Androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone and testosterone in ovarian vein plasma and androstenedione in peripheral arterial plasma during the bovine oestrous cycle

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Abstract
Catheters were placed in the carotid artery via a facial artery (n = 12) and in the ovarian vein (n = 12), and, in conjunction, electromagnetic flow meters were placed around the ovarian artery (n = 6) in cyclic beef cows. Androstenedione was quantitatively the highest and dehydroepiandrosterone the lowest of the ovarian androgens measured. Ovarian androgens were correlated positively with each other (P < 0.05) but not with ovarian blood flow or day of the cycle. There was a trend for spikes of androgen release (ovarian vein concentration .times. ovarian blood flow) from the ovary to be greatest during the period of decreasing progesterone and CL [corpus luteum] regression. Only with testosterone were spikes of release different (days -13 to -9 < days -8 to -4; P < 0.05; day 0 = estrus). The dynamic changes in ovarian androgens noted in this study were compatible with the concept of continuous follicular development and atresia throughout the estrous cycle.