Changes in plasma progesterone levels in the caudal vena cava and the jugular vein and luteinizing hormone secretion pattern after feeding in lactating and non-lactating dairy cows

Abstract

The present study was designed to assess progesterone profiles at the secreted (caudal vena cava) and circulating levels (jugular vein) and luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion pattern in lactating and non-lactating cows with reference to feeding. Four lactating and four non-lactating cycling Holstein cows were examined. Blood samples were collected simultaneously from the caudal vena cava (via a catheter inserted from the coccygeal vein) and the jugular vein every 15 min for 12 h (0500-1700 h) during the functional luteal phase. Cows were fed 50% of the daily diet 6 h after the start of blood sampling. During the 12-h sampling period, mean progesterone concentrations in the caudal vena cava did not differ between lactating and non-lactating cows (49.0 ± 2.9 and 53.3 ± 3.7 ng/ml; mean ± SE), whereas mean progesterone concentrations in the jugular vein in lactating cows were higher than those in non-lactating cows (6.4 ± 0.1 and 5.6 ± 0.1 ng/ml, P < 0.001). Lactating cows had a higher frequency of LH pulses than non-lactating cows (7.0 ± 0.7 and 4.3 ± 0.9 pulses/12 h, P<0.05). The influence of feeding was not observed on LH profiles but was observed on progesterone profiles in both veins. Progesterone concentrations in the caudal vena cava increased after feeding in both groups. Progesterone concentrations in the jugular vein decreased after feeding in lactating cows but not in non-lactating cows. These results indicate the difference in feeding-related changes in progesterone dynamics between lactating and non-lactating cows.

Fig. 1.

Representative profiles of progesterone (P₄) concentrations in the caudal vena cava (CVC) and jugular vein (JV) and pulsatile luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion in the JV in one lactating (No. 6) and one non-lactating cow (No. 1). Asterisks indicate peaks of LH or P₄ pulses. LH and P₄ pulses with the same numbers above them are those for which a temporal association was detected. Arrows and dashed lines indicate the time when half of the daily diet was provided.

Fig. 2.

Changes in area under the curve of progesterone (P₄ AUC) in the caudal vena cava (CVC) and jugular vein (JV) after feeding. Asterisks indicate a difference (P<0.05) compared with the value at –1 to 0 h after feeding. The dashed line indicates the time when half of the daily diet was provided.