Age-related changes in circulating INSL3 concentrations and their associations with ovarian conditions in Japanese Black beef cattle

Abstract

Information on circulating levels of insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) in female domesticated animals is limited, as their concentrations are significantly lower than in males. The objectives of the present study were to 1) develop a sandwich time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay (TRFIA) with higher detectability to measure blood INSL3 concentrations in female cattle, 2) determine INSL3 concentrations in female cattle among age groups and reproductive conditions, and 3) explore associations between INSL3 levels and ultrasonographic ovarian measurements. Blood was collected repeatedly from Japanese Black beef female calves (n = 12; 0－8 mo), heifers (n = 10; 10－26 mo), and cows (n = 20; 27－200 mo). Blood was taken from the cows (n = 13) at follicular, post-ovulatory, and luteal phases, and from cows with follicular cysts (n = 12). Ultrasonography of ovaries was conducted in the calves (n = 12) and the cows without ovarian diseases (n = 9). The ovarian area, as well as the number and diameters of antral follicles ≥ 2 mm, were determined in each ovary. The proposed method detected a difference in plasma INSL3 between calves (0.01 ng/mL) and heifers (0.18 ng/mL). However, the conventional assay showed similar levels for calves and heifers (1.82 vs 2.07 ng/mL). Plasma INSL3 and testosterone concentrations increased from calves to heifers (P < 0.0001), but only INSL3 rose from heifers to cows (P < 0.0001). INSL3 and testosterone concentrations did not change across the estrus cycle in cows, and the levels of both hormones in follicular cystic cows did not differ from those in the follicular phase. Ovarian area, maximal and average follicular diameters, and total volume of all follicles per animal were higher in cows than calves (P < 0.001). Plasma INSL3 concentrations correlated positively with the total volumes of all follicles in calves (P < 0.05) and cows (P < 0.05), whereas testosterone concentrations did not correlate with ovarian follicular measurements. In conclusion, plasma INSL3 concentrations measured by the proposed sandwich TRFIA showed a clear increase from female calves to cows in beef cattle. These results suggest that circulating levels of INSL3, but not of testosterone, are associated with the total volume of all antral follicles in both ovaries per animal in female cattle.