Lipid and steroid blood profiles in Holstein cows and heifers at different embryo yields after polyovulatory stimulation

Relevance. Variability in the metabolic and hormonal status of cows before and during early pregnancy modulates the microenvironment of the reproductive organs, which may affect the viability of oocytes and developing embryos when stimulating single or multiple ovulation.
Methods. To study blood lipid and steroid profiles in relation to the yield of in vivo derived (IVD) embryos, 43 polyovulation stimulation cycles in 33 heifers and 44 cycles in 26 cows were analyzed. Blood collection for analysis of the hormone and lipid content was performed on the 1st day of artificial insemination (AI) and 7 days later. According to the morphological assessment of IVD embryos, all cycles were divided into 3 types: I — > 5 suitable for transplantation morulae and blastocysts (M+BL); II — 2–5 M+BL and III — 0–1 M+BL.
Results. In cows, in type I cycles, on the 7th day after AI, the total cholesterol content in the blood was 1.2 times lower than in type III cycles, and the progesterone concentration exceeded that in type II and III cycles (1.8 and 5.4 times, respectively). In heifers, in type I cycles, one week after AI, the progesterone level was 2.1–2.2 times higher than in type II and III cycles, but the cholesterol concentration did not differ and was 2.3–2.4 times lower than in cows.  Thus, cholesterol levels exceeding 6.7 mmol/L in the blood of cows one week after insemination could negatively affect the quality of IVD embryos. 

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