Hormona luteinizante y actividad ovárica en respuesta a kisspeptina-10 y su asociación con IGF-1 y leptina en becerras pre-púberes Luteinizing hormone and ovarian activity in response to kisspeptin-10 and its association with IGF-1 and leptin in prepubertal heifers

We evaluated the effect of kisspeptin-10 (Kiss-10) administered repeatedly on the release of LH and ovarian activity in prepubertal heifers. We also assessed the association of serum IGF-1 and leptin with these effects. Fourteen Holstein or Brown Swiss by Zebu female calves (11.2 ± 0.2 mo old, 187.4 ± 6.3 kg) were randomly assigned to receive every 2 h for three days an i.v. application of Kiss-10 (Kisspeptin-10; 5 µg/kg of body weight, n= 7) or saline solution (control, n= 7). Blood was collected every 15 min for 0-6, 24-30 and 72-78 h, and every 2 h until 84 h. Each application of Kiss-10 was followed by an increase of LH whose magnitude (area under the curve) decreased (P 0.05) and heifers did not show cyclic ovarian activity. The conclusion is that Kiss-10 given repeatedly to prepubertal heifers is sufficient to evoke consistent increases of LH, to induce ovulation and luteal activity in animals with high IGF-1 and low leptin in peripheral blood but it is insufficient to establish regular estrous cyclicity.