Mollo et al., 2007; Machado et al., 2008). raphy every 12 h for a further 48 h. In contrast to Holstein
In the study of Carvalho et al. (2008), at about 10 d after cows, in which there were only ovulations from follicles
ovulation, corpora lutea in B. indicus cattle were smaller ≥10 mm in response to LH, ovulation occurred in 3 of 9, 8 of
than in B. taurus heifers (15.3 compared to 18.4 mm in 10, and 9 of 10 Nellore heifers in the three groups, respec-
diameter). In Brahman heifers, the maximum diameter of tively. This suggests that granulosa cells in the dominant
the corpus luteum was 18.9 mm (Rhodes et al., 1995). follicle of Nellore cattle acquire LH receptors at a smaller
diameter when compared to Holstein cattle. In fact, this
2.2. Follicle deviation was confirmed by Nogueira et al. (2007) and Barros et al.
(2009).
Follicular deviation has been used to refer to the time at
2.3. Reproductive hormones
which differences in the growth rate between the future
dominant and the future subordinate follicles become Near the time of estrus, the preovulatory follicle grows
apparent (Ginther et al., 1996). The mechanisms involved to a large size and produces large amounts of estradiol.
in the selection of the dominant follicle are complex and At some point, circulating estradiol reaches a concentra-
not fully understood. In B. indicus cattle, although there are tion and duration sufficient to induce behavioral estrus
significant differences regarding size of follicles at devia- and induction of a pre-ovulatory LH surge. This is fol-
tion in comparison to B. taurus breeds, the selection process lowed by ovulation about 24–32 h later. After ovulation,
seems to be similar. In European breeds, follicular deviation the corpus luteum forms from the remaining follicular
generally occurs when the greatest developing follicle has cells and there is a progressive increase in circulating con-
reached 8.5–9.0 mm in diameter and the greatest subordi- centrations of progesterone as the corpus luteum grows.
nate has reached 7.5–8.0 mm (Ginther et al., 1996; Sartori Concentrations of progesterone remain elevated through-
et al., 2001). In contrast to Holstein cattle, deviation occurs out the lifespan of the corpus luteum and this is essential for
R. Sartori, C.M. Barros / Animal Reproduction Science 124 (2011) 244–250 247
embryo development and maintenance and establishment 2004) and between 1 and 20 h in B. indicus (reviewed by Bó
of pregnancy. Circulating concentrations of progesterone et al., 2003).
also block further preovulatory LH surges and ovulations. The onset of estrus coincides with the preovulatory
Data in Nellore cattle suggest that circulating concen- surge of LH followed by ovulation, on average, 26–28 h later
trations of progesterone reach a plateau between Day 8 (Walker et al., 1996; Pinheiro et al., 1998; Mizuta, 2003).
and 13.4 of the estrous cycle and remain elevated until Studies in Nellore cattle have observed some differences
luteolysis (Figueiredo et al., 1997; Machado et al., 2008). regarding estrous characteristics in this breed and some of
The time for regression of the corpus luteum in non- these are described subsequently in this review.
pregnant cattle is determined by the time of PGF2␣ The interval between the onset of estrus and ovulation
secretion from the uterus, and occurs between Day 16.0 was 27.7 ± 2.4 and 26.1 ± 1.2 h after PGF2␣-induced and
and 19.0 of the estrous cycle in both Zebu and European natural estrus, respectively in nulliparous heifers, and in
breeds (Figueiredo et al., 1997; Alvarez et al., 2000; Sar- cows it was 26.8 ± 0.8 and 28.0 ± 0.9 h after PGF2␣-induced
tori et al., 2004; Machado et al., 2008). and natural estrus, respectively (Pinheiro et al., 1998).
The few studies that have directly compared Additionally, estrous behavior, when detected (<50% of the
serum/plasma steroid hormone concentrations between cows) was shorter (10.5 ± 1.0 and 13.6 ± 1.0 h after PGF2␣-
B. indicus and B. taurus females have detected significant induced and natural estrus, respectively) when compared
differences between genetic groups. For example, Segerson to European breeds, and there was a greater incidence of
et al. (1984) detected greater serum concentrations of estrus at night.
estradiol-17 and progesterone in Angus than Brahman Combined data of two other studies, in which time
females. These findings may be attributable to differences of estrus was synchronized in 90 post-pubertal Nellore
in size of the pre-ovulatory follicle and corpus luteum heifers and ovulation was confirmed by ultrasonography,
between genetic groups. The study by Alvarez et al. were analyzed. Although the majority of the heifers (76.7%)
(2000), however, did not detect differences in maximum ovulated within 7 d after PGF2␣ treatment, 50.0% were not
concentration of estradiol-17 in plasma among Angus observed in standing estrus, even with 24 h a day visual
(9.1 ± 1.4 pg/mL), Brahman (8.9 ± 1.6 pg/mL), and Senepol monitoring along with the aid of estrous mount detec-
(8.7 ± 1.4 pg/mL) cows. Moreover, the authors did not tors, such as Kamars (R. Sartori; unpublished). Moreover,
detect differences in maximum plasma concentration of of the 45 heifers not detected in estrus, 25 (55.6%) had
progesterone among breeds. That study, however, is the ovulations, and only one (2.2%) heifer detected in estrus
very few that observed greater follicle and corpus luteum did not have an ovulation. Some of the possible reasons
sizes in B. indicus than B. taurus cattle. for the lack of estrous behavior, besides an inherent breed-
In Nellore cattle, Figueiredo et al. (1997) observed effect, were excessive animal handling for daily transrectal
that overall mean progesterone concentration was less ultrasonic evaluation and blood collection, and/or a rapid
in heifers (4.9 ± 0.2 ng/mL) than in cows (6.4 ± 0.2 ng/mL), relative decrease in ambient temperature during some of
despite the fact that the maximum corpus luteum diame- the nights of these research trials.
ter was larger in heifers. These results were unexpected To our knowledge, the only study that directly com-
and might be explained by diet. While the heifers were pared estrous behavior in Nellore cows to a European breed
supplemented with concentrate during the experiment, (Angus) was performed by Mizuta (2003). By the aid of
the cows were kept on pasture. Studies have described a radiotelemetric estrous detection system (Heat-Watch),
greater clearance rate, and consequently, lesser circulating this study verified that average estrous duration in Nel-
steroid hormone concentrations in animals with greater lore was shorter than in Angus cows (12.9 ± 2.9 compared
feed intake (Sangsritavong et al., 2002; Vasconcelos et al., to 16.3 ± 4.8 h). The interval between the onset of estrus
2003). Similarly, when comparing serum concentrations of and ovulation, however, did not differ between Nellore
progesterone between B. indicus and B. taurus synchronized (27.1 ± 3.3 h) and Angus (26.1 ± 6.3 h) cows.
heifers during the time in which they were treated with an The summation of a greater percentage of Nellore
intra-vaginal progesterone-releasing device, Carvalho et al. females displaying no signs of estrus before ovulation,
(2008) detected greater circulating progesterone in Zebu short estrous duration, and a greater percentage of ani-
heifers. In contrast, at about 10 d after ovulation, endoge- mals that start and end standing estrus during the night
nous circulating concentrations of progesterone were less makes estrous detection more difficult and, consequently,
(3.8 compared to 4.6 ng/mL) in B. indicus than in B. taurus provides barriers for development of successful AI regi-
heifers, which was associated with smaller corpora lutea in mens in Nellore cattle. This problem can be diminished
Zebu heifers. if fixed-time AI (FTAI) without estrous detection is per-
formed. Consequently, several hormonal treatments have
2.4. Estrous behavior been developed to allow FTAI in zebu cattle, including a
protocol for FTAI in embryo donors (Fernandes et al., 2001;
After luteolysis, serum concentrations of progesterone Baruselli et al., 2004; Bó et al., 2007; Barros et al., 2010).
decrease and circulating concentrations of estradiol-17
produced by the dominant follicle increases. The decrease 3. Influence of feed intake on ovarian function of
in progesterone and increase in estradiol-17 are respon- Nellore cattle
sible for overt estrous behavior and for the preovulatory
GnRH/LH surge. Estrus, the period of sexual receptivity, A single study in nulliparous pubertal heifers (Mollo
lasts between 30 min and 27 h in B. taurus (Lopez et al., et al., 2007) and another study in non-lactating cows
248 R. Sartori, C.M. Barros / Animal Reproduction Science 124 (2011) 244–250
0.78
0.78
0.58
0.12
0.38
0.51
0.03
0.40
influence of feed intake on ovarian function of Zebu cattle.
–
–
P
The first study used pubertal Nellore heifers with greater
(H, n = 20) or less (L, n = 19) feed intake, receiving 1.7
or 0.7 of the maintenance diet, respectively. During the
2469.3 ± 578.2
Results (mean ± SE) of serum hormone concentrations and size of ovarian structures in Nellore heifers (Study 1; n = 39) or (Study 2; n = 18) with greater (0.7 M) or less (1.7 M) feed intake.
407.0 ± 37.2
observed for estrous behavior 24 h a day until detection
0.62 ± 0.04
12.8 ± 0.4
9.8 ± 1.2
6.4 ± 1.3
2.6 ± 0.6
of ovulation. Ovarian ultrasonography and blood collec-
tion were performed daily from cloprostenol injection until
the end of an estrous cycle and ovulation occurred. These
–
–
procedures aimed to follow up follicular and luteal devel-
opment as well as to quantify serum concentrations of
Lesser intake (n = 9)
prostenol administration, heifers from the Group H had a
2891.6 ± 418.2
Study 2 (Cows)
shorter duration of estrus and a less intense estrous behav-
334.9 ± 44.0
0.70 ± 0.08
ior when compared to the Group L heifers (Table 2). At
17.2 ± 2.5
12.5 ± 0.8
4.7 ± 1.5
3.9 ± 0.5
the end of the estrous cycle, the day of luteolysis was
similar (P = 0.74) in both groups (Day 18.0 ± 0.5). Within
–
–
the animals that had a normal estrous cycle, characterized
by ovulation of the growing follicle that was present at
the time of luteolysis, the mean estrous cycle length was
21.4 ± 0.7 and 23.4 ± 1.3 d in the Groups H (n = 18) and L
<0.01
<0.01
<0.01
<0.01
<0.01
<0.01
0.35
0.56
0.07
0.50
0.02
(n = 16), respectively (P = 0.18). Although a previous study
–
P
in B. taurus heifers suggested an effect of feed intake on the
number of waves of ovarian follicular development dur-
ing the estrous cycle (Murphy et al., 1991), in the present
Serum progesterone concentration: Maximum progesterone in Study 1 and progesterone on Day 7 in Study 2.
effect. The percentage of estrous cycles with two, three,
5198.6 ± 376.0
or four waves of follicular development was 25%, 50% and
Corpus luteum volume: Maximum corpus luteum volume in Study 1 and CL volume on Day 7 in Study 2.
569.8 ± 1.8
14.3 ± 1.8
10.7 ± 2.2
12.6 ± 0.3
12.8 ± 0.6
18%, respectively for Group L and 28%, 56% and 17%, respec-
8.9 ± 1.9
1.2 ± 0.1
5.2 ± 0.3
5.6 ± 0.4
tively for Group H. Moreover, one heifer of the L group had
five waves of follicular development. Although ovulations
–
were from larger follicles in Group H, the groups did not
differ in regard to the amplitude of the estradiol-17 surge
prior to ovulation. Growth rate of the follicle from which
11.8 ± 0.2 [9.7–15.5]
Lesser intake (n = 19)
4095.9 ± 173.7
14.3 ± 1.5
11.8 ± 0.2
10.7 ± 0.3
5.2 ± 0.6
0.9 ± 0.1
H gained 1.1 kg/d and from Group L lost 1.5 kg/d of body
a
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