Insulin-like growth factor I in ovarian follicles and follicular fluid from cows with spontaneous and induced Cystic Ovarian Disease.

ORTEGA HH; PALOMAR MM; ACOSTA JC; SALVETTI NR; DALLARD BE; LORENTE JA; BARBEITO C; GIMENO EJ

RESEARCH IN VETERINARY SCIENCE

Elsevier

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2008 vol. 84 p. 419 - 427

0034-5288

The objective of this research was to determine changes in IGF-I levels in serum and follicular fluid, and immunoreactivity of the follicle wall of cows with spontaneous (slaughter specimens) or ACTH-induced follicular cysts, and to compare results to normal cycling (control) cows after selection of the ovulatory follicle. Concentrations of IGF-I in serum did not differ between control and cystic animals (p = 0.76). Fluid from the ovulatory follicle in control cows had 41% higher concentrations of IGF-I than that from cystic follicles collected at slaughter (spontaneous cysts; p < 0.05) and 70% higher than that in induced follicular cysts (p < 0.05). An intense positive immunostaining with anti-IGF-I was observed in granulosa cells (p < 0.05) and in the theca interna (p < 0.05) of secondary and tertiary follicles in all 3 groups of animals, but staining was less intense in cystic (p < 0.05) and atretic follicles (p < 0.05). This study provides evidence to suggest that cystic ovarian disease in cattle is associated with decreased concentrations of IGF-I in follicular fluid, but not in serum, and decreased production of IGF-I in the follicular wall. These data support the notion that IGF-I plays a role in the regulation of folliculogenesis, and may participate in the pathogenesis of cystic ovarian disease in cattle. Keywords: IGF-I, growth factors, cow, cystic ovarian disease, ovary, anestrous