The objectives of this study were to evaluate ovarian changes in cows with follicular ovarian cysts following treatment with either GnRH or saline. The parameters determined were the intervals from treatment to observation of a CL and from treatment to disappearance of the cyst, and the association between serum concentrations of LK, FSK and the LH/FSH ratio, before and after treatment, with the test intervals. Thirty-nine cows were identified as having follicular cysts. The GnRH treatment induced a significant increase in LH and the LH/FSH ratio. The gonadotropin response was not associated with the intervals from treatment to CL detection or to disappearance of the cyst. Survival curves for the intervals from treatment to CL detection and cyst disappearance indicate that treatment with GnRH or saline did not yield significantly different results for either parameter. The results question the efficacy of treating cystic ovarian disease with GnRH. (C) 1999 by Elsevier Science inc.