Historical Perspective of Turnover of Dominant Follicles During the Bovine Estrous Cycle: Key Concepts, Studies, Advancements, and Terms

¹ Molecular Reproductive Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University
² Department of Veterinary Preclinical Studies, University of Glasgow Veterinary School, Glasgow, UK
³ Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland
⁴ Teagasc, Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland

This review chronicles the key concepts, studies, advancements and terms that have led to our current understanding of turnover of dominant follicles (growth and atresia) during the bovine estrous cycle. The "two-wave" concept of follicular development was first proposed in 1960, but remained controversial for the next 28 yr. The concept of the "dominant" follicle was adapted to cattle in 1987. By 1988, ultrasound analysis of individual follicles had demonstrated that heifers usually had two or three distinct waves of turnover of dominant follicles during an estrous cycle. From 1992 to 1993, it was established that a transient rise in serum concentrations of FSH initiated each follicular wave, and a decreased episodic secretion of LH was associated with loss of dominance and the end of a nonovulatory follicular wave. In the past decade, numerous intrafollicular growth factors, such as inhibins, activins, and insulin-like growth factors and their binding proteins, have been identified in follicular fluid of individual bovine follicles. In addition, in vitro studies demonstrate that these growth factors could have endocrine, autocrine, or paracrine actions that modify gonadotropin-stimulated follicular growth and differentiation. However, the precise role of intrafollicular growth factors in turnover of dominant follicles has not been defined. We concluded that two or three FSH-stimulated waves of follicular growth usually occur during the bovine estrous cycle, and each follicular wave culminates in development of a single nonovulatory or ovulatory dominant follicle.

Key Words: dominant follicles • follicular waves • bovine • estrous cycle • key concepts

Submitted on November 12, 1999
Accepted on March 10, 2000

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