Effect of maternal treatment with altrenogest on age at puberty, hormone concentrations, pituitary response to exogenous GnRH, oestrous cycle characteristics and fertility of fillies

Abstract

Puberty was studied using 15 fillies of Quarter Horse phenotype. Fillies were from dams treated daily from Days 20 to 325 of gestation with: (1) 2 ml neobee oil per 50 kg body weight (controls); or (2) 2 ml altrenogest (2.2 mg/ml) per 50 kg body weight. The clitoris was measured at birth and approximately every 12 weeks until 84 weeks of age. Blood samples were collected from 9 fillies (5 treated, 4 controls) every 4 days over a 28-day period at 8-week intervals from 4 to 68 weeks of age; sampling continued every 4 days after 72 weeks of age until first oestrus. Blood samples were collected daily during oestrus (≥ 35 mm follicle) and on Days 4, 6, 10, and 14 after ovulation for the first 2 oestrous cycles. GnRH challenges (5 μg/kg) were administered every 8 weeks from 32 to 96 weeks of age. Puberty was defined as the first oestrus with ovulation. Beginning 1 February 1987, fillies were teased daily and their ovaries were examined by ultrasonography every 3 days (daily during oestrus). Fillies were inseminated with 500 x 106 motile spermatozoa from one stallion. Pregnancy was diagnosed by ultrasonography on Days 11, 12, 15 and every 5 days until Day 50 after ovulation. Prenatal altrenogest treatment caused clitoral enlargement (P < 0.05) and increased serum concentrations of LH from 1 to 7 months of age. The amount of LH released in response to exogenous GnRH was greater (P < 0.05) in treated fillies at 32, 64, and 72 weeks of age. Treated fillies had higher serum concentrations of FSH from 1 to 4 months (P < 0.05), but FSH was lower (P < 0.05) in treated fillies before and during first oestrus. Serum concentrations of LH and FSH peaked transiently at 10 months and LH was depressed from 64 to 88 weeks and began to rise 14 days before first oestrus. Concentrations of FSH began to decline 14 days before first oestrus. The median age at puberty was 90 weeks. Durations of oestrus, dioestrus, and the oestrous cycle were not different between groups and were similar to those for adult mares. First cycle pregnancy rates and overall rates were 100 and 82% and 100 and 91.7% for control and treated fillies, respectively (P > 0.05). Maternal treatment with altrenogest did alter gonadotrophin secretion before puberty, but had no effect on functional reproductive performance in fillies.