[The dynamics of the somatotropin content in the follicular fluid during maturation and atresia of the antral follicles in bovine ovaries].

Somatotropin level was shown to rise in follicular fluid from bovine ovaries during the follicular growth stage with increasing of the follicular diameter from 3-5 to 6-10 mm. Follicles with the diameter of 10-20 mm containing over 40% of pycnotic granulosa cells revealed lower levels of somatotropin in their fluid as compared with those containing 20% or lesser amount of pycnotic cells. The data obtained suggest a direct involvement of somatotropin in regulation of the growth and atretic processes in antral bovine ovarian follicles.