Pregnancy recognition and conceptus implantation in domestic ruminants: roles of progesterone, interferons and endogenous retroviruses

2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas E. Spencer ◽  
Greg A. Johnson ◽  
Fuller W. Bazer ◽  
Robert C. Burghardt ◽  
Massimo Palmarini
Keyword(s):  
Receptor Gene ◽  
Cathepsin L ◽  
Prostaglandin F2α ◽  
Endogenous Retroviruses ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor Gene ◽  
Domestic Ruminants ◽  
Cell Proliferation And Differentiation ◽  
New Information ◽  
Conceptus Development ◽  
Pregnancy Recognition

The present review highlights new information on pregnancy recognition and conceptus development and implantation in sheep with respect to regulation by progesterone, interferons and endogenous retroviruses. After formation of the corpus luteum, progesterone acts on the endometrium and stimulates blastocyst growth and elongation to a filamentous conceptus (embryo/fetus and associated extra-embryonic membranes). The envelope of endogenous retroviruses related to Jaagsiekte sheep retroviruses appears to intrinsically regulate mononuclear trophectoderm cell proliferation and differentiation into trophoblast giant binucleate cells. The mononuclear trophectoderm cells of elongating sheep conceptuses secrete interferon-τ, which acts on the endometrium to prevent development of the luteolytic mechanism by inhibiting transcription of the gene for the oestrogen receptor α in the luminal and superficial ductal glandular epithelia. These actions prevent oestrogen-induced transcription of the oxytocin receptor gene and, therefore, oxytocin-induced luteolytic pulses of prostaglandin F2α. Progesterone downregulation of its receptors in luminal and glandular epithelia correlates temporally with a reduction in anti-adhesive mucin 1and induction of secreted galectin 15 (LGALS15) and secreted phosphoprotein 1, which are proposed to regulate trophectoderm proliferation and adhesion. Interferon-τ acts on the endometrial lumenal epithelium to induce WNT7A and to stimulate LGALS15, cathepsin L and cystatin C, which are candidate regulators of conceptus development and implantation. The number of potential contributors to maternal recognition and establishment of pregnancy continues to grow and this highlights our limited appreciation of the complexity of the key molecules and signal transduction pathways that intersect during these key developmental processes. The goal of improving reproductive efficiency by preventing embryonic losses that occur during the peri-implantation period of pregnancy in domestic ruminants provides the challenge to increase our knowledge of endometrial function and conceptus development.

scholarly journals Estrogen Regulates Transcription of the Ovine Oxytocin Receptor Gene through GC-Rich SP1 Promoter Elements

Endocrinology ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 147 (2) ◽  
pp. 899-911 ◽  
Author(s):  
JoAnn G. W. Fleming ◽  
Thomas E. Spencer ◽  
Stephen H. Safe ◽  
Fuller W. Bazer
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Progesterone Receptor ◽  
Gene Transcription ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Promoter Activity ◽  
Receptor Gene ◽  
Prostaglandin F2α ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor Gene ◽  
Esr1 Gene

Establishment of pregnancy in ruminants results from paracrine signaling by interferon τ (IFNT) from the conceptus to uterine endometrial luminal epithelia (LE) that prevents release of luteolytic prostaglandin F2α pulses. In cyclic and pregnant ewes, progesterone down-regulates progesterone receptor (PGR) gene expression in LE. In cyclic ewes, loss of PGR allows for increases in estrogen receptor α (ESR1) and then oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene expression followed by oxytocin-induced prostaglandin F2α pulses. In pregnant ewes, IFNT inhibits transcription of the ESR1 gene, which presumably inhibits OXTR gene transcription. Alternatively, IFNT may directly inhibit OXTR gene transcription. The 5′ promoter/enhancer region of the ovine OXTR gene was cloned and found to contain predicted binding sites for activator protein 1, SP1, and PGR, but not for ESR1. Deletion analysis showed that the basal promoter activity was dependent on the region from −144 to −4 bp that contained only SP1 sites. IFNT did not affect activity of the OXTR promoter. In cells transfected with ESR1, E2, and ICI 182,780 increased promoter activity due to GC-rich SP1 binding sites at positions −104 and −64. Mutation analyses showed that the proximal SP1 sites mediated ESR1 action as well as basal activity of the promoter. In response to progesterone, progesterone receptor B also increased OXTR promoter activity. SP1 protein was constitutively expressed and abundant in the LE of the ovine uterus. These results support the hypothesis that the antiluteolytic effects of IFNT are mediated by direct inhibition or silencing of ESR1 gene transcription, thereby precluding ESR1/SP1 from stimulating OXTR gene transcription.

Insights into conceptus elongation and establishment of pregnancy in ruminants

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 84 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. E. Spencer ◽  
N. Forde ◽  
P. Lonergan
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Ruminants ◽  
New Information ◽  
Improve Pregnancy Outcome ◽  
Other Substances ◽  
Stage Embryo ◽  
Survival And Growth ◽  
Pregnancy Recognition ◽  
And Function ◽  
New Strategies ◽  
Embryotrophic Factors

This review integrates established and new information on the factors and pathways regulating conceptus–endometrial interactions, conceptus elongation and establishment of pregnancy in sheep and cattle. Establishment of pregnancy in domestic ruminants begins at the conceptus stage (embryo or fetus and associated extra-embryonic membranes) and includes pregnancy recognition signalling, implantation and the onset of placentation. Survival and growth of the preimplantation blastocyst and elongating conceptus require embryotrophic factors (amino acids, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and other substances) provided by the uterus. The coordinated and interactive actions of ovarian progesterone and conceptus-derived factors (interferon-τ and prostaglandins) regulate expression of elongation- and implantation-related genes in the endometrial epithelia that alter the uterine luminal milieu and affect trophectoderm proliferation, migration, attachment, differentiation and function. A comparison of sheep and cattle finds both conserved and non-conserved embryotrophic factors in the uterus; however, the overall biological pathways governing conceptus elongation and establishment of pregnancy are likely conserved. Given that most pregnancy losses in ruminants occur during the first month of pregnancy, increased knowledge is necessary to understand why and provide a basis for new strategies to improve pregnancy outcome and reproductive efficiency.

scholarly journals Interferon-tau and fertility in ruminants

Reproduction ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 154 (5) ◽  
pp. F33-F43 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Forde ◽  
P Lonergan
Keyword(s):  
Prostaglandin F2α ◽  
Threshold Level ◽  
Type I ◽  
Interferon Tau ◽  
Uterine Endometrium ◽  
Domestic Ruminants ◽  
Oxytocin Receptors ◽  
Pregnancy Recognition ◽  
Maternal Recognition Of Pregnancy ◽  
Primary Agent

Establishment of pregnancy in domestic ruminants includes pregnancy recognition signalling by the conceptus, implantation and placentation. Despite the high fertilisation success rate in ruminants, a significant amount of embryo loss occurs, primarily during early gestation. Interferon-tau (IFNT), a type I interferon that is exclusively secreted by the cells of the trophectoderm of the ruminant conceptus, has been recognised as the primary agent for maternal recognition of pregnancy in ruminants. It produces its antiluteolytic effect on the corpus luteum by inhibiting the expression of oxytocin receptors in the uterine epithelial cells, which prevents pulsatile, luteolytic secretion of prostaglandin F2α by the uterine endometrium. While the importance of IFNT in maternal recognition of pregnancy and prevention of luteolysis in ruminants is unequivocal, important questions, for example, relating to the threshold level of IFNT required for pregnancy maintenance, remain unanswered. This paper reviews data linking IFNT with measures of fertility in ruminants.

Maternal recognition of pregnancy in the horse: a mystery still to be solved

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. 952 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Klein ◽  
M. H. T. Troedsson
Keyword(s):  
Prostaglandin F2α ◽  
Cyclooxygenase 2 ◽  
Microarray Experiments ◽  
Luteal Function ◽  
Domestic Species ◽  
Prostaglandin Release ◽  
Conceptus Development ◽  
Immunological Rejection ◽  
Pregnancy Recognition ◽  
Maternal Recognition Of Pregnancy

Maternal recognition of pregnancy in the horse is the sum of events leading to maintenance of pregnancy; in a narrow sense, maternal recognition of pregnancy refers to the physiological process by which the lifespan of the corpus luteum is prolonged. The horse is one of the few domestic species in which the conceptus-derived pregnancy recognition signal has not been identified. The presence of the conceptus reduces pulsatile prostaglandin F2α secretion by the endometrium during early gestation in the mare, partly attributed to the reduced expression of cyclooxygenase-2. Cyclooxygenase-2 has therefore been suggested as one of the regulators of endometrial prostaglandin F2α release modified by the antiluteolytic factor secreted by the conceptus. In addition, altered oxytocin responsiveness has been implicated in the adjustment of prostaglandin release in pregnant mares. While conceptus mobility has proven to be essential for establishment of pregnancy, conceptus-derived oestrogens and prostaglandins, principally prostaglandin E2, have not been confirmed as the critical antiluteolytic factor. Various ways to induce prolonged luteal function in the non-pregnant mare will be highlighted in the current review, specifically, how they may pertain to the process of maternal recognition of pregnancy. Furthermore, recently published microarray experiments comparing the transcriptome of pregnant and non-pregnant endometria and different stages of conceptus development will be reviewed. Findings include the prevention of conceptus adhesion, the provision of nutrients to the conceptus and the avoidance of immunological rejection, among others.

The Hormonal Underpinnings of Sexual Communication

2020 ◽  
pp. 234-260
Author(s):  
Amanda Denes ◽  
Anuraj Dhillon ◽  
Ambyre L. P. Ponivas ◽  
Kara L. Winkler
Keyword(s):  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Sexual Communication ◽  
Receptor Gene ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor ◽  
Communication Research ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor Gene ◽  
Broad Domain ◽  
Relational Outcomes

Sexual communication is a pivotal part of interpersonal relationships; recent research reveals associations between sexual communication and various relational outcomes. Within the broad domain of sexual communication, current scholarship specifically addresses the role of postsex communication in relationships and its links to physiological and genetic markers. Given these advancements, the present chapter offers an overview of research linking physiology, hormones, and genes to communication after sexual activity. The chapter first presents reviews of two key hormones in sexual communication research: testosterone (T) and oxytocin (O). The oxytocin receptor gene and its link to social behavior broadly, and sexual behavior specifically, is also explored. The chapter then offers a review of several theories relevant to understanding the hormonal underpinnings of sexual communication, as well as future directions for research exploring sexual communication and physiology.

Associations between the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) and affect, loneliness and intelligence in normal subjects

2009 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 860-866 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Lucht ◽  
Sven Barnow ◽  
Christine Sonnenfeld ◽  
Albert Rosenberger ◽  
Hans Joergen Grabe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Receptor Gene ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor Gene

scholarly journals Neural correlate of autistic-like traits and a common allele in the oxytocin receptor gene

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1443-1450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuki Saito ◽  
Motomu Suga ◽  
Mamoru Tochigi ◽  
Osamu Abe ◽  
Noriaki Yahata ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Receptor Gene ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor ◽  
Common Allele ◽  
Neural Correlate ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor Gene
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