Plasma inhibin levels in relation to steroids and gonadotrophins during oestrous cycle in buffalo

Reprod Domest Anim. 2001 Aug;36(3-4):163-7.

Abstract

The study was conducted on six Murrah buffalo synchronized and induced to oestrus. An indwelling catheter was placed in the jugular vein of each buffalo 4 days before the expected onset of the oestrus following the induced oestrus and blood samples were collected at 8 h intervals from each animal throughout the oestrous cycle. Plasma immunoreactive inhibin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol-17 beta and progesterone were estimated by radioimmunoassay to study the variations in the peripheral levels of these hormones and their inter-relationships in order to elucidate the feedback systems controlling them during the oestrous cycle of buffalo. Plasma inhibin levels ranged between 391.25 and 631.97 pg/ml during various phases of the oestrous cycle and were found to be higher than reported in cows. Peak LH and FSH levels during oestrus were 38.40 +/- 9.21 and 24.04 +/- 4.75 ng/ml, respectively and estradiol-17 beta and progesterone were 19.50 +/- 5.51 pg/ml and 0.61 +/- 0.25 ng/ml, respectively. The mean plasma inhibin concentration on the day of oestrus was 562.5 +/- 18.9 pg/ml. Levels of FSH in the plasma showed three mid-cycle elevations which corresponded to comparatively lower inhibin and elevated estradiol-17 beta levels during the same period. From this observation it was deduced that both inhibin and estradiol-17 beta have a feed-back regulatory effect on FSH secretion in buffalo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Buffaloes / blood*
  • Buffaloes / physiology
  • Estradiol / blood
  • Estrus / blood*
  • Estrus / physiology
  • Estrus Synchronization
  • Female
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / blood
  • Inhibins / blood*
  • Luteinizing Hormone / blood
  • Progesterone / blood
  • Radioimmunoassay
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Progesterone
  • Estradiol
  • Inhibins
  • Luteinizing Hormone
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone