Kisspeptin and bovine follicular cysts

The aim of this study was to investigate kisspeptin (Kp) and sexual hormone blood concentrations in healthy dairy cows (H) and in cows diagnosed with ovarian follicular cysts (FC). Forty dairy cows were enrolled in this study and divided in 2 groups of 20 subjects each. All cows underwent blood collection on the day of diagnosis and on that of heat detection, respectively. Kisspeptin 10, estradiol, and progesterone blood concentrations were assessed. All the parameters were higher in Group FC than in Group H. These results suggest that the higher steroid levels found may have determined the increase in Kp secretion in the cystic cows. This, in turn, may have directly or indirectly stimulated the sustained Luteinizing Hormone (LH) release, known to occur in dairy cystic disease.