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Characterization of Ovine Follicles Destined to Form Subfunctional Corpora Lutea¹

West Virginia University, Morgantown 26506-6108

Abstract

A study was done to test whether ovulatory follicles destined to form subfunctional corpora lutea differed from normal ovulatory follicles in steroidogenic function. Twenty-five ewes were treated with prostaglandin F₂ on d 11 of the estrous cycle, then unilaterally ovariectomized before (n=13) or after (n=12) the surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) at the induced estrus to collect "control" follicles, which would have produced normal corpora lutea. In 15 ewes, the second ovary was removed 63 to 84 h later to collect "treated" follicles before (n=7) or after (n=8) the second expected surge of LH. Five ewes (control) were allowed to ovulate from the remaining ovary at first estrus and another five (treated) at the second estrus (3 to 4 d later). Treated ewes had lower serum progesterone than control ewes during the ensuing cycle (P<.05). Treated follicles contained less estradiol in the theca (4.4 ± .6 vs 10.0 ± 2.5 ng; P<.05), less androstenedione (.1 ± .1 vs 1.0 ± .2 ng) and estradiol (.5 ± .1 vs 2.9 ± 2.2 ng) in the granulosa (P<.05) and less progesterone in the follicular fluid (.8 ± .4 vs 3.3 ± .8 ng; P<.05) than control follicles, when removed before the surge of LH. Follicles removed after the surge of LH did not differ. In conclusion, ovulatory follicles with low steroidogenic function became corpora lutea that secreted lower-than-normal quantities of progesterone.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director of the West Virginia Agric. and For. Exp. Sta. as scientific paper no. 2068 from the Div. of Anim. and Vet. Sci. The authors are grateful for generous supplies of antisera of progesterone and estradiol-17ß provided by Dr. R. L. Butcher, WVU, antiserum to LH provided by Dr. G. D. Niswender, Colorado State Univ., antiserum to FSH by NIADDK and purified preparations of LH and FSH by NIADDK and Dr. L. E. Reichert, Jr., Albany Medical College. We are also grateful to Dr. E. C. Townsend for statistical assistance.