J. Anim Sci.
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J. Anim Sci. 1972. 34:266-269.
© 1972 American Society of Animal Science
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Physiology of Pregnancy in Tropically Adapted Cattle. II. Changes in Maternal and Fetal Pituitary Follicle Stimulating Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone Content throughout Pregnancy

A. M. Rakha1 and G. Igboeli2

National Council for Scientific Research, Zambia,3

Abstract

The pituitary FSH and LH activities were determined in 28 cows, which were slaughtered at 1 1/2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 months of pregnancy and soon after calving, and in 281 fetal pituitaries which were polled separately according to age and sex. Whereas no trend could be established in maternal pituitary weights, there was a steady increase in the fetal pituitary. Maternal FSH concentration (range 0.43±0.08 to 0.49±0.03 µg NIH-FSH-S1/mg) was rather consistent throughout pregnancy. Fetal FSH concentration and content showed a gradual increase and reached its highest value at birth. Maternal LH concentration showed its highest value during the first 6 weeks (1.14±0.23 µg NIH-LH-SO, thereafter it showed a steady drop (P<.O5) with its lowest value immediately after calving (0.20±0.01). The LH: FSH ratio in the fetal pituitaries showed a peak at 5 months in the male and at 7 months in the female.

Footnotes

1 The authors are indebted to Mr. L. Diddee for the statistical analysis, Messrs. S. Chilinda, G. Mvula, D. Lungu, L. Tembo for technical assistance, and to the Endocrine Study Section of the NIH for the standard pituitary hormone preparations.

2 Present address: School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka.

3 Physiology Laboratory, P.O. Box 49, Chilanga, Via Lusaka, Zambia.






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Copyright © 1972 by the American Society of Animal Science.