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PubMed2001

Effect of subclinical uterine infection on cervical and uterine involution, estrous activity and fertility in postpartum buffaloes.

Nili-Ravi buffaloes (n=29) that calved normally between August and November and did not develop any clinical reproductive disorder after calving were studied for the incidence of sub-clinical bacterial infection of the uterus and its effects on postpartum reproductive efficiency. The incidence of subclinical uterine infection was 24% (7/29). Involution of the cervix and uterus was slower (P < 0.01) in the infected group than in the normal group (45.6 vs 31.1 days and 46.3 vs 35.8 days), respectively. The mean diameters of cervix and gravid horn on Day 12 post partum and on completion of involution did not differ between buffaloes of the two groups. However, the rate of involution of the cervix and the gravid horn was lower in buffaloes of the infected group (2.2 vs. 2.7 mm/day and 2.6 vs. 3.2 mm/day). The mean interval to first post partum ovulation was similar in buffaloes in the infected (35.5 days) and the normal group (33.8 days). The life span of corpus luteum formed after first ovulation was shorter (11 days) in buffaloes of both groups than that of a normal estrous cycle (15 to 17 days). The incidence of silent ovulation was apparently higher in buffaloes of the infected group (83 vs. 60%) but the difference was not significant. For the first four months after calving, the mean interval to first postpartum estrus was longer in buffaloes of the infected group (73.0 vs. 47.7 days; P < 0.01). Similarly, the average service period was longer in buffaloes of the infected group (91.0 vs. 64.8 days; P < 0.05). The overall pregnancy rate for the first four months after calving did not differ between buffaloes of the two groups. We conclude that subclinical bacterial infection of the postpartum uterus delays the cervical and uterine involution which can, in turn, delay the occurrence of first postpartum estrus and prolong the service period in buffaloes.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Organochlorine pesticides as endocrine disruptors in wildlife.

Many xenobiotic compounds introduced into the environment by human activity have been shown to adversely affect wildlife. The ubiquitous distribution of many contaminants and the documented, nonlethal, multigenerational effects on the reproductive, endocrine, and immune systems have lead to concerns that wildlife worldwide are affected. The reproductive disorders reported to date in wildlife include reduced fertility, reduced hatchability, reduced viability of offspring, impaired hormone secretion or activity and modified reproductive anatomy. The endocrine system exhibits an organizing effect on the developing embryo. Thus, a disruption of the normal hormonal signals can permanently modify the organization and future function of the reproductive system. An understanding of the developmental consequences of endocrine disruption in wildlife can lead to new indicators of exposure to endocrine disrupting contaminants. Thus, wildlife serve as important sentinels of ecosystem health, including human public health. An ecoepidemiological approach examining wildlife reproductive abnormalities combined with traditional toxicological studies identifying causation can provide the best model for predicting ecosystem concerns due to environmental contamination.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

"The Flemish Giant", reflections on the defense against endometriosis, inspired by Professor Emeritus Ivo A. Brosens.

Reproductive research benefits from combining animal and clinical studies. In Leuven, rabbits have constituted an animal model for many reproductive disorders, especially for those that involved surgical treatment. Much of what has been learned from animal experiments has been applied to human clinical reproductive research soon after. In this manuscript we wish to address the problem of the constant intra-abdominal battle between the menstrual aggressor and the peritoneal defense. From all published evidence we may conclude that endometriosis appears to be a dynamic disease, especially in the early phase, with subtle, atypical lesions emerging and vanishing again. In the end however the peritoneal defense system will prevail and the disease will be contained in the majority of patients. When doing repeat laparoscopies in young patients one should be prepared to encounter more advanced histological types of lesions, which not necessarily do have to indicate more advanced stages of the disease: the classical, blue and black powderburn spots and blueberry lesions reflect the extinguishing phase of the dynamic endometriotic process, and herald its inactivated histological end-stage. The dynamic phase of the disease may involve a varying interval of each patient's life, and medical suppression of the activity of the implants during this interval may lead one to conclude erroneously that treatment has been effective. If subsequently (after the end of medical suppression of the activity of the lesions) ovarian activity resumes and the lesions are stimulated again by ovarian steroids, their productive activity returns. Recurrence of disease may be diagnosed if at that stage a laparoscopy would be performed, whereas in reality only reactivation of temporarily obscured lesions did occur. The suppressed, dormant (but never absent) lesions produce mucus again, desquamation occurs, and reaction by the surrounding tissue. The inflammatory response, the local hyperemia and the neogenesis of vessels accentuate the presence of previously invisible endometriosis lesions and make them visible again. Endometriosis resumes its temporarily halted natural course of development, tissue remodeling occurs again, the battle between the aggressor and the defense resumes and waxing and waning of the several types of lesions, red, white and black, can be found again.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Spasmodic torticollis and reproductive function in women.

This investigation assessed a possible relationship between idiopathic spasmodic torticollis (ST) and reproductive function in women. Fifth decade ST onset, the peak decade for menopause, was over represented. Menstrual exacerbation of symptoms was significantly more common than in controls. Oral contraceptive use and pregnancy did not have adverse effects. Reproductive disorders and hysterectomy were significantly more common than in neurological and normal controls. The possibility that ST onset and severity may relate to reproductive state and hormonal factors warrants further investigation.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

[Risk of health disorders among women working with precision sterile technologies].

Results of hygienic, clinical, epidemiologic research helped to identify occupational risk factors for female workers engaged into microelectronic devices construction. The studies revealed occupational diseases and reproductive disorders in the females. The higher occupational risk was set for workers subjected to combined effects of complex low intensity factors, intensive work under exposure to chemical hazards.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Thymic regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.

The thymus gland and the cells that it regulates produce a number of soluble factors that are capable of indirectly modulating the immune system via reproductive neuroendocrine circuits. Studies dating to the turn of the century were designed to evaluate the effects of partially purified thymic extracts in treating various reproductive disorders as well as changes in gonadal tissue weights. More recent studies have focused on the chemical nature of the factors responsible for regulating reproductive function. A number of factors have been described. These include thymosin beta 4 which has been found to stimulate the release of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone and luteinizing hormone (LH). Other factors such as interleukin-1 (IL-1) have been found to inhibit the release of these two peptides. IL-1 has also been found to alter the expression of LH receptors in rat granulosa cells. Certain interferons have been found capable of suppressing estrogen and progesterone release. While many of the studies have been carried out using adult animal models, there is increasing evidence that exposure to cytokines during early development can have long lasting if not permanent effects upon the reproductive axis. These and related topics are the subject of this review.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Leptin and the pituitary.

In 1994, Zhang et al. of Rockefeller University in New York reported the first successful complementary DNA (cDNA) cloning of leptin by the positional cloning method. Leptin was identified as the gene of ob/ob mouse in genetic obesity syndromes. It has very strong food intake control, and body weight and energy expenditure. The name "leptin" derived from the Greek word leptos, meaning "thin." We hereby review major advances leading to our current finding of leptin, leptin receptor and its structure, the outline of homozygote, and also influence of leptin in the pituitary. (The structure of leptin) The mouse obese gene has been localized to chromosome 6. With human leptin gene on chromosome 7q31.3, its DNA has more than 15000 base pairs and consists of three exons and two introns. For bioactivation of leptin the importance of disulfide-binding site is suggested. Human leptin which replaced the 128-th arginine with glutamine has the function of an aldosteron antagonist, which is reported to have the function of athrocytosis inhibition. The resemblance of leptin precursor of human, mouse and rat is very high, i.e., mouse and rat homology is 96% and mouse and human homology is 83%. (The structure of leptin receptor) The mutant gene, which is the cause of obesity, was shown on map on diabetic mouse (db/db) chromosome 4, and it was proven to be the same as the leptin receptor gene cloned by Tartaglia et all. Further studies have found the Zucker fatty rat (fa/fa) to be incorporated into a linkage map of rat chromosome 5, whose region of rat is the equivalent to the region of conserved synteny of the db/db mouse gene. The leptin receptor is glycoprotein consisting of a single transmembrane-spanning component. The primary structure of leptin receptor belongs to the cytokine-class1 family, the single membrane-spanning receptor, and is highly related to the gp130 signal-transducing component of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor, the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) receptor, and the leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) receptor. The leptin receptor is known to have at least six existing isoforms (Ob-Ra, b, c, d, e, f) from the difference in splicing. (Homozygote Mutation of Leptin and Leptin Receptor :Hormone Secretion Disorders) The point mutation of ob/ob mouse and the splicing mutation of db/db mouse show remarkable obesity and hyperphagia. These obesity models show a reproduction disorder with both the male and the female, and they develop with homozygote. The cause is thought to be the gonadotropin secretory abnormality in pituitary. Three family lines report the cases of this deficiency, and it is considered that the secretory abnormality in pituitary develops into hypogonadotropic. These patients show low value in plasma FSHbeta (follicle stimulating hormone-beta and LHbeta (luteinizing hormone-beta which are produced from pituitary, and the plasma GnRH (gonadotropin releasing hormone) level is also low. Furthermore, the leptin receptor deficient family line was reported in 1998, in which case only the homozygote developed. The plasma leptin concentration of normal human is about 8.0 ng/ml, and this case with leptin receptor deficiency has high value of 500-700 ng/ml, which is the equivalent to the db/db mouse. (Role of Leptin in Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Periphery Function) The role of leptin which regulates pituitary hormones suggests the promotion the GHRH (growth hormone releasing hormone) secretion in hypothalamus-pituitary axis, with the possibility of the rise in secretion of GH (growth hormone) in pituitary, i.e. effects of icv (intracerebroventricular) infusion of leptin has spontaneously stimulated GHRH, which promotes GH secretion in the normal rats. On the other hand, topical treatment of GH3 (derived from a rat pituitary GH-secreting cell line) with leptin directly inhibits cell proliferation. The obesity model animals (ob/ob, db/db, fa/fa) have equally plump body compared to the normal models, which shows signs of sufficient growth. (Localization and Functional Relevance of Leptin and Leptin Receptor in Rodents Pituitary) Aside from being the food intake inhibitor and the energy control factor, leptin takes part in controlling the pituitary hormones. Promoting the secretion of GH, PRL (prolactin), TSHbeta (thyroid stimulating hormone-beta, FSHbeta/LHbeta, and inhibiting the secretion of ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) are the major changes of pituitary hormones which are brought on by leptin. The expressive localization is specific, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) method recognized leptin in granular state in FSHbeta, LHbeta and TSHbeta positive cells. In our biochemical examination, the bulk of the expression of leptin is recognized in fraction of the secretory granule. In particular, FSHbeta cells had the highest percentage rate of colocalized leptin in rat pituitary. On the other hand, leptin receptor has been reported to be found only in normal rat pituitary, human pituitary adenoma, and respective cell lines in pituitaries by the RT-PCR method until now, but we disclosed for the first time the localization of leptin receptor on the plasma membrane of GH-secreting cells with the IHC method that has not been cleared so far. These findings show that leptin and leptin receptor have been expressed in different cells, and that the rat pituitary glands entertain paracrine mechanism between leptin (FSHbeta/LHbeta cells) and leptin receptor (GH cells). The function of paracrine in this pituitary suggests a new point of view in hypothalamus-pituitary axis, and it shall be concerned with many aspects such as hormone secretions and proliferation/inhibition. (Human Pituitary Adenoma) Preliminary report of leptin and leptin-receptor relationship with pituitary adenoma that has secretion abnormality has been filed, and its manifestation is being observed by the RT-PCR. Leptin and leptin receptor are expressed in most adenoma, and it is thought to function by autocrine and paracrine pathway in the adenomas. Leptin has been located in ACTH-secreting adenoma most frequently, especially in ACTH carcinoma. The leptin receptor is detected in all adenomas with high percentage rate, with both long and short forms, and then many cases of nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas, compared with other adenomas, have been reported to be positive with both long and short forms of leptin receptor as detected by RT-PCR. The HP75 cell line is derived from the nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma, which produces FSHbeta and LHbeta. The expression of leptin receptor in nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma, and the suppression of HP75 multiplication may lead to the possible hypothesis of leptin becoming one factor for the treatment of pituitary adenoma, especially in gonadotropin adenomas.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) physiology in men and women.

The combined approach used in studies of GnRH secretion provided a complimentary array of techniques with which to establish the program of amplitude (dose) and frequency of GnRH secretion in the physiologic state. Normative data in men and women were useful in formulating frequency estimates, which could then be applied to the task of replacement of GnRH in deficient (IHH) individuals. Comparison of the results of therapy with these 'ablation-replacement' models then allowed to arrive closer to the true amplitude or dose of exogenous GnRH required to duplicate the physiologic ideal. In addition to providing insight into the neuroendocrine control of reproduction, these applications provided treatment of various reproductive disorders in men and women. Further expansion of the efforts into other potential defects of endogenous GnRH secretion will ultimately uncover those disorders amenable to therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Phenobarbital-induced alterations in the sexual differentiation of the female rat: reversal by hydroxyurea and cycloheximide.

The possible mechanism of action of phenobarbital in prenatal female rats has been studied using different inhibitors of protein/DNA/RNA synthesis. Administration of phenobarbital (40 mg/kg/day) subcutaneously from day 17 to day 20 of pregnancy resulted in a delay of the onset of puberty, disorders of estrous cycle, infertility, and high estrogen levels in the female offspring. Cycloheximide (60 microg/kg/day)--a protein synthesis inhibitor and hydroxyurea (160 mg/kg/day)--a DNA synthesis inhibitor when combined with phenobarbital, significantly reduced the incidence of reproductive dysfunctions listed above. Alpha-amanitin (15 microg/kg/day), an inhibitor of m-RNA synthesis, produced reproductive disorders in the female offspring when administered alone to pregnant rats and also failed to reverse the PB-induced reproductive alterations. Cycloheximide and hydroxyurea produced no effect upon reproductive function when administered alone. Cycloheximide administration resulted in low body weight at birth and delayed eye opening. These results suggest that prenatal administration of phenobarbital produces its effect via new protein synthesis and that cycloheximide and hydroxyurea protect the offspring from phenobarbital-induced toxic effects by inhibiting its biochemical action.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Polycystic ovary syndrome: syndrome XX?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is now recognized as an important metabolic and reproductive disorder. It is associated with substantial defects in insulin action and secretion that confer a markedly increased risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Insulin resistance modifies reproductive function both by the direct actions of insulin on steroidogenesis and by disruption of insulin signaling pathways in the central nervous system. These insights have led to a new therapy for PCOS with insulin-sensitizing agents. Hyperandrogenemia and insulin resistance cluster in PCOS families, consistent with a genetic susceptibility to these abnormalities. There is evidence for both linkage and association of the hyperandrogenemia phenotype with an allele of a marker locus on chromosome 19, in the region of the gene encoding the insulin receptor.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

[Subfertility in overweight women].

The prevalence of overweight individuals in The Netherlands is increasing sharply as has also been observed in populations worldwide. In addition to the long-term health risks of being overweight, overweight women of reproductive age are more commonly faced with reproductive disorders. Women who are overweight are less fertile than women of normal weight. The chances of both spontaneous conception and conception after ovulation induction and assisted reproduction are lower in women who are overweight. The chance of a live birth is also decreased due to an increased risk of miscarriage. Furthermore pregnancy outcome is compromised by obesity-related complications of pregnancy. Weight loss of 5-15% in subfertile women who are overweight increases the chance of spontaneous conception and conception after fertility treatment and can be achieved through a low-calorie diet, increased exercise and behaviour modification.

Female↗
PubMed2006

Imprinting disorders after assisted reproductive technologies.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To assess the evidence of an increased risk of imprinting diseases in children born after use of assisted reproductive technologies. RECENT FINDINGS: Imprinting disorders occur when the epigenetic programming during gametogenesis is disturbed, or when this programming is not sufficiently sustained during the process of fertilization and early embryonic development. Ten case or case-reference reports have been published suggesting that compared with reference populations, a higher proportion of children with imprinting diseases were conceived by assisted reproductive technologies. These reports are inconsistent in linking the risk to a specific assisted reproductive technology, and a cytogenetic examination assessing the exact genetic imprinting mechanism was not always provided. Two national systematic follow-up studies on 6052 Danish and 16,280 Swedish in-vitro fertilization children found none and two children with imprinting diseases, respectively. These figures correspond approximately to the expected number of children with imprinting disease from the general population. SUMMARY: The evidence of an increased risk of imprinting diseases in children conceived by assisted reproductive technologies is limited. The published case reports, however, call for a systematic multinational long-term follow-up of children born after assisted reproductive technologies.

Animals↗
PubMed2007

Genetic programs that regulate testicular and ovarian development.

The gonadal primordium is the only tissue in mammals that has two divergent developmental fates leading ultimately to the formation of either a testis or an ovary. The goal of this review is to summarize the major characteristics of the male and female transcriptional programs triggered in the developing mouse gonads during the critical time window of sex determination. Expression profiling studies reveal that both male and female genetic programs are initiated as early as embryonic day (E) 11.5. By E13.5, more than 1000 genes are overexpressed either in developing ovaries or testes. A large fraction of these have so far no known roles during gonadal differentiation, yet interestingly some of their human orthologues map to chromosomal loci associated with sexual disorders. Identifying the functional roles for these candidate genes will improve our understanding of sex determination and provide new insights into the causes of gonadal dysgenesis and reproductive disorders.

Animals↗
PubMed2026

Cohesin variants associated with human reproductive and developmental disorders.

The cohesin complex is an evolutionarily conserved multi-subunit protein assembly essential for sister chromatid cohesion, meiotic recombination, DNA double-strand break repair, and transcriptional regulation. Pathogenic variants in its subunits are implicated in a spectrum of reproductive and developmental disorders, including non-obstructive azoospermia, premature ovarian insufficiency, reproductive aging, aneuploidy, Cornelia de Lange syndrome, Roberts syndrome, cancer, and neuropsychiatric disease. Consequently, identifying cohesin mutations is a priority for precision diagnostics and personalized medicine. This review systematically summarizes the cohesin variants linked to these pathologies, exploring their molecular mechanisms and clinical manifestations. A deeper understanding of these variants is crucial not only for deciphering disease etiology but also for guiding the development of targeted diagnostic strategies and therapeutic interventions, ultimately improving patient management and outcomes.

Humans↗
PubMed2007

Calpain-5 gene variants are associated with diastolic blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

BACKGROUND: Genes implicated in common complex disorders such as obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or cardiovascular diseases are not disease specific, since clinically related disorders also share genetic components. Cysteine protease Calpain 10 (CAPN10) has been associated with T2DM, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, increased body mass index (BMI) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a reproductive disorder of women in which isunlin resistance seems to play a pathogenic role. The calpain 5 gene (CAPN5) encodes a protein homologue of CAPN10. CAPN5 has been previously associated with PCOS by our group. In this new study, we have analysed the association of four CAPN5 gene variants(rs948976A>G, rs4945140G>A, rs2233546C>T and rs2233549G>A) with several cardiovascular risk factors related to metabolic syndrome in general population. METHODS: Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, insulin, glucose and lipid profiles were determined in 606 individuals randomly chosen from a cross-sectional population-based epidemiological survey in the province of Segovia in Central Spain (Castille), recruited to investigate the prevalence of anthropometric and physiological parameters related to obesity and other components of the metabolic syndrome. Genotypes at the four polymorphic loci in CAPN5 gene were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Genotype association analysis was significant for BMI (p < or = 0.041), diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.015) and HDL-cholesterol levels (p = 0.025). Different CAPN5 haplotypes were also associated with diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (0.0005 < or = p < or = 0.006) and total cholesterol levels (0.001 < or = p < or = 0.029). In addition, the AACA haplotype, over-represented in obese individuals, is also more frequent in individuals with metabolic syndrome defined by ATPIII criteria (p = 0.029). CONCLUSION: As its homologue CAPN10, CAPN5 seems to influence traits related to increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. Our results also may suggest CAPN5 as a candidate gene for metabolic syndrome.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed2005

Strategies for improving fertility in the modern dairy cow.

The high producing dairy cow of the 21st century is subfertile during lactation. Our objectives are to characterize physiological periods limiting reproductive performance and to describe integrated management strategies to improve pregnancy rates. Ovarian recrudescence with normal re-occurring estrous cycles and restoration of fertility to first service are associated with a reduced occurrence of periparturient metabolic and reproductive disorders. Marked negative changes in energy balance and reduced immunocompetence influence gonadotropic and metabolic hormones. Induced ovarian inactivity was associated with enhanced uterine involution. Post-partum health and reproductive performance were improved when by-pass lipids enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acids were fed in the pre- and post-partum periods. Pharmaceutical control of follicle, CL, and uterine function with PGF, GnRH and intravaginal progesterone releasing inserts, has permitted development of more optimal timed-insemination programs for first service. Likewise, resynchronization of nonpregnant cows coupled with the use of ultrasound for early pregnancy diagnosis provides the opportunity for a second timed-insemination within 3 days of a nonpregnant diagnosis. Bovine somatotropin (bST) increases embryo development and embryo survival when coupled with a timed-insemination program or cows detected in estrus. Presence of a conceptus alters endometrial expression of genes and proteins in response to bST and nutraceuticals (i.e., unsaturated fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid in by-pass lipids) to improve pregnancy rates. Postovulatory increases in progesterone may enhance pregnancy rates in targeted populations of lactating dairy cows, but timing and magnitude of the progesterone increases are pharmaceutically dependent.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Reproductive and metabolic disorders in women with epilepsy.

Epilepsy is a common neurologic disorder affecting women during the reproductive years. Seizures and some antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) can compromise reproductive health, and some AEDs can adversely affect carbohydrate and bone metabolism. Women with epilepsy have lower birth rates and more frequent anovulatory menstrual cycles. This appears to be related to seizure- and AED-associated reproductive endocrine disturbances. Carbamazepine (CBZ), phenytoin (PHT), and phenobarbital (PB) induce hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes and lower endogenous estrogens, adrenal and ovarian androgens, and contraceptive steroids. Valproate (VPA) inhibits steroid hormone metabolism, elevates androgens, and predisposes to phenotypic signs of hyperandrogenism-hirsutism, obesity, acne, and frequent anovulatory cycles. VPA is associated with weight gain, probably by altering insulin metabolism. CBZ, PHT, and VPA, but not lamotrigine (LTG), are associated with lower levels of calcium. PHT, but not VPA or LTG, appears to accelerate bone turnover. AED effects on bone mineral metabolism may explain the elevated risk of fracture described in women with epilepsy. Prospective pregnancy registries are beginning to provide information about AED-associated teratogenesis. The North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry reports a 12% rate of major malformations after first trimester exposure to PB and an 8.6% rate after first trimester exposure to VPA. A prospective LTG-specific registry reports a 1.8% chance of major malformations after the first trimester. The registries will continue to release information as data become significant. In the meantime, practitioners can be alert to signs and symptoms of reproductive or metabolic health disturbances and participate in pregnancy registry efforts.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗
PubMed2004

Genetic selection for health traits using producer-recorded data. II. Genetic correlations, disease probabilities, and relationships with existing traits.

The objectives of this study were to calculate genetic correlations between health traits that were recorded in on-farm herd management software programs and to assess relationships between these traits and other traits that are routinely evaluated in US dairy sires. Data consisted of 272,576 lactation incidence records for displaced abomasum (DA), ketosis (KET), mastitis (MAST), lameness (LAME), cystic ovaries (CYST), and metritis (MET) from 161,622 cows in 646 herds. These data were collected between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2003 in herds using the Dairy Comp 305, DHI-Plus, or PCDART herd management software programs. Binary incidence data for all disorders were analyzed simultaneously using a multiple-trait threshold sire model that included random sire and herd-year-season of calving effects. Although data from multiple lactations were available for some animals, our genetic analysis included only first parity records due to concerns about selection bias and improper modeling of the covariance structure. Heritability estimates for the presence or absence of each disorder during first lactation were 0.14 for DA, 0.06 for KET, 0.09 for MAST, 0.03 for LAME, 0.04 for CYST, and 0.06 for MET. Estimated genetic correlations were 0.45 between DA and KET, 0.42 between KET and CYST, 0.20 between MAST and LAME, 0.19 between KET and LAME, 0.17 between DA and CYST, 0.17 between KET and LAME, 0.17 between KET and MET, and 0.16 between LAME and CYST. All other correlations were negligible. Correlations between predicted transmitting abilities for the aforementioned health traits and existing production, type, and fitness traits were low, though it must be noted that these estimates may have been biased by low reliability of the health trait evaluations. Based on results of this study, it appears that genetic selection for health disorders recorded in on-farm software programs can be effective. These traits can be incorporated into selection indices directly, or they can be combined into composite traits, such as "reproductive disorders", "metabolic disorders", or "early lactation disorders".

Abomasum↗