Effect of glucose infusion on metabolic and reproductive function in postpartum beef cows

An experiment was conducted to determine if glucose infusion could alter hypothalamic, pituitary or ovarian function in the postpartum (PP) beef cow. Twenty-six cows were assigned randomly at parturition to one of three infusion treatments. Controls (CON, n = 8) received 0.9% NaCl from days 26 to 32 PP. Glucose-infused animals (GLU, n = 8) received glucose at a constant rate of 4 mg min −1 kg −0.75 from days 26 to 32 PP, while glucose-spiked cows (SPIKE, n = 10) received glucose at rates up to 8 mg min −1 kg −0.75 for 48 h (days 26 and 27 PP), then received 0.9% NaCl as in CON. On day 32 PP 25 μg of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) was injected intravenously and blood samples were taken at 15- to 30-min intervals to evaluate pituitary release of luteinizing hormone (LH). During the entire infusion period, GLU had lower (P