The accuracy of the diagnosis of follicular cyst and ovarian quiescence by rectal palpation was estimated from the peripheral blood progesterone (P4) level at a first examination and a second examination 7-14 days later, in dairy cows and Black Japanese beef cattle. Twentyseven (69.2%) out of 39 cows diagnosed with follicular cyst and 24 (60.0%) out of 40 diagnosed with ovarian quiescence had low P4 (<1.0ng/ml) at both examinations. Four (10.3%) cows with follicular cyst and 8 (20.0%) with ovarian quiescence had low P4 at the first examination, but high P4 (>1.0ng/ml) at the second examination. The remaining 8 (20.5%) cases with follicular cyst and 8 (20.0%) with ovarian quiescence had high P4 at the first examination. The results suggest that, in the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian diseases, the measurement of peripheral blood P4 could become a supplementary means of accurate diagnosis and treatment of these two diseases.

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To clarify the cellular immunity condition in cows with inflammatory disease, peripheral leukocyte population and lymphocyte proliferation were analyzed. Sixty eight of clinical cases of dairy cows with periarthritis of hock joints, sole ulcer, mastitis, and twelve clinical healthy cows were used (control group). The numbers of CD4+ and MHC+CD14- cells in each inflammatory group were lower, and MHC-CD14+ cells were higher compared with the healthy group. The proliferation of PHA in each inflammatory group was lower and the proliferation of PWM was higher compared with the healthy group. There was a positive relation between the MHC positive rate in CD14+ cells and CD 4 + cell number, and CD21+ IgG+ cell number and proliferation of PWM or γ-globulin concentration in each inflammatory group. These results clarified that depression of the T cell function and enhancement of the B cell function was observed in the cows affected by inflammatory disease. It is possible that dairy cows with inflammatory diseases suppress cellular immunity function and activate humoral immunity function.

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We measured changes in bovine plasma inhibin which we induced ovulation by PGF2a treatment, and also measured plasma inhibin and FSH with ovum pick up (OPU) using time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay (TR-FIA). Ovulation did not affect the plasma inhibin concentration, and OPU induced a decrease in inhibin and increase in FSH. We assumed that this was because two or more follicles in the ovary participate in plasma inhibin control. One follicle is lost by ovulation and many follicles are lost by OPU, so OPU decreases plasma inhibin more distinctly than ovulation, and increases FSH. This inhibin concentration change may affect the growth of follicles and the result of OPU.

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