Nutritionally induced changes in growth hormone (GH) and IGF-I are associated with decreased ovarian function and may partially explain infertility and anestrus in undernourished cattle. The reproductive importance of GH and IGF-I was tested in cattle with a GH receptor deficiency (GHRD) that have reduced blood IGF-I. Blood was collected daily for plasma, and ovaries were examined daily by ultrasonography for 3 wk during an estrous cycle (estrus = d 0) in GHRD (n = 8) and control (n = 8) cattle. On d 18, blood samples were collected every 10 min for 6 h to measure LH. The GHRD cattle had fewer small antral ovarian follicles (2 to 5 mm, P < .01). After estrous cycle d 5, the first-wave dominant follicle stopped growing in GHRD but continued growing in controls (P < .001). Size of the CL was equivalent for GHRD and controls until d 5, after which CL development slowed in GHRD (P < .01). Likewise, plasma progesterone concentrations were less in GHRD (P < .001). During the luteal phase, GHRD cattle failed to develop follicles greater than 10 mm in diameter (endocrine status x day, P < .05). Size and rate of growth of preovulatory follicles, plasma estradiol, plasma FSH, and plasma LH (d 18 bleed) were similar in GHRD and controls. In conclusion, an important role for GH, GH receptor, and IGF-I in ovarian function was supported because GHRD cattle had distinctly different patterns of ovarian development compared with control cattle.

Cyclic cows immunized against growth hormone-releasing factor (GRFi, n = 19), human serum albumin (HSAi, n = 10), or not immunized (CON, n = 18) were used to investigate the effects of feed restriction on serum and pituitary somatotropin (ST), pituitary ST mRNA, and serum and follicular IGF-I. Cows were either fed 2.7 kg/d cottonseed hulls (R) or given ad libitum access to feed (AL) for 15 d. Ovaries bearing the largest follicle and pituitaries were collected on d 14, at 44 to 45 h after injection of prostaglandin F2 alpha. Data from CON and HSAi cows were similar; thus, data were combined (represented as CON). Serum ST (nanograms/milliliter) on d 13 was greater (P < .09) in CON-R (5.3) than in CON-AL (3.9), whereas ST in GRFi-AL (1.1) and GRFi-R (1.1; pooled SE = .4) were similar. Hemipituitary weight (grams) and ST mRNA (arbitrary units) were greater (P < .05) in CON (1.5 +/- .1 and 135 +/- 25) than in GRFi (1.0 +/- .1 and 90 +/- 18) cows. Across immunization, ST mRNA and pituitary ST concentration (mg/100 mg of tissue), respectively, were greater (P < .06) in R (152 +/- 22 and 22.5 +/- 1.9) than in AL (73 +/- 16 and 17.3 +/- 1.8) cows. Immunization and diet decreased (P < .05) serum IGF-I (nanograms/milliliter) on d 13 (CON, 176 +/- 7 vs GRFi, 42 +/- 8; AL, 120 +/- 7 vs R, 98 +/- 8). Concentrations of IGF-I in follicular fluid (FFL) from the largest follicle were lower in GRFi (29 +/- 3) than in CON (102 +/- 6) cows; however, IGF-I in FFL was similar in AL (70 +/- 9) and R (71 +/- 10) cows. In conclusion, GRFi decreased serum ST and IGF-I, and decreased ST mRNA. Feed restriction increased serum ST and ST mRNA, and decreased serum IGF-I. Although feed restriction and GRFi decreased serum IGF-I, concentrations of IGF-I in FFL were decreased only by GRFi.

Growth hormone (GH) is a pituitary hormone that affects animal growth, metabolism, lactation, and reproduction. Many of the effects of GH are mediated by insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) which is synthesized in liver and ovary in response to GH. Insulin-like growth factor I synergizes with gonadotrophins (LH and FSH) to stimulate growth and differentiation of ovarian cells. There are species differences in the effects of GH in reproductive biology. In most species, ovarian follicles and corpora lutea are potential sites for GH action because the GH receptor is found within granulosal cells as well as corpora lutea. However, growth hormone does not control ovarian IGF-I in all species and, in ruminants, endocrine IGF-I from liver may be the principal mediator of GH action. In cattle, administration of GH increases the number of small antral ovarian follicles but does not increase the number of large antral (dominant) follicles. Growth hormone may antagonize some aspects of dominant follicular function because dominant follicles are shorter-lived in GH-treated cattle. The corpora lutea has increased growth and steroidogenesis in response to GH. Growth hormone-induced steroidogenesis in cultured granulosal and luteal cells depends on IGF-I release after GH treatment. Bovine and ovine granulosal cells do not release IGF-I in response to GH in vitro and, therefore, are less responsive to GH. These results demonstrate that GH is required for normal reproductive function in ruminant as well as nom-uminant species.