Effects of interferon-tau and progesterone on oestrogen-stimulated expression of receptors for oestrogen, progesterone and oxytocin in the endometrium of ovariectomized ewes

1996 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 843 ◽  
Author(s):  
TE Spencer ◽  
MA Mirando ◽  
JS Mayes ◽  
GH Watson ◽  
TL Ott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Oestrous Cycle ◽  
Glandular Epithelium ◽  
Interferon Tau ◽  
Pr Protein ◽  
Prostaglandin F2 Alpha ◽  
Combined Actions ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Protein Treatment

The effects of recombinant ovine interferon-tau (IFN-tau) and progesterone on oestrogen-stimulated expression of endometrial receptors for oestrogen (ER), progesterone (PR) and oxytocin (OTR) were determined in ovariectomized ewes. Cyclic ewes (n = 16) were ovariectomized and fitted with uterine catheters on Day 4 of the oestrous cycle (Day O, oestrous) and assigned randomly in 2 x 2-factorial arrangement to receive daily intrauterine injections of either recombinant ovine IFN-tau (roIFN-tau; 2 x 10(7) anti-viral units) or control proteins from Day 11 to Day 15 and 50 mg progesterone from either Day 4 to Day 10 (E-P) or Day 4 to Day 15 (E+P). All ewes received 50 micrograms oestradiol-17 beta on Days 13, 14 and 15 and were hysterectomized on Day 16. In control ewes, endometrial ER mRNA, PR protein and OTR density were greater in E-P- than E+P- treated ewes. In E-P ewes, roIFN-tau decreased oestrogen-stimulated increases in ER and OTR, but not PR expression compared with control ewes. In E+P ewes, endometrial ER mRNA and protein, PR mRNA and protein, and OTR levels were lower in roIFN-tau-treated ewes than control ewes. Immunoreactive ER and PR were absent in the endometrial luminal and superficial glandular epithelium of roIFN-tau compared with control ewes, but were present in the deep glandular epithelium and stroma regardless of steroid or protein treatment. These results indicate that progesterone affects oestrogen-induced increases in endometrial ER, PR and OTR expression in the PR+ deep glandular epithelium and stroma, whereas IFN-tau suppresses oestrogen-induced increases ER, PR and OTR expression in the PR- luminal and superficial glandular epithelium. These combined actions of IFN-tau and progesterone to suppress oestrogen-induced increases in endometrial OTR formation would prevent pulsatile production of luteolytic prostaglandin F2 alpha by the endometrium during early pregnancy.

Hormonal control of concentrations of endometrial oxytocin receptors in the ewe

1992 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 313 ◽  
Author(s):  
RJ Fairclough ◽  
TM Lau
Keyword(s):  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Hormonal Control ◽  
Oestrous Cycle ◽  
Prolonged Treatment ◽  
Inhibitory Influence ◽  
Oestrogen Treatment ◽  
Prostaglandin F2 Alpha ◽  
Oxytocin Receptors ◽  
Long Term Treatment ◽  
Alpha Response

Uterine oxytocin receptors have been shown to play a major role in the regulation of uterine prostaglandin F2 alpha release during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy in sheep. The concentration of endometrial oxytocin receptors increases sharply from around Day 13 of the oestrous cycle to reach a maximum between Days 15 and 16. The high concentration of endometrial oxytocin receptors at this time coincides with the release of endogenous uterine prostaglandin F2 alpha during luteal regression and the maximum uterine prostaglandin F2 alpha response to an oxytocin stimulus. The concentration of uterine oxytocin receptors appears to be regulated by both progesterone and oestradiol. Studies in ovariectomized ewes have shown that initially progesterone lowers the concentration of endometrial oxytocin receptors, but after prolonged treatment with progesterone the concentration of oxytocin receptors increases; this suggests that the uterine-PGF2 alpha response to oxytocin has become refractory to the inhibitory effects of progesterone. The concentration of endometrial oxytocin receptors is also lowered by short-term oestradiol treatment. However, oestrogen treatment of ewes after long-term treatment with progesterone does not result in an increase in the concentration of oxytocin receptors following the cessation of progesterone treatment. On the basis of these and other data it is proposed that in the normal oestrous cycle the concentration of endometrial oxytocin receptors is initially depressed by both oestradiol and progesterone but that the marked increase in the concentration of oxytocin receptors over Days 13-16 of the cycle is due primarily to the withdrawal of the inhibitory influence of progesterone alone. During early pregnancy the release of uterine prostaglandin F is suppressed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Characterization and proteolytic activity of a cathepsin L-like polypeptide in endometrium and uterine flushings of cycling, pregnant and steroid-treated ovariectomized gilts

1997 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodney D. Geisert ◽  
Robert M. Blair ◽  
Thea Pratt ◽  
Michael T. Zavy
Keyword(s):  
Western Blot ◽  
Proteolytic Activity ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Cellular Localization ◽  
Cathepsin L ◽  
Oestrous Cycle ◽  
Glandular Epithelium ◽  
Specific Substrate ◽  
Substrate Metabolism ◽  
Uterine Proteins

Cathepsin L has been proposed to be involved with the endothelial–chorial type of placentation in the cat. Little information concerning the presence and secretion of cathepsin L is available for a species with noninvasive epitheliochorial placentation such as the pig. Cathepsin L activity in uterine flushings and endometrium from gilts during different days of the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy was analysed through specific substrate metabolism and Western blot analyses with antiserum against cat endometrial cathepsin L. This antiserum was utilized to determine the cellular localization of the enzyme within porcine endometrium. Cathepsin L activity within uterine flushings was elevated on Day 15 of the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy, with activity declining on Day 18. Cat cathepsin L antiserum cross-reacted with a group of 46, 40 and 38 kDa uterine proteins and detected a product within the surface and glandular epithelium of the endometrium. The appearance of the 40 kDa protein was first detected on Day 10 of the oestrous cycle with the 38 kDa proteins appearing on Day 15 and 18 of pregnancy. The 40 and 38 kDa uterine proteins appear to be steroid regulated as 12 days of progesterone administration is necessary to detect the proteins and cathepsin L activity.

Reproductive performance during early pregnancy in cattle with contrasting early pregnancy rates

2001 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 283-288
Author(s):  
W.H McMillan ◽  
A J. Peterson ◽  
S.F. Cox ◽  
S.J. Pearson ◽  
M.J. Donnison
Keyword(s):  
Pregnancy Rate ◽  
Embryo Transfer ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Oestrous Cycle ◽  
Interferon Tau ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Establishment Phase

AbstractCauses of variation amongst cattle within a herd in their ability to initiate and maintain pregnancy are largely unknown. An experimental animal resource has recently been established to understand the biology of early reproductive performance. This paper summarises the results achieved during the establishment phase and from several experiments aimed at determining the physiological basis of the difference between sub-herds of contrasting pregnancy rates on Day 60. Each of 155 contemporary yearling heifers received 2 in vitro-produced embryos on 6 separate occasions during a 26-month period. Sixty days after transfer, pregnancy and twinning rates were determined ultrasonically, pregnancies terminated and the process repeated. The interval between successive transfers was greater than 100 days. Heifers were ranked on their aggregate pregnancy rate performance after 6 rounds of transfer, and the highest (High) and lowest (Low) 25 were retained. Differences in reproductive performance during the establishment phase of the herd are reported. In addition, several subsequent experiments examined ovarian follicle turnover and progesterone levels during an oestrous cycle, early embryo development after either AI or embryo transfer, and protein, interferon tau and ubiquitin-cross-reactive protein levels in uterine luminal flushings.Pregnancy rates were 7-folder higher in the High sub-herd (76 vs. 11%), with much of this difference apparent by Day 25. The proportion of heifers observed in standing oestrus prior to embryo transfer and the interval from the end of synchronisation treatment to the onset of oestrus were similar in the sub-herds. Oestrous cycle length, ovarian follicular dynamics and progesterone profiles during the oestrous cycle were also similar. More conceptuses had elongated by Day 14 in the High sub-herd (67 vs. 14%, P<0.05), which also tended to have a higher pregnancy rate after artificial insemination (52 vs. 29, P<0.1). Total protein in flushings from the uterus was similar in the sub-herds on Day 14 and Day 17. Conceptuses in the High sub-herd were longer on Day 17 following embryo transfer (6.5 vs. 4.8, P<0.05). Interferon-tau levels were higher in the High sub-herd (25.9 vs. 16.1, P<0.01), although ubiquitin cross-reactive protein levels were also higher in the High sub-herd, but this difference just failed to reach significance. We conclude that: 1. Most of the difference in sub-herd pregnancy rate occurs within 3 weeks of ET; 2. Ovarian factors are unlikely to contribute to the difference; 3. Major differences occur after blastocyst hatching and probably depend upon a differing endometrial environment before Day 14; 4. Differences in the ability of the uterine milieu to stimulate the expression of interferon-tau may be responsible for the differences in pregnancy rate; 5. The two sub-herds are a unique experimental resource for understanding early pregnancy in cattle following either AI or ET.

Immunocytochemical localization and changes in endometrial progestin receptor protein during the porcine oestrous cycle and early pregnancy

1994 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 749 ◽  
Author(s):  
RD Geisert ◽  
TN Pratt ◽  
FW Bazer ◽  
JS Mayes ◽  
GH Watson
Keyword(s):  
Progesterone Receptor ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Cellular Localization ◽  
Oestrous Cycle ◽  
Receptor Protein ◽  
Surface Epithelium ◽  
Immunocytochemical Localization ◽  
Intense Staining ◽  
Pr Protein ◽  
Progestin Receptor

Changes of progesterone receptor (PR) protein and cellular localization in the endometrium were evaluated during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy of the gilt. During the oestrous cycle, the concentration of total PR protein within the endometrium was highest on Days 0-5 and decreased on Day 10. The endometrial concentration of PR reached a nadir on Day 12 and this level was maintained throughout the remainder of the oestrous cycle (Day 18). In pregnant gilts, the concentration of endometrial PR protein from Day 10 to Day 18 was similar to that in cyclic gilts. Western blot analysis with antiserum specific for the A and B isoforms of PR indicated that porcine endometrium expresses both isoforms of PR. Immunostaining was detectable for both the A and B isoforms of PR from Day 0 to Day 12 of the oestrous cycle. However, no staining was observed on Day 15 and Day 18 of the oestrous cycle or pregnancy Immunocytochemical localization of PR in the endometrium of cyclic gilts and pregnant gilts indicated that there was intense staining for PR in surface epithelium and glandular epithelium during oestrus (Day 0) and on Day 5. However, the staining was less intense on Day 7 and Day 10 of the oestrous cycle and no epithelial staining was observed after Day 12. PRs were present in the stroma and myometrium throughout the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy. The presence of conceptuses during pregnancy did not affect the loss of PR from the uterine epithelium after Day 10 of gestation. Down-regulation of epithelial PR might be one factor involved in the timing of luteolysis during the oestrous cycle as well as conceptus growth and placentation during early pregnancy.

Production of interferon by red deer (Cervus elaphus) conceptuses and the effects of roIFN-tau on the timing of luteolysis and the success of asynchronous embryo transfer

Reproduction ◽  
2000 ◽  
pp. 387-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
KJ Demmers ◽  
HN Jabbour ◽  
DW Deakin ◽  
AP Flint
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Transfer ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Pregnancy Loss ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Interferon Tau ◽  
Recombinant Interferon ◽  
Uterine Flushing ◽  
Calving Rate

The role of interferon in early pregnancy in red deer was investigated by (a) measuring production of interferon by the conceptus, (b) testing the anti-luteolytic effect of recombinant interferon-tau in non-pregnant hinds, and (c) treatment of hinds with interferon after asynchronous embryo transfer. Blastocysts were collected from 34 hinds by uterine flushing 14 (n = 2), 16 (n = 2), 18 (n = 8), 20 (n = 13) or 22 (n = 9) days after synchronization of oestrus with progesterone withdrawal. Interferon anti-viral activity was detectable in uterine flushings from day 16 to day 22, and increased with duration of gestation (P < 0.01) and developmental stage (P < 0.01). When interferon-tau was administered daily between day 14 and day 20 to non-pregnant hinds to mimic natural blastocyst production, luteolysis was delayed by a dose of 0.2 mg day(-1) (27.3 +/- 1.3 days after synchronization, n = 4 versus 21 +/- 0 days in control hinds, n = 3; P < 0.05). Interferon-tau was administered to hinds after asynchronous embryo transfer to determine whether it protects the conceptus against early pregnancy loss. Embryos (n = 24) collected on day 6 from naturally mated, superovulated donors (n = 15) were transferred into synchronized recipients on day 10 or day 11. Interferon-tau treatment (0.2 mg daily from day 14 to 20) increased calving rate from 0 to 64% in all recipients (0/11 versus 7/11, P < 0.005), and from 0 to 67% in day 10 recipients (0/8 versus 6/9, P < 0.01). The increased success rate of asynchronous embryo transfer after interferon-tau treatment in cervids may be of benefit where mismatched embryo-maternal signalling leads to failure in the establishment of pregnancy.

scholarly journals Recent Possibilities for the Diagnosis of Early Pregnancy and Embryonic Mortality in Dairy Cows

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1666
Author(s):  
Ottó Szenci
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Fetal Mortality ◽  
Reproductive Efficiency ◽  
Interferon Tau ◽  
Early Pregnancy Factor ◽  
Pelvic Inlet ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Protein Assays

One of the most recent techniques for the on-farm diagnosis of early pregnancy (EP) in cattle is B-mode ultrasonography. Under field conditions, acceptable results may be achieved with ultrasonography from Days 25 to 30 post-AI. The reliability of the test greatly depends on the frequency of the transducer used, the skill of the examiner, the criterion used for a positive pregnancy diagnosis (PD), and the position of the uterus in the pelvic inlet. Non-pregnant animals can be selected accurately by evaluating blood flow in the corpus luteum around Day 20 after AI, meaning we can substantially improve the reproductive efficiency of our herd. Pregnancy protein assays (PSPB, PAG-1, and PSP60 RIA, commercial ELISA or rapid visual ELISA tests) may provide an alternative method to ultrasonography for determining early pregnancy or late embryonic/early fetal mortality (LEM/EFM) in dairy cows. Although the early pregnancy factor is the earliest specific indicator of fertilization, at present, its detection is entirely dependent on the use of the rosette inhibition test; therefore, its use in the field needs further developments. Recently found biomarkers like interferon-tau stimulated genes or microRNAs may help us diagnose early pregnancy in dairy cows; however, these tests need further developments before their general use in the farms becomes possible.

scholarly journals Characterization of the Th Profile of the Bovine Endometrium during the Oestrous Cycle and Early Pregnancy

PLoS ONE ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. e75571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilian J. Oliveira ◽  
Nadéra Mansourri-Attia ◽  
Alan G. Fahey ◽  
John Browne ◽  
Niamh Forde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Oestrous Cycle

scholarly journals Local relaxin biosynthesis in the ovary and uterus through the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy in the female marmoset monkey (Callithrix jacchus)

1997 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1325-1337 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Einspanier ◽  
M. R. Zarreh-Hoshyari-Khah ◽  
M. Balvers ◽  
L. Kerr ◽  
K. Fuhrmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Callithrix Jacchus ◽  
Oestrous Cycle ◽  
Marmoset Monkey

scholarly journals Expression of inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chains in endometrium of cyclic and pregnant gilts

Reproduction ◽  
2003 ◽  
pp. 621-627 ◽  
Author(s):  
RD Geisert ◽  
MD Ashworth ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Extracellular Matrix ◽  
Western Blot ◽  
Protease Inhibitor ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Trypsin Inhibitor ◽  
Serine Protease Inhibitor ◽  
Oestrous Cycle ◽  
Heavy Chains ◽  
Formation Of Complexes

Attachment of the placenta to the uterus in pigs involves extracellular interaction between the expanding trophoblastic membrane and the thick glycocalyx present on the uterine epithelial microvilli. Formation of complexes between members of inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor family may function in the maintenance of the extracellular matrix. This study investigated the change in the inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chains (ITIH1, ITIH2, ITIH3 and ITIH4) during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy in pigs. Gene expression of ITIH1, ITIH2, ITIH3 and ITIH4 was detected in the endometrium of cyclic and pregnant gilts; however, gene expression of ITIH was not altered throughout the oestrous cycle or early pregnancy. Western blot analysis with an ITIH antiserum identified the possible linkage forms of ITIH with the serine protease inhibitor, bikunin. Pregnancy altered the release of the various inter-alpha-inhibitor forms from the endometrium during the period of trophoblastic attachment. The results from this study indicate that the inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor family plays an important role in maintenance of the uterine surface glycocalyx during placental attachment in pigs.

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