FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Reproduction / Systemic concentrations of hormones during the development o...
Reproduction (Cambridge, England)2005; 130(3); 379-388; doi: 10.1530/rep.1.00757

Systemic concentrations of hormones during the development of follicular waves in mares and women: a comparative study.

Abstract: Changes in systemic concentrations of FSH, LH, oestradiol and progesterone during the ovulatory follicular wave were compared between 30 mares and 30 women. Based on a previous study, the emergence of the future ovulatory follicle was defined as occurring at 13.0 mm in mares and 6.0 mm in women, and deviation in diameter between the two largest follicles was expected to begin at 22.7 mm in mares and 10.3 mm in women. Mean FSH concentrations were high in mares during the luteal phase, resulting from statistically identified FSH surges occurring in individuals on different days and in different numbers (mean, 1.5 +/- 0.2 surges/mare); the internadir interval was 3.9 +/- 0.3 days. In contrast, mean FSH in women was low during the luteal phase and increased to a prolonged elevation during the follicular phase. The prolonged elevation was apparent in each individual (internadir interval, 15.2 +/- 0.4 days). Changes in LH or oestradiol concentrations encompassing deviation were not detected in mares, but both hormones increased slightly but significantly between emergence and deviation in women. The hypothesis that a greater number of growing follicles causes a greater predeviation decrease in FSH was supported for mares (r, -0.39; P< 0.04), but a similar negative correlation (r, -0.36) was not significant in women. The hypothesis that the increase in oestradiol during the luteal phase in women was at least partly attributable to luteal-phase anovulatory follicular waves was not supported. Normalization of FSH concentrations to the day of emergence showed maximum value on the day of emergence with a significant increase and decrease on each side of emergence in both species. The day of expected deviation occurred 3 days after emergence during the decline in FSH in both species. These results indicated that the previously reported striking similarities in emergence and deviation between mares and women during the ovulatory follicular wave are associated with species similarities in the temporal relationships between follicle events and FSH concentration changes. Thus, mares may be useful research models for studying the role and mechanism of the action of FSH in emergence and deviation during the ovulatory follicular wave in women.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2005-08-27 PubMed ID: 16123245PubMed Central: PMC2881942DOI: 10.1530/rep.1.00757Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research compares changes in hormone concentrations during ovulatory follicular wave between mares and women. It suggests that mares could be a helpful research model for unraveling how the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) influences ovulation in women.

Study Design and Participants

  • The study involved two groups of participants, 30 mares and 30 women.
  • The researchers monitored the ovulatory follicular wave, a cycle of egg development and release during ovulation, in both the mares and women.
  • They compared changes in various hormone levels, including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), oestradiol (a form of estrogen), and progesterone, during the ovulatory follicular wave.

Criteria for Ovulatory Follicle Emergence and Deviation

  • The emergence of the future ovulatory follicle, or a new follicle that is going to ovulate, was defined at 13.0 mm in mares and 6.0 mm in women. This is based on the size of the follicle prior to its final growth spurt before ovulation.
  • The deviation in diameter, or difference in size, between the two largest follicles was expected to begin at 22.7 mm in mares and 10.3 mm in women.

Results on Hormone Concentrations and Follicle Development

  • In mares, the mean FSH concentrations during the luteal phase (after ovulation but before menstruation) were high, due to FSH surges. These surges occurred differently across mares.
  • Women, on the other hand, experienced a low FSH concentration during the luteal phase, which then increased during the follicular phase (the phase from the beginning of the menstrual cycle to ovulation).
  • Changes in LH and oestradiol concentrations across the follicular phase were not detected in mares, but both hormones mildly increased between emergence and deviation in women.

Implications and Conclusions

  • The researchers hypothesized that more follicular growth might lead to a more noticeable decrease in FSH before deviation. This hypothesis held for mares but not for women.
  • Also, increased oestradiol levels in women during the luteal phase are not due to anovulatory follicular waves (follicles growing but not releasing eggs).
  • Regardless of species, FSH levels peaked on the day of emergence and significantly decreased after three days, around when deviation is expected to happen.
  • These results suggest that the processes of follicular emergence and deviation during ovulation in mares and women show similarities, particularly in relation to changes in FSH concentrations.
  • The researchers suggest that mares could be a helpful research model for studying how FSH influences the process of follicular emergence and deviation during ovulation in women.

Cite This Article

APA
Ginther OJ, Beg MA, Gastal EL, Gastal MO, Baerwald AR, Pierson RA. (2005). Systemic concentrations of hormones during the development of follicular waves in mares and women: a comparative study. Reproduction, 130(3), 379-388. https://doi.org/10.1530/rep.1.00757

Publication

Reproduction (Cambridge, England)
ISSN: 1470-1626
NlmUniqueID: 100966036
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 130
Issue: 3
Pages: 379-388

Researcher Affiliations

Ginther, O J
  • Eutheria Foundation, Cross Plains, Wisconsin 53528, USA. ginther@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu
Beg, M A
    Gastal, E L
      Gastal, M O
        Baerwald, A R
          Pierson, R A

            MeSH Terms

            • Animals
            • Estradiol / blood
            • Estrous Cycle / physiology
            • Female
            • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / blood
            • Follicular Phase / physiology
            • Gonadal Steroid Hormones / blood
            • Gonadotropins, Pituitary / blood
            • Horses / physiology
            • Humans
            • Luteinizing Hormone / blood
            • Ovarian Follicle / anatomy & histology
            • Ovulation / physiology
            • Progesterone / blood
            • Radioimmunoassay

            Grant Funding

            • 11489 / Canadian Institutes of Health Research

            References

            This article includes 26 references
            1. Baerwald AR, Adams GP, Pierson RA. Characterization of ovarian follicular wave dynamics in women.. Biol Reprod 2003 Sep;69(3):1023-31.
              pubmed: 12748128doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.103.017772google scholar: lookup
            2. Baerwald AR, Adams GP, Pierson RA. Form and function of the corpus luteum during the human menstrual cycle.. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2005 May;25(5):498-507.
              pmc: PMC2882116pubmed: 15846762doi: 10.1002/uog.1891google scholar: lookup
            3. Baird DT, Baker TG, McNatty KP, Neal P. Relationship between the secretion of the corpus luteum and the length of the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle.. J Reprod Fertil 1975 Dec;45(3):611-9.
              pubmed: 1107537doi: 10.1530/jrf.0.0450611google scholar: lookup
            4. Baird DT, Bäckström T, McNeilly AS, Smith SK, Wathen CG. Effect of enucleation of the corpus luteum at different stages of the luteal phase of the human menstrual cycle on subsequent follicular development.. J Reprod Fertil 1984 Mar;70(2):615-24.
              pubmed: 6422035doi: 10.1530/jrf.0.0700615google scholar: lookup
            5. Bergfelt DR, Mann BG, Schwartz NB, Ginther OJ. Circulating concentrations of immunoreactive inhibin and FSH during the estrous cycle of mares.. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 1991;11:319–322.
            6. Briant C, Blanc M, Daels P, Guillaume D. Effect of passive and specific immunization against inhibin in pony mares.. Theriogenology 2000:53–54.
            7. Donadeu FX, Ginther OJ. Effect of number and diameter of follicles on plasma concentrations of inhibin and FSH in mares.. Reproduction 2001 Jun;121(6):897-903.
              pubmed: 11373176
            8. Donadeu FX, Ginther OJ. Changes in concentrations of follicular fluid factors during follicle selection in mares.. Biol Reprod 2002 Apr;66(4):1111-8.
              pubmed: 11906932doi: 10.1095/biolreprod66.4.1111google scholar: lookup
            9. Donadeu FX, Ginther OJ. Interactions of follicular factors and season in the regulation of circulating concentrations of gonadotrophins in mares.. Reproduction 2003 May;125(5):743-50.
              pubmed: 12713437
            10. Fauser BC, Van Heusden AM. Manipulation of human ovarian function: physiological concepts and clinical consequences.. Endocr Rev 1997 Feb;18(1):71-106.
              pubmed: 9034787doi: 10.1210/edrv.18.1.0290google scholar: lookup
            11. Fitzgerald BP, I'Anson H, Legan SJ, Loy RG. Changes in patterns of luteinizing hormone secretion before and after the first ovulation in the postpartum mare.. Biol Reprod 1985 Sep;33(2):316-23.
              pubmed: 4041522doi: 10.1095/biolreprod33.2.316google scholar: lookup
            12. Gastal EL, Gastal MO, Bergfelt DR, Ginther OJ. Role of diameter differences among follicles in selection of a future dominant follicle in mares.. Biol Reprod 1997 Dec;57(6):1320-7.
              pubmed: 9408236doi: 10.1095/biolreprod57.6.1320google scholar: lookup
            13. Gastal EL, Gastal MO, Ginther OJ. Experimental assumption of dominance by a smaller follicle and associated hormonal changes in mares.. Biol Reprod 1999 Sep;61(3):724-30.
              pubmed: 10456850doi: 10.1095/biolreprod61.3.724google scholar: lookup
            14. Gastal EL, Gastal MO, Nogueira GP, Bergfelt DR, Ginther OJ. Temporal interrelationships among luteolysis, FSH and LH concentrations and follicle deviation in mares.. Theriogenology 2000 Mar 1;53(4):925-40.
              pubmed: 10730980doi: 10.1016/s0093-691x(00)00240-5google scholar: lookup
            15. Gibbons JR, Wiltbank MC, Ginther OJ. Functional interrelationships between follicles greater than 4 mm and the follicle-stimulating hormone surge in heifers.. Biol Reprod 1997 Nov;57(5):1066-73.
              pubmed: 9369172doi: 10.1095/biolreprod57.5.1066google scholar: lookup
            16. Ginther OJ. Reproductive Biology of the Mare, Basic and Applied Aspects. 2.. Cross Plains, WI, USA: Equi-services Publishing; 1992. pp. 233–256.
            17. Ginther OJ, Beg MA, Donadeu FX, Bergfelt DR. Mechanism of follicle deviation in monovular farm species.. Anim Reprod Sci 2003 Oct 15;78(3-4):239-57.
              pubmed: 12818647doi: 10.1016/s0378-4320(03)00093-9google scholar: lookup
            18. Ginther OJ, Beg MA, Gastal MO, Gastal EL. Follicle dynamics and selection in mares.. Animal Reproduction 2004a;1:45–63.
            19. Ginther OJ, Gastal EL, Gastal MO, Bergfelt DR, Baerwald AR, Pierson RA. Comparative study of the dynamics of follicular waves in mares and women.. Biol Reprod 2004 Oct;71(4):1195-201.
              pmc: PMC2891974pubmed: 15189824doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.104.031054google scholar: lookup
            20. Haughian JM, Ginther OJ, Kot K, Wiltbank MC. Relationships between FSH patterns and follicular dynamics and the temporal associations among hormones in natural and GnRH-induced gonadotropin surges in heifers.. Reproduction 2004 Jan;127(1):23-33.
              pubmed: 15056767doi: 10.1530/rep.1.00030google scholar: lookup
            21. Lin KC, Lee JN. Characterization of pulsatile secretion of gonadotropin and prolactin in women with normal menstrual cycle, secondary amenorrhea and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).. Kaohsiung J Med Sci 1998 Feb;14(2):61-7.
              pubmed: 9542361
            22. Miro F, Aspinall LJ. The onset of the initial rise in follicle-stimulating hormone during the human menstrual cycle.. Hum Reprod 2005 Jan;20(1):96-100.
              pubmed: 15471927doi: 10.1093/humrep/deh551google scholar: lookup
            23. Reddi K, Wickings EJ, McNeilly AS, Baird DT, Hillier SG. Circulating bioactive follicle stimulating hormone and immunoreactive inhibin levels during the normal human menstrual cycle.. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 1990 Oct;33(4):547-57.
              pubmed: 2121399doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1990.tb03892.xgoogle scholar: lookup
            24. van Santbrink EJ, Hop WC, van Dessel TJ, de Jong FH, Fauser BC. Decremental follicle-stimulating hormone and dominant follicle development during the normal menstrual cycle.. Fertil Steril 1995 Jul;64(1):37-43.
              pubmed: 7789578
            25. Zeleznik AJ. Follicle selection in primates: "many are called but few are chosen".. Biol Reprod 2001 Sep;65(3):655-9.
              pubmed: 11514325doi: 10.1095/biolreprod65.3.655google scholar: lookup
            26. Zeleznik AJ, Hutchinson JS, Schuler HM. Passive immunization with anti-oestradiol antibodies during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle potentiates the perimenstrual rise in serum gonadotrophin concentrations and stimulates follicular growth in the cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis).. J Reprod Fertil 1987 Jul;80(2):403-10.
              pubmed: 3116229doi: 10.1530/jrf.0.0800403google scholar: lookup

            Citations

            This article has been cited 11 times.
            1. Gebremedhn S, Gad A, Ishak GM, Menjivar NG, Gastal MO, Feugang JM, Prochazka R, Tesfaye D, Gastal EL. Dynamics of extracellular vesicle-coupled microRNAs in equine follicular fluid associated with follicle selection and ovulation. Mol Hum Reprod 2023 Apr 3;29(4).
              doi: 10.1093/molehr/gaad009pubmed: 36852862google scholar: lookup
            2. Leonardi CEP, Carrasco RA, Dias FCF, Zwiefelhofer EM, Adams GP, Singh J. Mechanism of LH release after peripheral administration of kisspeptin in cattle. PLoS One 2022;17(12):e0278564.
              doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278564pubmed: 36459509google scholar: lookup
            3. Bianchi CP, Bruno S, Videla Dorna I, Rodríguez E, Aba MA. Effect of short-term artificial light and transvaginal progesterone device on first ovulation in late transitional mares. J Equine Sci 2022 Apr;33(1):1-6.
              doi: 10.1294/jes.33.1pubmed: 35510073google scholar: lookup
            4. Ishak GM, Bashir ST, Dutra GA, Gastal GDA, Gastal MO, Cavinder CA, Feugang JM, Gastal EL. In vivo antral follicle wall biopsy: a new research technique to study ovarian function at the cellular and molecular levels. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2018 Jul 28;16(1):71.
              doi: 10.1186/s12958-018-0380-8pubmed: 30055625google scholar: lookup
            5. Alves KA, Alves BG, Gastal GD, de Tarso SG, Gastal MO, Figueiredo JR, Gambarini ML, Gastal EL. The Mare Model to Study the Effects of Ovarian Dynamics on Preantral Follicle Features. PLoS One 2016;11(2):e0149693.
              doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149693pubmed: 26900687google scholar: lookup
            6. Braga DP, Bonetti TC, da Silva ID, Setti AS, Iaconelli AJ, Borges EJ. The developmental competence of oocytes retrieved from the leading follicle in controlled ovarian stimulated cycles. Int J Fertil Steril 2013 Jan;6(4):272-7.
              pubmed: 24520451
            7. Motta EL, Smith GD, Serafini PC, Coslovsky M, Hassun P, Rocha AM, Yadid I. Human choriogonadotropin prior to controlled ovarian stimulation and in vitro fertilization improves implantation, and pregnancy rates. J Assist Reprod Genet 2009 Jun;26(6):305-11.
              doi: 10.1007/s10815-009-9322-xpubmed: 19533324google scholar: lookup
            8. Algul S, Erdogan BA, Karaman E, Ozcelik O. Phase-dependent changes in serum kisspeptin and irisin levels across the menstrual cycle in healthy women. J Endocrinol Invest 2026 Feb;49(2):369-375.
              doi: 10.1007/s40618-025-02716-zpubmed: 41042501google scholar: lookup
            9. Ireland JJ, Karl KR, Latham KE. Unraveling the Clinical FSH Conundrum: Insights From the Small Ovarian Reserve Heifer Model. Mol Reprod Dev 2025 Feb;92(2):e70007.
              doi: 10.1002/mrd.70007pubmed: 39935023google scholar: lookup
            10. Satué K, Fazio E, Damiá E, Medica P, Cravana C. Correlation between erythrocyte parameters and iron status in cyclic Spanish Purebred mares. Vet Res Commun 2024 Aug;48(4):2677-2681.
              doi: 10.1007/s11259-024-10376-2pubmed: 38635104google scholar: lookup
            11. Bashir ST, Baerwald AR, Gastal MO, Pierson RA, Gastal EL. Dominant follicle growth patterns and associated endocrine dynamics in anovulatory and ovulatory waves in women. Reprod Fertil 2023 May 1;4(2).
              doi: 10.1530/RAF-22-0131pubmed: 37200204google scholar: lookup
            Subscribe to our newsletter
            Join 99,344 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.