COMPARISON OF THE HORMONAL AND CHEMICAL-COMPOSITION OF THE FLUID FROMBOVINE OVARIAN FOLLICLES AND CYSTS

Cystic ovaries and ovaries with pre-ovulatory follicles (POF) of cows were collected at the slaughter house and progesterone (P4), estradiol -17 beta (E2), testosterone (T), IGF-I (selected samples only), glucos e and lactate were determined in cystic and follicular fluid. Accordin g to the levels of P4 and E2, ovarian cysts were classified as luteini zed cysts (LC; P4: 345.14 ng/ml, E2: 3.34 ng/ml), follicular cysts (FC ; P4: 25.41 ng/ml, E2 336.51 ng/ml) and mixed-function cysts (MfC; P4: 59.43 ng/ml, E2: 76.62 ng/ml). There were no differences in steroid h ormone and IGF-I concentrations between FC and POF. In LC, glucose lev els were lower and lactate levels were higher than in FC, MfC and POF, indicating a changed metabolic pattern. In polycystic ovaries, five t imes the combination LC x FC and three times the combination LC x MfC was found. From this, it was concluded that the final events leading t o cyst formation are controlled by intrafollicular/intraovarian mechan isms rather than systemic mechanisms.