Oestrous Cycle Pharmacological Manipulation - Anatomy & Physiology

()Map REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM (Map) FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE TRACT OESTROUS CYCLE

Introduction

The manipulation of normal cyclic activity ensures optimum production or is convenient for the herdsmen or owner. In the case of seasonal breeders, it allows them to breed out of season, or to advance the onset of cyclic activity. There are also advantages in ensuring all animals in a group come into oestrus at the same time for ease of management. There are two methods of oestrus synchronisation. One is physiological manipulation of the oestrous cycle, and the other pharmacological manipulation of the cycle. Various factors must be considered before deciding which method to use. These factors will be specific to the type of production unit and species, also the stage of the natural oestrous cycle in the animal/herd involved.

Factors Influencing Reproduction

Physiological

Light

• Cyclic activity in the mare, ewe, goat and cat depend on changes in the number of daylight hours.
• Tungsten and fluorescent lamps can be used to artificially manipulate the photoperiod.
• Mare and queen are stimulated by increasing day length (long day breeders)
  • If mares are establed in December and exposed to artificial light for increasing duration, the onset of oestrous cyclicity and oculation wil be advanced.
• Ewe and goat are stimulated by decreasing day length (short day breeders)
  • Providing ewes with controlled light housing enables change in the breeding season from autumn and winter to spring and summer.
  • If there is no change in duration of light stiulus, it is possible to make ewes cycle all year round.

Nutrition

• Improved nutrition prior to mating (flushing) will increase the number of follicles which mature and ovulate.
• Used in the ewe and sow successfully.

Other Methods

• The presence of a male can stimulate the onset of cyclic activity in some species (see 'Ram Effect' for more detail).
• In sows and gilts, removing piglets will cause a more rapid return to cyclic activity post-partum.
• If litters are weaned from a group of sows at the same time, there will also be some synchronisation of oestrus.
• Also in gilts and sows, the stress of changing environment or transport stress can stimulate the onset of oestrus post-partum.

Pharmacalogical

Preparations which Stimulate Release of Anterior Pituitary Hormones

• Ovarian steroids, particularly oestrogens, exert a positive-feedback on the anterior pituitary gland and hypothalamus.
• Oestrogens and synthetic oestrogens are used to stimulate oestrus.
• They have a direct effect on stimulating oestrus behaviour and changes in the genital tract.
• They may also stimulate release of pituitary gonadotrophins.
• Synthetic GnRH can be used to stimulate the release of endogenous gonadotrophins.

Preparations which Supplement or Replace Pituitary Gonadotrophins

• Purified LH and FSH can be extracted from the pituitary gland in the abbatoir, but this is too time consuming to be practiced commercially. There is also the risk of transmitting diseases such as BSE.
• Instead, two substitutes are used commercially:
  • Equine Chorionic Gonadotrophin (eCG): obtained from the serum of pregnant mares. This has an 'FSH-like' effect, but with some 'LH-like' activity.
  • Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG): obtained from the urine of pregnant women. It has mainly an 'LH-like' effect, but with some 'FSH-like' activity.

Oestrogens

• Used to induce oestrus in anoestrous animals.
• Have a direct effect on oestrus behaviour and the genital tract.
• May inhibit the pituitary release of gonadotrophins in high doses.
• Do not initiate ovarian activity or ovulation.

Progestogens

• Progesterone and its synthetic analogues are used extensively in most domestic species to synchronize oestrus.
• Exogenous progestogens act in the same way as the corpus luteum, resulting in a negative feedback effect on the anterior pituitary gland.
• This in turn results in supression of gonadotrophin release, so cyclic activity ceases.
• When the progestogen is withdrawn, the negative feedback block on the anterior pituitary gland is removed. This initiates a retun to cyclic activity.

Manipulation of the Oestrous Cycle in Various Species

Ewe

Pharmacological: Gonadotrophins

• Use of eCG alone to induce oestrus in anoestrus ewes is not very successful.
• Administration of progesterone before the injection of eCG causes synchronised oestrus and ovulation in seasonally anoestrus ewes.

Pharmacological: Progestogens

• Used alone or in conjunction with other hormones.
• Used to induce oestrus in the anoestrus ewe during the non-breeding season and for oestrus synchronization in cyclic ewes.
• To be effective, treatment must last for the length of the normal luteal phase (12-14 days).
• In the anoestrus ewe, progesterone withdrawal is complemented by follicle stimulating treatments such as eCG. This will stimulate oestradiol secretion due to its 'FSH-like' effect.
• Progestogens are now used more commonly than progesterone itself, because progesterone has a short-half life. These include:
  • Fluorogestone acetate (FGA)
  • Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP)

Intravaginal Sponges

• The sponge is impregnated with progestogens and inserted into the vagina.
• Progestogen is absorbed in sufficient quantities to cause a negative feedback effect on pituitary function.
• When used outside of the normal breeding season, eCG is administered at the end of the progestogen priming period.
• Fertility may be reduced at first mating after synchronized oestrus. This may be due to poor absorbtion of progestogen from the sponge. It may also be the effect of abnormal hormone levels on sperm survival.

Cow

Pharmacological: Gonadotrophins

• eCG can be used to stimulate follicular growth and ovulation in the anoestrus cow.
• Dose response is variable and can result in multiple ovulations.
• Withold insemination at the induced oestrus.
• The cow often returns to anoestrus, so overall the use of eCH is not recommended.

Pharmacological: Progestogens

• Used to synchronize groups of cows and heifers for artificial insemination and to overcome problems with oestrus detection.
• Treatment of random cycling animals for 18-21 days results in synchronization of oestrus.
• When the treatment ceases, oestrus occurs in 4-6 days.
• Fertility at first oestrus is lower, due to impaired sperm transort as a result of the atypical hormone balance after treatment is withdrawn.
• To ensure the natural corpus luteum of the cycle has regressed by the time of progestogen withdrawal, progestogen treatment is often combined with a luteolytic factor:
  • Oestradiol at the start of treatment or prostaglandin analogues at the end of treatment.
  • Oestradiol is best because as well as inducing luteal regression, it affects follicular dynamics so improves fertility at first oestrus.
• In non-cyclic cows, progestogens sensitize the hypothalamic-anterior pituitary-gonadal axis. This approach can be used in cattle with innactive ovaries.
• Injecting with eCG at progestogen removal stimulates follicular maturation and ovulation.
• Oestrus and ovulation after treatment with progestogens occurs earlier and with more precise timing than following injection of prostaglandin alone.

Progesterone Releasing Intravaginal Device (PRID)

• Stainless steel coil covered with an inert elastomer incorporating 1.55g of progesterone.
• Placed in the vagina using a speculum.
• Whilst in place, progesterone is absorbed to produce plasma concentrations that mimic maximum levels at dioestrus.
• When removed after 12 days, the cow will come into oestrus in 2-3 days.
• Some may also contain Oestradiol Benzoate.
• Oestradiol Benzoate is anti-luteotrophic and mildly luteolytic.
• Almost 100% synchronization can be achieved if an injection of PGF2α is administered 24 hours before removing the device. This has a far greater luteolytic effect than Oestradiol Benzoate alone.
• Can be used in cyclic cows to synchronize oestrus, best inserted on day 13-14.
• Can be used in anoestrus dairy and beef cows to induce oestrus.

Controlled Internal Drug Release Device (CIDR)

• A hinged T-shaped device impregnated with progesterone.
• Placed in the vagina using a speculum.
• Whilst in place, progesterone is absorbed to produce plasma concentrations that mimic maximum levels at dioestrus.
• When removed after 12 days, the cow will come into oestrus in 2-3 days.
• Can be used in cyclic cows to synchronize oestrus, best inserted on day 13-14.
• Can be used in anoestrus dairy and beef cows to induce oestrus.

Mare

Control in the Breeding Period

Pharmacological: Progestogens

• In competition horses, it is desirable to prevent the mare from coming into oestrus at inopportune times.
• In some cases it is desirable to synchronize a group of animals.
• A daily injection of progesterone (0.3mg/Kg) will prevent oestrus.
• The mare will return to oestrus 3-7 days after treatment ceases.
• Oral progestoges recommended include:
  • Allytrenbolone
  • Altrenogest
• These can be used in a number of ways:

1. To stimulate the onset of cyclic activity

• Administer 0.044mg/Kg mixed in with the feed for 10 days and then stop.
• Give in the late transition period from anoestrus to cyclic activity when follicles are present.
• Better results when combined with increased lighting.

2. To suppress oestrus for an event

• Feed for 15 days at 0.044mg/Kg

3. To suppress oestrus in mares with prolonged oestrus 4. To control the time of oestrus for effective use of the stallion

• Feed for 15 days, then stop.
• Mare should come into oestrus 2-3 days later.

Sow

Pharmacological: Progestagens

• Used to synchronize cyclic gilts and sows
• Difficult to treat group-fed animals, since it is contraindicated for pregnant animals and boars.
• Progestogens used are:
  • Altrenogest
  • Allytrenbolone
• Supress follicular maturation when fed daily at 15-20mg with no effect on the life span of corpora lutea.
• Feed for 18 days to achieve synchronization of oestrus 5-7 days after withdrawal.

Pharmacological: Gonadotrophins

• In anoestrus gilts and sows eCG, or a combination of eCG and hCG will promote follicular growth and oestrus.
• If this is followed by another injection of hCG 72 hours later, this will ensure ovulation occurs.
• This can also be used to synchronize cyclic activity, especially if used in combination with progestogen.

Bitch

Pharmacological: Gonadotrophins

• Combinations of eCG and hCG can induce oestrus in the anoestrus bitch.
• Sometimes this is combined with oestrogens.
• However, conception rates after the induced ovulation tend to be poor.

Queen

Physiological

• Pseudopregnancy can be achieved by mating queens with a castrated Tom, or through stimulating coitus by swabbing the vagina.
• Pseudopregnant queens will not return to oestrus for 4-8 weeks.

Pharmacological: hCG

• Administration of hCG can be used to induce ovulation.
• This will cause pseudopregnancy.
• Pseudopregnant queens will not return to oestrus for 4-8 weeks.

Pharmacological: Synthetic Progesterone

()Map REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM (Map) FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE TRACT OESTROUS CYCLE