No abstract

To study the possible role of ovarian androgens in regulation of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion in the cycling mare, five mature, intact mares were treated with testosterone (20 micrograms/kg of body weight) daily during estrus; five control mares received safflower oil on the same schedule. Mares were teased for estrus and samples of jugular blood were drawn daily through one full estrous cycle. Concentrations of FSH in plasma were measured by a newly developed radioimmunoassay based on anti-ovine FSH serum and radioiodinated equine FSH. Testosterone treatment during estrus had no effect on duration of estrus, diestrus or the total cycle. Concentrations of FSH in plasma during estrus were unaffected by testosterone treatment. However, FSH concentrations in testosterone-treated mares were elevated (P less than .05) compared with controls during mid-diestrus (d 6 through 11). The magnitude and timing of the LH peaks were unaffected by treatment, as was the day on which the first elevated progesterone concentration occurred. These data are consistent with a model of FSH secretion in which ovarian androgens cause an accumulation of FSH in the pituitary during estrus in preparation for the surges that occur in FSH secretion during diestrus.

Eight seasonally anestrous mares were administered intravaginal polyurethane sponges on December 15 and then weekly thereafter until February 1. Control mares received no sponges or genital contact. Sponge insertion caused an immediate surge in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations in jugular plasma in 50% of treated mares whereas no control mares had surges in FSH (P less than .05). The effect of treatment on luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations was much less dramatic and only three treated mares appeared to have positive responses. Sponge-treated mares exhibited positive responses in FSH concentrations 11 times out of 32 mare-days and control mares zero out of 28 (P less than .05). The magnitude of the FSH response decreased rapidly with successive responses. Sponge insertion induced estrus in four of eight treated mares; no control mares exhibited estrus (P less than .05). Sponge insertion also increased ovarian size and the incidence of large follicles. When all mares were fed altrenogest for 14 d beginning February 1, there was no beneficial effect of sponge treatment on number of mares exhibiting estrus or on pregnancy rate. These data confirm earlier speculations that sponge treatment causes surges in gonadotropins and increased ovarian size in approximately 50% of anestrous mares. However, sponge treatment does not appear to provide a practical means of preparing mares for progestogen synchronization during the nonbreeding season.