Effect of ACTH-challenge on progesterone and cortisol levels in ovariectomised repeat breeder heifers

In order to investigate the potential influence of stress as a component of the repeat breeding syndrome, the adrenocortical capacity for steroid production was evaluated in ovariectomised dairy heifers, In repeat breeder heifers (RBH), marginally elevated plasma progesterone levels during oestrus, so-called suprabasal progesterone levels, have earlier been measured and are believed to impair fertility. The aim was to distinguish if this progesterone could be of extra-gonadal or in this case, adrenal origin. Baseline levels of plasma cortisol and progesterone were determined as well as the corresponding response after induced acute stress in the form of an adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)-challenge. Comparisons were made between strictly selected RBH, n = 5 and virgin heifers (VH), n = 5 of the Swedish Red and White breed. The heifers were used as their own pre-challenge controls in a 2-day trial. On the control day, saline was injected i.v. and on the treatment day, a synthetic analogue of ACTH (60 mu g Synachten(R)). Via a jugular vein catheter, blood samples were collected every 30 min for 6 h each day of the experiment. Analyses for plasma progesterone and cortisol were made. RBH had a significantly higher (P < 0.01) pretreatment baseline cortisol level (10.1 +/- 2.3 nmol l(-1)) than VH (2.6 +/- 0.2 nmol l(-1)). Moreover, the cortisol response after stimuli was stronger in RBH than VH, especially concerning total hormone production (P < 0.001), but there was also a tendency towards higher peak values (P = 0.06) and longer duration of significantly increased hormone concentrations (P = 0.08). Progesterone concentrations, however, did not differ between the groups. Both baseline levels (P = 0.25) and posttreatment production(P = 0.45) were of the same magnitude in RBH and VH. In conclusion, the study could not confirm that suprabasal progesterone concentrations during oestrus in RBH derive from the adrenal glands. Still, apparent differences were found in adrenocortical activity when ovariectomised heifers, VH and RBH, were subjected to an ACTH-challenge. It is suggested that a sustained adrenal stimulation associated with environmental or social stress could be one factor in the repeat breeding syndrome. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.