Corpus luteum activity and prostaglandin levels after parturition in cows with retained fetal membranes

Previous results have shown that progesterone levels were higher on the day of parturition in cows with retained fetal membranes (RFM) than in cows with normal calving, suggesting incomplete lysis of the corpus luteum (CL). This experiment was performed to evaluate the activity of the CL and the level of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto prostaglandin F 2α (PGFM) in RFM cows. Cows with RFM or those calving normally (NC) were ovariectomized 12–14 h after parturition. Blood samples were taken from the caudal and utero-ovarian veins. Slices of CL were incubated with or without human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) medium for 3 h. Plasma progesterone was higher in both the caudal and utero-ovarian veins of RFM cows than in those of NC cows (1.12 ± 0.25 vs. 0.62 ± 0.08 ng mL −1 and 2.4 ± 0.3 vs. 1.44 ± 0.33 ng mL −1 , respectively). PGFM was also significantly higher in RFM cows (3.62 ± 0.19 vs. 2.55 ± 0.15 ng mL −1 ). Progesterone production by CL slices from both types of cows, incubated without hCG, was similar (65 ± 4.2 vs. 73 ± 5.1 μg g −1 ); with hCG, however, the progesterone production by the CL of RFM cows was 186.3 ± 10.7 μg g −1 , 75.7 μg g −1 more than in CL of cows with normal calving. These results support the hypothesis of an incomplete luteolysis of the CL in RFM cows in spite of hieher levels of PGF 2α . Key words: Corpus luteum activity, progesterone, prostaglandin, postpartum cows, retained placenta