Ovarian function and hormone secretion of gilts actively immunized against XXXX .

@entity53 @entity2671 @entity1420 @entity195
Fifty crossbred gilts immunized against bovine serum albumin (BSA) or @entity2671 conjugated to BSA ( @entity195 ) were used in three experiments. Primary immunizations were given at 120 d of age and boosters at 148 and 176 d. Gilts were moved to pens containing four to five animals each and exposed to boars beginning at 180 d of age. Immunization against @entity195 did not affect age at puberty, percentage of gilts exhibiting estrus or duration of first estrous cycle. Over the three experiments, ovulation rate was 24% greater for @entity195 -immunized gilts than for controls, and the number of corpora lutea was related positively (r = .82) to the log of the antibody titer. Number of ovulations decreased as interval from booster immunization to onset of estrus increased. During diestrus of the first estrous cycle, gilts immunized against @entity195 had more follicles 5 to 10 mm in diameter, more total ovarian follicles and more total ovarian structures (corpora lutea plus follicles) than controls. Immunization against @entity195 increased the frequency of LH pulses on d 16 but not on d 17 or 18, of the estrous cycle. However, average serum concentrations of LH, FSH and @entity53 from 5 d before until 2 d after expected estrus were not different between treatment groups. Concentrations of @entity195 in follicles 4 to 6 and greater than 7 mm in diameter were greater in gilts immunized against @entity195 . Mean serum @entity1420 was higher on d 9 and 12 after mating in @entity195 immunized gilts than in controls. Immunization against @entity195 had no effect on maintenance of pregnancy or embryo survival rate.
