Relationship among estradiol, cortisol and intensity of estrous behavior in dairy cattle

Lyimo, Z.C.; Nielen, M.; Ouweltjes, W.; Kruip, T.A.M.; Eerdenburg, F.J.C.M. van

doi:10.1016/s0093-691x(00)00314-9

Cited by 144 publications

(124 citation statements)

References 31 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

105

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Further, a normal endocrinological cycle is prerequisite for appropriate expression of estrous behavior. The relationships found between P4, E2 and intensity of estrous behavior show that hormones involved in regulation of the estrous cycle also affect the expression of estrous behavior [42,63]. These and other findings and hypotheses about regulation of the bovine estrous cycle could be translated into mathematical equations or modified parameterization and incorporated in the current model.…”

Section: Discussion and Outlookmentioning

confidence: 88%

A simple mathematical model of the bovine estrous cycle: Follicle development and endocrine interactions

Bôer

Stötzel

Röblitz

et al. 2011

Journal of Theoretical Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Bovine fertility is the subject of extensive research in animal sciences, especially because fertility of dairy cows has declined during the last decades. The regulation of estrus is controlled by the complex interplay of various organs and hormones. Mathematical modeling of the bovine estrous cycle could help in understanding the dynamics of this complex biological system. In this paper we present a mechanistic mathematical model of the bovine estrous cycle that includes the processes of follicle and corpus luteum development and the key hormones that interact to control these processes. The model generates successive estrous cycles of 21 days, with three waves of follicle growth per cycle. The model contains 12 differential equations and 54 parameters. Focus in this paper is on development of the model, but also some simulation results are presented, showing that a set of equations and parameters is obtained that describes the system consistent with empirical knowledge. Even though the majority of the mechanisms that are included in the model are based on relations that in literature have only been described qualitatively (i.e. stimulation and inhibition), the output of the model is surprisingly well in line with empirical data. This model of the bovine estrous cycle could be used as a basis for more elaborate models with the ability to study effects of external manipulations and genetic differences. AMS MSC 2000: 92C42, 92C30, 90C31, 65L09

show abstract

Section: Discussion and Outlookmentioning

confidence: 88%

A simple mathematical model of the bovine estrous cycle: Follicle development and endocrine interactions

Bôer

Stötzel

Röblitz

et al. 2011

Journal of Theoretical Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Several studies with modern high producing dairy cows indicate a relatively strong positive relationship between the oestradiol blood concentration during the late follicular phase and the duration and intensity of behavioural oestrus. For instance, Lyimo et al (2000) (Table 2) found a significant correlation (r = 0.56; P = 0.023) between the maximum oestradiol concentration during the oestrous phase of the cycle and the total oestrus score as measured using the scoring method of Van Eerdenburg et al (1996). In the same study, the correlation of maximum oestradiol level with the length of the oestrous period was not significant (r = 0.45; P = 0.081).…”

Section: Ovarian Steroid Hormones and Oestrous Behaviour Expression Imentioning

confidence: 88%

Central genomic regulation of the expression of oestrous behaviour in dairy cows: a review

Woelders

Lende²,

Kommadath

et al. 2014

Animal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The expression of oestrous behaviour in Holstein Friesian dairy cows has progressively decreased over the past 50 years. Reduced oestrus expression is one of the factors contributing to the current suboptimal reproductive efficiency in dairy farming. Variation between and within cows in the expression of oestrous behaviour is associated with variation in peripheral blood oestradiol concentrations during oestrus. In addition, there is evidence for a priming role of progesterone for the full display of oestrous behaviour. A higher rate of metabolic clearance of ovarian steroids could be one of the factors leading to lower peripheral blood concentrations of oestradiol and progesterone in high-producing dairy cows. Oestradiol acts on the brain by genomic, non-genomic and growth factor-dependent mechanisms. A firm base of understanding of the ovarian steroid-driven central genomic regulation of female sexual behaviour has been obtained from studies on rodents. These studies have resulted in the definition of five modules of oestradiol-activated genes in the brain, referred to as the GAPPS modules. In a recent series of studies, gene expression in the anterior pituitary and four brain areas (amygdala, hippocampus, dorsal hypothalamus and ventral hypothalamus) in oestrous and luteal phase cows, respectively, has been measured, and the relation with oestrous behaviour of these cows was analysed. These studies identified a number of genes of which the expression was associated with the intensity of oestrous behaviour. These genes could be grouped according to the GAPPS modules, suggesting close similarity of the regulation of oestrous behaviour in cows and female sexual behaviour in rodents. A better understanding of the central genomic regulation of the expression of oestrous behaviour in dairy cows may in due time contribute to improved (genomic) selection strategies for appropriate oestrus expression in high-producing dairy cows.Keywords: sexual behaviour, dairy cow, oestrus, gene expression, brain ImplicationsReduced oestrus expression is one of the factors contributing to the current suboptimal reproductive efficiency in dairy cows. A recent series of publications that correlated the level of oestrous behaviour expression to gene expression levels in the cow brain and anterior pituitary are reviewed here and their findings placed in perspective of what is known about sexual behaviour from studies on other species. The improved understanding of the central genomic regulation of oestrous behaviour expression may in due time contribute to improved (genomic) selection strategies for appropriate oestrus expression in high-producing dairy cows. IntroductionMaintaining good fertility and thereby optimum reproductive performance in dairy cows is of great economic importance for the dairy industry. Artificial insemination of cows is widely practiced in modern dairy farming. To ensure timely insemination and thereby maximize conception rates in the herd and profitability of the farm, it is important that the farmer does not m...

show abstract

“…As shown in Table 1, not all cows express all behavior traits. Lyimo et al (2000) and Roelofs et al (2004) showed that the highest behavioral score of cows in estrus, based on the estrous behavior signs given in Table 1, correlates positively with maximum plasma E2 concentrations, but no correlation was found between E2 levels and specific estrous behaviors (Cook et al, 1986;Coe and Allrich, 1989). Because the percentage of cows displaying standing heat has declined over the last decades (reviewed by Dobson et al, 2008), it is more difficult to detect estrus based on standing heat.…”

Section: Estrous Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The model also provides an explanation for decreased duration of estrus: elevated E2 metabolism means a more rapid decrease in circulating E2 after the LH surge. Combining the facts that E2 is an important regulator of estrous behavior in cows (Lyimo et al, 2000) and that increased level of milk production is associated with decreased E2 concentrations (Lopez et al, 2004), smaller follicular size (Diskin et al, 2003) and shorter duration of estrus (Wiltbank et al, 2006), it seems reasonable to conclude that lower E2 levels are (partly) responsible for the poor behavioral expression of estrus in modern dairy cows (Chagas et al, 2007).…”

Section: Metabolic Disturbancesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Near to no research has been carried out on E2-induced gene expression related to induction of estrous behavior in cattle, but there are reasons to assume that the mechanisms are similar. Estrous behavior in ruminants, like cows and sheep, is controlled by E2 levels (Lyimo et al, 2000;Saïd et al, 2007). In rodents, E2 reduces anxiety and therewith stimulates locomotion and exploratory behavior (Mong and Pfaff, 2003c), and a similar E2-induced increase in activity is seen in cows (Roelofs et al, 2005a).…”

Section: Genomic Regulation Of Estrous Behavior: Central Mechanisms Imentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Estrous behavior in dairy cows: identification of underlying mechanisms and gene functions

Bôer

Veerkamp

Beerda

et al. 2010

Animal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Selection in dairy cattle for a higher milk yield has coincided with declined fertility. One of the factors is reduced expression of estrous behavior. Changes in systems that regulate the estrous behavior could be manifested by altered gene expression. This literature review describes the current knowledge on mechanisms and genes involved in the regulation of estrous behavior. The endocrinological regulation of the estrous cycle in dairy cows is well described. Estradiol (E2) is assumed to be the key regulator that synchronizes endocrine and behavioral events. Other pivotal hormones are, for example, progesterone, gonadotropin releasing hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1. Interactions between the latter and E2 may play a role in the unfavorable effects of milk yield-related metabolic stress on fertility in high milk-producing dairy cows. However, a clear understanding of how endocrine mechanisms are tied to estrous behavior in cows is only starting to emerge. Recent studies on gene expression and signaling pathways in rodents and other animals contribute to our understanding of genes and mechanisms involved in estrous behavior. Studies in rodents, for example, show that estrogen-induced gene expression in specific brain areas such as the hypothalamus play an important role. Through these estrogen-induced gene expressions, E2 alters the functioning of neuronal networks that underlie estrous behavior, by affecting dendritic connections between cells, receptor populations and neurotransmitter releases. To improve the understanding of complex biological networks, like estrus regulation, and to deal with the increasing amount of genomic information that becomes available, mathematical models can be helpful. Systems biology combines physiological and genomic data with mathematical modeling. Possible applications of systems biology approaches in the field of female fertility and estrous behavior are discussed.

show abstract

Relationship among estradiol, cortisol and intensity of estrous behavior in dairy cattle

Cited by 144 publications

References 31 publications

A simple mathematical model of the bovine estrous cycle: Follicle development and endocrine interactions

A simple mathematical model of the bovine estrous cycle: Follicle development and endocrine interactions

Central genomic regulation of the expression of oestrous behaviour in dairy cows: a review

Estrous behavior in dairy cows: identification of underlying mechanisms and gene functions

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About