Association between evaluation of the reproductive tract by various diagnostic tests and restoration of ovarian cyclicity in high-producing dairy cows

• Published in: Theriogenology Vol. 72; no. 9; pp. 1153 - 1162
• Main Authors: Senosy, W.S., Uchiza, M., Tameoka, N., Izaike, Y., Osawa, T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.12.2009; [Oxford]: Butterworth-Heinemann; [New York]: Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Amenorrhea - diagnosis; Amenorrhea - rehabilitation; Amenorrhea - veterinary; anestrus; Animals; biomarkers; Cattle; cell biology; Cell Count; dairy cows; Dairying; Diagnostic Techniques, Obstetrical and Gynecological - veterinary; disease detection; Efficiency; Endometrial cytology; endometrium; endoscopy; Estrous Cycle - physiology; estrus; Female; female fertility; follicular development; health status; hematologic tests; leukocytes; mucus; Neutrophils - cytology; Ovarian cyclicity; Postpartum interval; postpartum period; Postpartum Period - blood; Postpartum Period - physiology; Progesterone - analysis; Progesterone - blood; Reproductive Physiological Phenomena; Time Factors; Ultrasonography; uterus; vagina; Vagina - diagnostic imaging; Vagina - physiology; Vaginal mucus; vaginal mucus collection device; Vaginal Smears - veterinary; vaginoscopy; validity; Postpartum interval; Ovarian cyclicity; Vaginal mucus; Endometrial cytology; Ultrasonography
• ISSN: 0093-691X; 1879-3231
• DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2009.07.007

The uterine condition of clinically normal postpartum Holstein-Friesian dairy cows (n = 45) was evaluated once weekly (Weeks 3 to 7) by endometrial cytology, vaginal mucus collection device (VMCD), vaginoscopy, and ultrasonography to establish a relationship with postpartum resumption of ovulatory cycles. The time of first detection of the corpus luteum (CL) by ultrasonography and plasma progesterone concentration ≥1 ng/mL was recorded. By 49 d postpartum, 78% of the cows (n = 35) had resumed ovarian function (CL group), whereas the remainder (n = 10) had no CL (NCL group). There was a positive correlation between VMCD score and presence of fluid in the uterus in cows with a CL (P < 0.01) during Week 3 postpartum but no significant correlation in cows without a CL. Percentage of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN%) was higher in the NCL group (mean ± SEM, 24.6 ± 9.4%) than in the CL group (11.7 ± 2.2%) during Week 5 postpartum (P < 0.05). The PMN% (4.5 ± 6.5%) and VMCD (0.5 ± 0.5) scores during Week 5 in cows ovulating by Day 28 were lower (P < 0.01) than the PMN% (15.0 ± 14.3%) and VMCD (1.1 ± 0.9) scores in those ovulating by Day 49. In conclusion, higher PMN% at 5 wk postpartum was associated with delayed resumption of ovarian cyclicity in high-producing dairy cows.