Relationships among metabolites influencing ovarian function in the dairy cow

Time series analysis was used to evaluate relationships between the uptake of metabolites, ovarian blood flow, arterial LH concentrations, and the out put of steroid hormones by the ovary. There were no significant correlation s between cholesterol uptake and progesterone output; therefore, cholestero l up take was not a factor that immediately limited progesterone output. Al though no significant correlations were found between cholesterol and oxyge n uptake, significant cross-correlations between the uptake of glucose and oxygen by the ovary at lag 0 indicated some immediate oxidation of glucose. This result strongly indicates that glucose is a major source of energy fo r the bovine ovary. Arterial LH concentrations had little influence on ovar ian metabolism The examination of interrelationships among factors that inf luence ovarian function was useful in identifying factors that can limit ov arian activity.