Effect of dexamethasone and hydrocortisone on the course of superovulation in cattle

The effect of hydrocortisone and dexamethasone on superovulation was examined in 12 cows. On the day PMSG was given, each animal received either the first of five daily doses of 250 mg succinate hydrocortisone or one injection of 30 mg dexamethasone. In the 48-hr interval between the injection of PMSG and PGF(2)alpha, the concentration of progesterone rose from 6.97 to 10.22 ng/ml in the experimental groups and only to about 2.8 ng/ml in the control group. In the following days progesterone increased even more, from 15.7 to 26.0 ng/ml seven days after estrus in the experimental group and to 19.25 ng/ml in the control group. The group which received dexamethasone had an average of 4.7 corpora lutea and one embryo flushed per animal. The hydrocortisone group had an average of 2.5 corpora lutea and one cow had two embryos. The control group had 6.2 corpora lutea and 5.2 embryos per animal.