LH pulsatile release patterns, follicular growth and function during repetitive periods of suckling and non-suckling in sows

Abstract

This paper presents LH, estradiol, and cortisol in 12 sows that were separated from their piglets for 12 h a day, beginning around 2 w of lactation, until weaning (intermittent suckling, IS). To separate sows from their piglets, the sows either were moved to a different unit (total separation), or were only inhibited from suckling their piglets by a physical barrier (physical separation). Blood samples were frequently collected during 4.5 consecutive days. At the start of IS, four sows showed advanced follicle growth. In the eight remaining sows, total separation resulted in 4/4 sows ovulating, while physical separation resulted in 2/4 sows ovulating. Total and physical separation resulted in different LH secretion patterns. Total separation resulted in a lower amplitude of LH pulses than physical separation throughout the period of sampling (0.26 versus 0.53 ng/ml; P < 0.01), and seemed to result in an escape from inhibition of LH secretion during suckling. Similarly, sows that ovulated had a lower amplitude of LH pulses (0.30 versus 0.54 ng/ml; P < 0.05), and also showed a different effect of suckling on LH secretion than anovulatory sows. Total separation, in contrast to physical separation, consistently resulted in increased cortisol after separation ( P < 0.05). This contrast was not observed between ovulating and non-ovulating sows. We therefore conclude that IS results in an increased LH secretion. Inhibition of all contact between sows and piglets seems to result in a more sustained increase in LH secretion, which increases the chance of ovulation.