Effects of an LHRH antagonist on the time of occurrence and amplitude of the preovulatory LH surge, progesterone and estradiol secretion, and ovulation in superovulated Holstein heifers

Beginning on Day 10 or 11 of the estrous cycle, mature Holstein heifers were given a superovulatory regimen of twice-daily injections of porcine FSH, together with injections of PG with the fifth and sixth FSH injections. Every 12 h from 24 to 60 h after PG administration, the animals received im injections of different doses of the LH releasing hormone antagonist N-Ac-D-Nal(2)(1), D-pCl-Phe(2), D-Trp(3), D-Arg(6), D-Ala(10)]-LHRH or vehicle. Follicular development was monitored by transrectal ultrasonography every 12 h from 24 to 120 h after PG administration. All animals were given hCG at 72 h after PG injection, and were artificially inseminated. At Day 7 of gestation, the corpora lutea were counted by ultrasonography, and embryos were collected by nonsurgical flushing of the uterus. Treatment with the antagonist resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in the amplitude of the LH surge and in delays in the time of occurrence of the LH surge, ovulation and the shift from estradiol to progesterone production. These results indicate that LHRH antagonists can be used to delay the LH surge and ovulation in superovulated heifers. This finding may be beneficial to studies in the superovulation of cattle.