The relationships between transforming growth factors β and free thyroxine and progesterone in the ovarian cysts, preovulatory follicles, and the serum of sows

The aim of the study was to determine the relationships between bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP-15) and growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF-9) concentrations and free thyroxine (FT4) and progesterone (P4) concentrations in follicular cysts, preovulatory follicles, and the serum of sows (cyst-bearing (n= 26) and non-cyst-bearing (n= 26)). FT4 and P4 concentrations were higher in the cystic fluid than in the fluid of preovulatory follicles (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05 respectively). BMP-15 and GDF-9 concentrations were higher in the serum of cyst-bearing sows than non-cyst-bearing sows (p < 0.05) and higher in the cystic fluid than in the follicular fluid (p < 0.05). In the cysts and preovulatory follicles, GDF-9 concentration was higher than in serum (p < 0.01). FT4 concentration in the serum of cystic sows was correlated with BMP-15 (r = 0.50, p < 0.05) and GDF-9 (r = 0.62, p < 0.01) concentrations in serum. In the serum of non-cyst-bearing sows, a positive correlation between P4 concentration and BMP-15 concentration (r = 0.60, p < 0.01) was detected. These data will help provide insight into the role of BMP-15, GDF-9, FT4, and P4 during cyst formation in sows.