Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Parenteral Copper Administration at the Beginning of a Fixed-Time Artificial Insemination Protocol in Beef Cattle: Effect on Ovarian Function and Pregnancy Rates

  • Published:
Biological Trace Element Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between plasma copper (Cu) concentration and ovarian function during a fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) protocol and the effect of parenteral Cu administration (100 mg) at the start of such protocol (day 0) on area of preovulatory follicle (APF); area of corpus luteum (ACL), plasma estradiol (E2), and progesterone (P4) concentrations; CL blood flow (CLBF); and pregnancy rate in beef heifers and cows. In cows, plasma Cu concentration on days 0 and 7 correlated positively with APF. Copper administration increased plasma Cu concentration and decreased APF and plasma E2 concentration (day 9), without modifying ACL, plasma P4 concentration, and CLBF (day 16) in cows. Pregnancy rate was higher in Cu-supplemented cattle on day 41 after FTAI as compared with controls (58.76 and 45.28%, respectively). In conclusion, Cu administration at the beginning of the FTAI protocol increased pregnancy rate in beef heifers and cows, modifying APF and plasma E2 concentration in the latter.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The datasets generated during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Code Availability

Not applicable.

References

  1. Mudgal V, Gupta VK, Srivastava S, Ganie AA (2012) Effect of species variation on level of different trace elements in the serum of anoestrous cattle. Rumin Sci 1:127–129

    Google Scholar 

  2. Hidiroglou M (1979) Trace Element Deficiencies and Fertility in Ruminants: A Review. J Dairy Sci 62:1195–1206. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(79)83400-1

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Kendall NR, Illingworth DV, Telfer SB (2001) Copper responsive infertility in British cattle: the use of a blood caeruloplasmin to copper ratio in determining a requirement for copper supplementation. BSAP Occas Publ 26:429–432. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0263967X00034042

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. García DH, Cuesta MM, Pedroso RS, et al (2007) Suplementación parenteral de cobre en vacas gestantes: efecto sobre postparto y terneros. Revista MVZ Córdoba https://doi.org/10.21897/rmvz.419

  5. Kincaid RL (2000) Assessment of trace mineral status of ruminants: a review. J Anim Sci 77(E-Suppl):1. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas2000.77E-Suppl1x77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. McDowell LR (1992) Minerals in animals and human nutrition. Academic Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  7. Ramı́rez CE, Mattioli GA, Tittarelli CM, et al (1998) Cattle hypocuprosis in Argentina associated with periodically flooded soils. Livest Prod Sci 55:47–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0301-6226(98)00120-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Fevold HL, Hisaw FL, Greep R (1936) Augmentation of the gonad stimulating action of pituitary extracts by inorganic substances, particularly copper salts. AJP Content. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajplegacy.1936.117.1.68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Suzuki M, Watanabe S, Hoshii M (1965) Effect of estrogen on copper-induced ovulation in the rabbit. Endocrinology 76:1205–1207. https://doi.org/10.1210/endo-76-6-1205

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Hazum E (1983) Copper and thiol regulation of gonadotropin releasing hormone binding and luteinizing hormone release. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 112:306–312. https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-291x(83)91831-4

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Kochman K, Gajewska A, Kozlowski H et al (1992) Increased LH and FSH release from the anterior pituitary of ovariectomized rat, in vivo, by copper-, nickel-, and zinc-LHRH complexes. J Inorg Biochem 48:41–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/0162-0134(92)80051-v

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Kochman K, Blitek A, Kaczmarek M et al (2005) Different signaling in pig anterior pituitary cells by GnRH and its complexes with copper and nickel. Neuro Endocrinol Lett 26:377–382

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Underwood EJ, Suttle NF (1999) Themineral nutrition of livestock. CABI Publishing, London

    Google Scholar 

  14. Herd DB, Sprott LR (1986) Body condition, nutrition and reproduction of beef cows. Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. Available electronically from https://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/129135

  15. Piper KG, Higgins G (1967) Estimation of Trace Metals in Biological Material by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Proc Assoc Clin Biochem 4:190–197. https://doi.org/10.1177/036985646700400701

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Siqueira LG, Arashiro EK, Ghetti AM et al (2019) Vascular and morphological features of the corpus luteum 12 to 20 days after timed artificial insemination in dairy cattle. J Dairy Sci 102:5612–5622. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2018-15853

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. García-Díaz JR, Joseph-Ajakaiye J, Cuesta-Mazorra M et al (2012) Effects of parenteral supplementation of Cu in female cattle with different levels of cupremia. Arch Anim Breed 55:113–122. https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-55-113-2012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Phillippo M, Humphries WR, Lawrence CB, Price J (1982) Investigation of the effect of copper status and therapy on fertility in beef suckler herds. J Agric Sci 99:359–364. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021859600030148

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. McNeilly AS, Fraser HM (1987) Effect of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist-induced suppression of LH and FSH on follicle growth and corpus luteum function in the ewe. J Endocrinol 115:273–282. https://doi.org/10.1677/joe.0.1150273

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Kumar P, Sait SF (2011) Luteinizing hormone and its dilemma in ovulation induction. J Hum Reprod Sci 4:2–7. https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-1208.82351

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Michaluk A, Kochman K (2007) Involvement of copper in female reproduction. Reprod Biol 7:193–205

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Yu B, Fu W-L, Liu P-X (2008) Effects of Cu2+ on growth hormone secretion of pig pituitary cells in culture. Zhongguo Ying Yong Sheng Li Xue Za Zhi 24:10–13

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Suzuki M, Tnemoto Y, Takahashi K (1972) The effect of copper salts on ovulation, especially on hypothalamic ovulatory hormone releasing factor. Tohoku J Exp Med 108:9–18. https://doi.org/10.1620/tjem.108.9

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Tsou RC, Dailey RA, McLanahan CS et al (1977) Luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) levels in pituitary stalk plasma during the preovulatory gonadotropin surge of rabbits. Endocrinology 101:534–539. https://doi.org/10.1210/endo-101-2-534

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Picco SJ, Rosa DE, Anchordoquy JP et al (2012) Effects of copper sulphate concentrations during in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes. Theriogenology 77:373–381. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2011.08.009

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Rosa DE, Anchordoquy JM, Anchordoquy JP et al (2016) Analyses of apoptosis and DNA damage in bovine cumulus cells after in vitro maturation with different copper concentrations: consequences on early embryo development. Zygote 24:869–879. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0967199416000204

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Roychoudhury S, Bulla J, Sirotkin AV, Kolesarova A (2014) In vitro changes in porcine ovarian granulosa cells induced by copper. J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng 49:625–633. https://doi.org/10.1080/10934529.2014.865404

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Acosta TJ, Yoshizawa N, Ohtani M, Miyamoto A (2002) Local changes in blood flow within the early and midcycle corpus luteum after prostaglandin F(2 alpha) injection in the cow. Biol Reprod 66:651–658. https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod66.3.651

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Sugino N, Matsuoka A, Taniguchi K, Tamura H (2008) Angiogenesis in the human corpus luteum. Reprod Med Biol 7:91–103. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1447-0578.2008.00205.x

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Schuschke DA (1997) Dietary Copper in the Physiology of the Microcirculation. J Nutr 127:2274–2281. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/127.12.2274

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to staff of “Fundación La Margarita Zemborain – Grondona” for allowing us to use animals and facilities. Thanks are also due to A. Di Maggio for manuscript correction and editing.

Funding

This work was supported by Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica de la República Argentina (MINCyT) [Grants PICT 2016–2131 and PICT 2016–3727].

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. IGEVET – Instituto de Genética Veterinaria “Ing. Fernando N. Dulout” (UNLP-CONICET LA PLATA), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, calle 60 y 118 s/n, CP, 1900, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Juan Patricio Anchordoquy, Nicolás Agustín Farnetano, Mariana Carolina Fabra, Ana Cristina Carranza-Martin, Noelia Nikoloff, Cecilia Cristina Furnus & Juan Mateo Anchordoquy

  2. Servicio Integral Ganadero (SIG), Brandsen, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Santiago Nicolás Lorenti

  3. Private Veterinarian, 25 de Mayo, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Gustavo Sebastián Polero

  4. Laboratorio de Nutrición Mineral, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 60 y 118, 1900, La Plata, Argentina

    Diana Esther Rosa

Authors
  1. Juan Patricio Anchordoquy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Santiago Nicolás Lorenti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gustavo Sebastián Polero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nicolás Agustín Farnetano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Diana Esther Rosa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Mariana Carolina Fabra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Ana Cristina Carranza-Martin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Noelia Nikoloff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Cecilia Cristina Furnus
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Juan Mateo Anchordoquy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

JPA and JMA: designed the study, coordinated the experiment, and wrote the manuscript. SNL, GSP, NAF, DER and MCF: assisted whit data collection. ACC-M, and NN: analyzed the data. CCF: Funding acquisition, reviewed and edited the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cecilia Cristina Furnus.

Ethics declarations

Ethics Approval

The experimental procedures were approved by the School of Veterinary Sciences Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (National University of La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Protocol No. 105–3-20P).

Consent for Publication

Not applicable.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Anchordoquy, J.P., Lorenti, S.N., Polero, G.S. et al. Parenteral Copper Administration at the Beginning of a Fixed-Time Artificial Insemination Protocol in Beef Cattle: Effect on Ovarian Function and Pregnancy Rates. Biol Trace Elem Res 200, 1617–1625 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-021-02795-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-021-02795-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation