Influence of GnRH analog and dose on LH release and ovulatory response in Bos indicus heifers and cows on day seven of the estrous cycle

This study evaluated the influence of GnRH analogs (gonadorelin vs. buserelin) and doses (single vs. double) on LH release and ovulatory response in Bos indicus (Nelore) females on Day 7 of the estrous cycle. Cycling heifers and non-lactating cows were pre-synchronized: Day -10: progesterone (P4) implant insertion plus 2 mg of estradiol benzoate; Day -2: implant removal and 0.53 mg of cloprostenol sodium (PGF); Day 0: 25 μg of lecirelin (GnRH). Over four replicates, heifers (n = 57) and cows (n = 53) that ovulated to the GnRH treatment on Day 0, having a visible corpus luteum (CL) and a dominant follicle (DF) ≥ 8.5 mm, were allocated to receive the following GnRH treatments on Day 7: G-Single (100 μg of gonadorelin); G-Double (200 μg of gonadorelin); B-Single (10 μg of buserelin); and B-Double (20 μg of buserelin). At GnRH treatment, a P4 implant was inserted in heifers (0.5 g) and cows (1 g). Ultrasound examinations were done on Days -10, -2, 0, 2, 7, 9, 12, and 14 to evaluate DF diameter, ovulation and presence of CL. Blood samples were collected on Day 7 at 0, 2, and 4 h from GnRH treatment, to evaluate circulating P4 and LH concentrations. On Day 12, the P4 implant was removed, females received two PGF treatments (24 h apart), and 2 d later, 25 μg of GnRH was given to start the next replicate. In both heifers and cows, P4 concentrations were elevated on Day 7, and similar among groups (3.9 and 4.2 ng/mL, respectively). In heifers, buserelin induced greater LH peak (9.5 vs. 2.6 ng/mL; P < 0.01) and greater ovulation (88.9 [24/27] vs. 16.7% [5/30]; P < 0.01) than gonadorelin treatments, regardless of the dose. Similarly, in cows, buserelin induced greater LH peak than gonadorelin (9.9 vs. 4.9 ng/mL; P < 0.01). However, ovulation was only increased in cows from the B-Double group (90.9% [10/11]), whereas in the other groups the ovulatory response was similar (35.7% [15/42]). Regardless of treatment, heifers had similar P4 concentrations (P = 0.22), but smaller DF (P < 0.01) than cows on Day 7. Only in G-Double group the LH peak was lower (P = 0.05) in heifers than in cows, with no difference within other groups. In heifers, but not in cows, the single dose of buserelin resulted in high ovulatory response, equivalent to that produced by the double dose. In conclusion, in Bos indicus heifers and cows on Day 7 of the cycle, with elevated P4 concentrations, buserelin induced greater LH release and ovulatory response than gonadorelin treatments. Double doses increased the LH release, however, only resulted in greater ovulation in females treated with buserelin. Finally, although circulating P4 concentrations did not differ between parities, heifers were more likely to ovulate in response to a GnRH-induced LH peak than cows.