ABSTRACT. In the ovarian follicular fluid (FF) of Holstein cows, calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) levels and their roles on thrombin generation were examined and compared with the blood samples. Total Ca levels in FF increased while the total Mg levels decreased with follicular development from preantral to preovulatory stage of follicles. These changes resulted in Ca values being significantly (p<0.05) higher in FF from the most developed follicles and the Mg values being significantly higher (p<0.05) in the least developed follicles. To determine whether the high level of Mg might function to regulate thrombin generation in FF as occurs in plasma, the influence of Mg supplementation of FF from various types of follicles was examined. In FF from small size follicles, Mg accelerated the prothrombin time, an estimation of the overall rate of thrombin production, although a similar effect was not observed in FF from medium and large size follicles. The addition of Mg to FF from all sizes of follicles resulted an inhibition in factor X activation. Since activation of factor X is a precursor step for thrombin formation it is concluded that Mg can function as a slow accelerator of thrombin generation in FF from follicles at the antral stage of development. It is likely to have a more important role in regulating the rate of thrombin generation as the follicle develops. -KEY WORDS: bovine, calcium, follicular fluid, magnesium, thrombin generation.J. Vet. Med. Sci. 60 (7): [837][838][839][840][841][842] 1998 was any connection between the levels of this hormone and Ca and Mg level [1]. Because of the potential role of thrombin as a mitogen in follicular development [7], a second objective of the study was to investigate whether Ca and/or Mg might have a role in thrombin generation during follicular development.To assess the involvement of Ca and Mg level or their concentration ratio to thrombin generation in ovarian follicular fluid, three types of assays were performed: 1) thrombin time assay to determine possible direct effects of Ca and Mg on thrombin activity towards the fibrinogen substrate present in follicular fluid, 2) prothrombin time, an overall measurement of thrombin generation in follicular fluid and 3) a specific factor X activity assay since FXa is key activating enzyme in thrombin generation. The results of assays in FF were compared with those of bovine plasma.
MATERIALS AND METHODSBlood and follicular fluid samples: Whole blood and ovaries were obtained at a local abattoir from healthy Holstein cows. The blood was collected directly from the carotid artery without anticoagulant for serum preparation and with 3.8% citrate sodium solution for thrombin generation assays or 10 g/l heparin sodium (Daiichi Pure Chem. Co., Tokyo, Japan) solution for mineral assays to obtain plasma. Serum was prepared by incubating the whole blood clot at 4°C for 24 hr before aspiration of the supernatant. Plasma was prepared by centrifuging anticoagulated blood at 3,000 × g, for 15 min at 4°C. Bovine ovaries were kept at 3...