Effect of intra-follicular luteinizing hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin administration in dairy heifers

Kos, Vojtěch; Barbato, Olimpia; Bína, Vladislav; Cierniková, Zuzana; Nováková, Jana; Čech, Svatopluk

doi:10.2754/avb202594010009

Acta Veterinaria > Archive > 2025, Vol. 94 > Issue 1 > Effect of intra-follicular luteinizing…

Acta Vet. Brno 2025, 94: 9-12

https://doi.org/10.2754/avb202594010009

Effect of intra-follicular luteinizing hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin administration in dairy heifers

Vojtěch Kos¹, Olimpia Barbato², Vladislav Bína³, Zuzana Cierniková¹, Jana Nováková¹, Svatopluk Čech¹

¹University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ruminant and Swine Clinic, Brno, Czech Republic
²Università degli Studi di Perugia, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Perugia, Italy
³University of Economics, Faculty of Management, Department of Exact Methods, Prague, Czech Republic

Received February 22, 2024
Accepted October 25, 2024

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of intra-follicular treatment (IFT) with luteinizing hormone (LH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in dairy heifers. Intra-follicular treatment with LH (2 µg, 0.2 ml, LH group), hCG (10 IU, 0.2 ml, hCG group) or saline (0.2 ml, S group) was done into the dominant follicle on the seventh day of a synchronized oestrous cycle. A response of the follicles subjected to IFT on D7 as well as plasma progesterone concentration on the day of IFT (D0) and seven days later (D7) were evaluated. Ovulation and development of a new corpus luteum occurred in 89.3%, 92.9%, and 3.7% of treated heifers in the LH, hCG, and S group, respectively. Plasma progesterone concentration was greater on D7 in comparison to D0 in the LH and hCG group (6.31 vs. 11.31 and 6.68 vs. 9.56, respectively). Intra-follicular treatment with LH and hCG had similar effects. The results can be used in research or in practice to treat persistent cases of ovarian dysfunction in cattle.