Changes in consecutive estimates of milk progesterone concentrations and serum steroid hormone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) concentrations in the postpartum period were examined in Finnish Ayrshire and Friesian dairy cows which were divided according to feeding into a hay group and a silage group. Milk progesterone concentrations rose above 10 nmol/l, indicating the start of ovarian luteal activity, slightly earlier in the silage group (28.4 +/- 8.7 (S.D.) days, n = 19) than in the hay group (33.4 +/- 10.3, n = 28) after calving. Likewise, the first normal oestrous cycles began slightly earlier in cows fed with silage. On the other hand, no differences in the beginning of ovarian luteal activity were observed between the breeds. Serum oestradiol-17 beta, oestrone, testosterone, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (5 alpha-DHT), pregnenolone and progesterone concentrations were fairly unchanged during postpartum anoestrus after uterine involution and before ovarian cyclic activity. After first ovulation, considerable increases in milk and serum progesterone concentrations were observed. The increase was accompanied by elevations in serum pregnenolone and 5 alpha-DHT concentrations. In the late luteal phase, progesterone, 5 alpha-DHT and pregnenolone concentrations rapidly declined, leading to low hormone levels in pro-oestrus. Thereafter, serum pregnenolone and 5 alpha-DHT concentrations slightly increased during the follicular phase. On the other hand, oestradiol-17 beta concentrations were elevated in pro-oestrus and decreased after that, being lowest at met-oestrous. Serum testosterone concentrations appeared to be unchanged during postpartum anoestrus and over the oestrous cycle. Serum SHBG concentrations were unchanged during postpartum anoestrus and over the oestrous cycle, as well as in pregnant animals. The serum SHBG concentrations were about double those found in women with normal menstrual cycles, whereas oestradiol concentrations were much lower. At present, it cannot be explained how the biological effects of oestradiol become evident under such conditions.
Två koraser (Ayrshire och Friesian) med olika utfodringar studerades under en postpartum period. Progesteronkoncentrationerna i mjölk ökade en månad efter kalvningen men varken ras eller utfodring påverkade igångsattningen av sexualcykler. Koncentrationerna av steroidhormoner (testosteron, dihydrotestosteron, progesteron, pregnenolon, estradiol och estron) i blodet forblev på en oförändrad låg nivå under den postpartala anestrusperioden. Därefter konstaterades en ökning av progesteron i blodet samtidigt med en signifikant ökning av dihydrotestosteron och pregnenolon. Koncentrationerna minskade igen under den follikulära fasen. Koncentrationerna av serum SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin) var relativt hoga men någon variation på grund af sexualcykler forekom inte. Koncentrationen av SHBG i blodet ökade inte under dräktigheten, vilket är fallet hos gravida kvinnor.