Journal of Animal Science, Vol 73, Issue 8 2382-2389, Copyright © 1995 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Immunization of heifers against gonadotropin-releasing hormone: antibody titers, ovarian function, body growth, and carcass characteristics

D. J. Prendiville, W. J. Enright, M. A. Crowe, M. Finnerty, N. Hynes and J. F. Roche
Teagasc, Grange Research Centre, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Dublin, Ireland.

To investigate the effects of active immunization of cyclic beef heifers with different doses of a human serum albumin-Cys-Gly-GnRH (HSA-GnRH) conjugate on antibody titers, ovarian function, body growth, and carcass characteristics, 32 heifers (BW = 477 +/- 7.1 kg; mean +/- SE) were assigned to one of four immunization treatments: .1 mg of HSA or .01, .1, or 1.0 mg of HSA-GnRH, respectively. All heifers received a primary (d 0) and booster (d 28) immunization using DEAE-dextran as adjuvant. The duration of the experiment was 158 d. Overall antibody titers against GnRH were greater (P < .05) for heifers immunized against GnRH (13 +/- 3.3, 22 +/- 3.8, and 19 +/- 2.8% binding at a plasma dilution of 1: 640 for Treatments 2 to 4, respectively) than for controls (1 +/- .1%). The numbers of heifers that became anestrous (plasma progesterone < .5 ng/mL for > 21 d) were 1/8, 8/8, 7/8, and 8/8, respectively. The interval from primary immunization to anestrus (40.7 +/- 6 d) and the duration of anestrus (78 +/- 7 d) were not affected by dose of HSA-GnRH conjugate. The number of ovulations detected was reduced (P < .05) in GnRH-immunized (4.6 +/- .64, 4.0 +/- .70, and 3.6 +/- .60 for Treatments 2 to 4, respectively) compared with control heifers (9.4 +/- .20). During induced anestrus, follicular growth was generally arrested (< 5 mm in diameter) and plasma estradiol decreased.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. Forde, M. Mihm, M. J. Canty, A. E. Zielak, P. J. Baker, S. Park, P. Lonergan, G. W. Smith, P. M. Coussens, J. J. Ireland, et al. Differential expression of signal transduction factors in ovarian follicle development: a functional role for betaglycan and FIBP in granulosa cells in cattle Physiol Genomics, April 21, 2008; 33(2): 193 - 204. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				JJ. Ireland, F. Ward, F. Jimenez-Krassel, J.L.H. Ireland, G.W. Smith, P. Lonergan, and A.C.O. Evans Follicle numbers are highly repeatable within individual animals but are inversely correlated with FSH concentrations and the proportion of good-quality embryos after ovarian stimulation in cattle Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2007; 22(6): 1687 - 1695. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K E Ryan, S M Casey, M J Canty, M A Crowe, F Martin, and A C O Evans Akt and Erk signal transduction pathways are early markers of differentiation in dominant and subordinate ovarian follicles in cattle Reproduction, March 1, 2007; 133(3): 617 - 626. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S Llewellyn, R Fitzpatrick, D A Kenny, J J Murphy, R J Scaramuzzi, and D C Wathes Effect of negative energy balance on the insulin-like growth factor system in pre-recruitment ovarian follicles of post partum dairy cows Reproduction, March 1, 2007; 133(3): 627 - 639. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Bowen, S. Khan, L. Berghman, J. D. Kirby, R .P. Wettemann, and J. A. Vizcarra Immunization of pigs against chicken gonadotropin-releasing hormone-II and lamprey gonadotropin-releasing hormone-III: Effects on gonadotropin secretion and testicular function J Anim Sci, November 1, 2006; 84(11): 2990 - 2999. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. M. Bello, J. P. Steibel, and J. R. Pursley Optimizing ovulation to first GnRH improved outcomes to each hormonal injection of ovsynch in lactating dairy cows. J Dairy Sci, September 1, 2006; 89(9): 3413 - 3424. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. W. Geary, E. E. Grings, M. D. MacNeil, D. M. de Avila, and J. J. Reeves Use of recombinant gonadotropin-releasing hormone antigens for immunosterilization of beef heifers J Anim Sci, February 1, 2006; 84(2): 343 - 350. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. S. Burns, F. Jimenez-Krassel, J. L.H. Ireland, P. G. Knight, and J. J. Ireland Numbers of Antral Follicles During Follicular Waves in Cattle: Evidence for High Variation Among Animals, Very High Repeatability in Individuals, and an Inverse Association with Serum Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Concentrations Biol Reprod, July 1, 2005; 73(1): 54 - 62. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A.C.O. Evans, J.L.H. Ireland, M.E. Winn, P. Lonergan, G.W. Smith, P.M. Coussens, and J.J. Ireland Identification of Genes Involved in Apoptosis and Dominant Follicle Development During Follicular Waves in Cattle Biol Reprod, May 1, 2004; 70(5): 1475 - 1484. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E.J. Austin, M. Mihm, A.C.O. Evans, P.G. Knight, J.L.H. Ireland, J.J. Ireland, and J.F. Roche Alterations in Intrafollicular Regulatory Factors and Apoptosis During Selection of Follicles in the First Follicular Wave of the Bovine Estrous Cycle Biol Reprod, March 1, 2001; 64(3): 839 - 848. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M.A. Crowe, P. Kelly, M.A. Driancourt, M.P. Boland, and J.F. Roche Effects of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone With and Without Luteinizing Hormone on Serum Hormone Concentrations, Follicle Growth, and Intrafollicular Estradiol and Aromatase Activity in Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone-Immunized Heifers Biol Reprod, January 1, 2001; 64(1): 368 - 374. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. Mihm, E.J. Austin, T.E.M. Good, J.L.H. Ireland, P.G. Knight, J.F. Roche, and a. J.J. Ireland Identification of Potential Intrafollicular Factors Involved in Selection of Dominant Follicles in Heifers Biol Reprod, September 1, 2000; 63(3): 811 - 819. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				D. R. Mackey, J. M. Sreenan, J. F. Roche, and M. G. Diskin Effect of Acute Nutritional Restriction on Incidence of Anovulation and Periovulatory Estradiol and Gonadotropin Concentrations in Beef Heifers Biol Reprod, December 1, 1999; 61(6): 1601 - 1607. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J.H. Bame, J.C. Dalton, S.D. Degelos, T.E.M. Good, J.L.H. Ireland, F. Jimenez-Krassel, T. Sweeney, R.G. Saacke, and J.J. Ireland Effect of Long-Term Immunization against Inhibin on Sperm Output in Bulls Biol Reprod, June 1, 1999; 60(6): 1360 - 1366. [Abstract] [Full Text]