Bovine plasma oestrogens, progesterone and glucocorticoids during dexamethasone induced parturition

Plasma samples were collected from jugular, uterine and utero-ovarian veins during glucocorticoid induced parturition. Plasma oestrogens, corticosteroids and progesterone were determined by competitive protein binding methods. Corticosteroids and progesterone began to decline within 8 to 10 h following DXMS treatment. Corticoids were only temporarily suppressed, while progesterone fell to minimum levels and remained low through calving. At this stage of gestation (270 days) peripheral plasma progesterone was primarily of ovarian origin. Pre-treatment with HCG appeared to support progesterone production by the CL despite DXMS treatment in 2 of 6 cows. These 2 cows failed to calve within the expected 96 h after DXMS. Plasma oestrogens did not show significant increased until 24 h after DXMS treatment. Cows which responded to DXMS treatment (calved) had significantly higher oestrogen levels than those which did not respond. It was concluded that oestrogens probably play a permissive rather than an initiating role in parturition.