scholarly journals Postpartum uterine involution in sheep: histoarchitecture and changes in endometrial gene expression

Reproduction ◽  
2003 ◽  
pp. 185-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
CA Gray ◽  
MD Stewart ◽  
GA Johnson ◽  
TE Spencer

After parturition, the uterus undergoes marked remodelling during involution; however, little is known of the hormonal, cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate this process. The working hypothesis used in this study is that return of the ovine uterus to a non-pregnant state involves termination of a hormonal servomechanism that regulates endometrial gland morphogenesis and function during pregnancy. Suffolk ewes were ovariohysterectomized on postpartum days 1, 7, 14 or 28. Serum concentrations of oestradiol were high at parturition, declined to postpartum day 4, peaked on postpartum day 6, and then declined and remained low thereafter. Progesterone was undetectable in plasma from ewes post partum. Uterine wet mass and horn length decreased after postpartum day 1, but ovarian mass did not change. Residual placental cotyledons were present in the maternal caruncles on postpartum days 1 and 7 and were extruded by postpartum day 14 as plaques that were resorbed by postpartum day 28. The width of the total endometrium, stratum compactum, stratum spongiosum and myometrium, as well as endometrial gland density, decreased after parturition. Most apoptotic cells in the involuting uterus were large, vacuolated and located between the endometrial glandular epithelial cells on postpartum days 1 and 7. Immunofluorescence analyses identified both T and B cells within the glandular epithelium on postpartum day 1. Cell proliferation was detected in the luminal epithelium and glandular epithelium on postpartum days 1 and 7. On postpartum day 1, expression of oestrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) was not detected in luminal epithelium and was low in glandular epithelium, but ERalpha was present in epithelia thereafter. Progesterone receptor (PR) protein was not detected in endometrial epithelia on postpartum day 1, but was detected in the glandular epithelium thereafter. Between postpartum days 1 and 7, ERalpha and PR protein increased substantially in the endometrial glandular epithelium. On postpartum days 1-28, abundant expression of oxytocin receptor mRNA was detected in endometrial luminal epithelium and superficial to the middle glandular epithelium. Prolactin receptor (PRLR) mRNA was detected in glandular epithelium on all postpartum days, whereas mRNA for uterine milk protein (UTMP), an index of secretory capacity of glandular epithelium, was present only on postpartum day 1. Collectively, these results indicate that uterine involution in ewes involves remodelling of both caruncular and intercaruncular areas of the uterine wall and termination of differentiated uterine gland functions characteristic of pregnancy.

1991 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 823-828 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Inoue ◽  
C R Creveling

We performed light microscopic immunocytochemical observations of the localization of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) in rat uterus, using a rabbit anti-rat serum specific for the soluble form of rat liver COMT, biotinylated goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin, and peroxidase conjugated with streptavidin. In the non-pregnant rat, COMT was minimal but detectable in the uterine luminal and glandular epithelium, with greater amounts present in uteri from rats in estrus than those in diestrus. In early pregnancy a robust accumulation of COMT was observed in the luminal epithelium. To more precisely define both the timing and the factors contributing to the appearance of COMT, uteri were examined on Days 1-5 in pregnant and pseudopregnant rats. Accumulation of COMT in the luminal epithelium was observed by Day 3 in uteri from pregnant and pseudopregnant rats and by Day 4 in lactating post-partum rats. No immunostaining of COMT was observed in uteri from non-lactating post-partum rats. Ovariectomy on Day 0 or 1 but not on Day 2 of pregnancy prevented the appearance of COMT on Day 4. Progesterone treatment immediately after ovariectomy on Day 0 or 1 of pregnancy restored the COMT.


2021 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 245
Author(s):  
Juli Melia ◽  
Ayu Wannisa ◽  
Tongku Nizwan Siregar ◽  
Hafizuddin Hafizuddin ◽  
Budianto Panjaitan ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to observe the uterine involution of Etawa crossbreed (PE) goat using transcutaneous ultrasonography (USG). This study used four postpartum female goats that released placenta normally. The goats were examined on lateral recumbence position. Uterine involution was observed daily. The study began from the first day of postpartum period until there were no more reduction of uterine horns lumen diameter. From the 1st to 7th day of postpartum period, ultrasound imaging of the uterine wall showed caruncle which was hypoechoic, lumen of uterine filled with lochia (the image was hypoechoic to anechoic) and a clearly visible uterine horns lumen which had decreased in diameter from 105.9 ± 0.9 mm to 87.2 ± 4.6 mm. From the 8th day to the 14th day, lumen diameter had decreased from 80.4 ± 3.8 mm to 63.6 ± 3.2 mm. The presence of caruncle was reduced and the amount of lochia was decreased (anechoic). From the 15th day to the 21st day, lumen diameter had decreased from 61.4 ± 2.1 mm to 52.1 ± 2.7 mm, and the remnants of caruncle and lochia were still visible. From the 22nd day to the 26th day, the diameter of the uterine wall had decreased from 49.7 ± 0.6 mm to 41.5 ± 6.7 mm, and the lochia and caruncle were no longer visible. From the 26th to the 30th day, uterine horns lumen diameter had still decreased from 41.5 ± 6.7 mm to 31.7 ± 0.9 mm. Uterine horns lumen diameter size had decreased every day, stabilized on the 30th day, and ceased to decrease on the 31st day, where the diameter size was the same as on the 30th day postpartum (31.7 ± 0.9 mm). It can be concluded that the duration of uterine involution in PE goats, which had normal delivery is 30-31 days.


1991 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.P.C. Greyling ◽  
C.H. van Niekerk

1969 ◽  
Vol 164 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Anton ◽  
D. Brandes ◽  
S. Barnard

1998 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 5852-5860 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frédérique Verdier ◽  
Raquel Rabionet ◽  
Fabrice Gouilleux ◽  
Christian Beisenherz-Huss ◽  
Paule Varlet ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Two distinct genes encode the closely related signal transducer and activator of transcription proteins STAT5A and STAT5B. The molecular mechanisms of gene regulation by STAT5 and, particularly, the requirement for both STAT5 isoforms are still undetermined. Only a few STAT5 target genes, among them the CIS (cytokine-inducible SH2-containing protein) gene, have been identified. We cloned the human CIS gene and studied the human CIS gene promoter. This promoter contains four STAT binding elements organized in two pairs. By electrophoretic mobility shift assay studies using nuclear extracts of UT7 cells stimulated with erythropoietin, we showed that these four sequences bound to STAT5-containing complexes that exhibited different patterns and affinities: the three upstream STAT binding sequences bound to two distinct STAT5-containing complexes (C0 and C1) and the downstream STAT box bound only to the slower-migrating C1 band. Using nuclear extracts from COS-7 cells transfected with expression vectors for the prolactin receptor, STAT5A, and/or STAT5B, we showed that the C1 complex was composed of a STAT5 tetramer and was dependent on the presence of STAT5A. STAT5B lacked this property and bound with a stronger affinity than did STAT5A to the four STAT sequences as a homodimer (C0 complex). This distinct biochemical difference between STAT5A and STAT5B was confirmed with purified activated STAT5 recombinant proteins. Moreover, we showed that the presence on the same side of the DNA helix of a second STAT sequence increased STAT5 binding and that only half of the palindromic STAT binding sequence was sufficient for the formation of a STAT5 tetramer. Again, STAT5A was essential for this cooperative tetrameric association. This property distinguishes STAT5A from STAT5B and could be essential to explain the transcriptional regulation diversity of STAT5.


Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katerina S. Ioannidi ◽  
Natalia G. C. Vasileiou ◽  
Marianna S. Barbagianni ◽  
Denise C. Orfanou ◽  
George Mantziaras ◽  
...  

The objectives of the study were (a) to study the characteristics of uterine involution in ewes that had developed subclinical uterine infection in the immediately post-partum period and (b) to evaluate effects of the infection in the subsequent reproductive performance of ewes. Uterine infection was induced in ewes (I, n = 10) by intrauterine inoculation of Escherichia coli; uninoculated controls were included (C, n = 12). Animals were examined at regular intervals before and post-inoculation. Clinical and ultrasonographic examinations were performed. Vaginal swab samples and biopsy uterine tissue samples were collected for bacteriological, cytological and histological examination. Finally, ewes were put to rams and reproductive performance was monitored. After challenge, it was ultrasonographically found that caruncular dimensions, myometrial thickness and diameter of uterine lumen were greater in I ewes. In these ewes, particular reduction of dimensions occurred during the second week post-partum, whilst in C ewes during the first week. The uterine artery diameter and the blood flow into the uterus were also greater in I than in C ewes. E. coli infection was more frequent and of longer duration in I than in C ewes: in 68.1% and 50.0% of ewes and 19.5 and 14 days, respectively. There was lower proportion of neutrophils and higher of lymphocytes in group I than in C. In inoculated ewes, there was histological evidence of uterine epithelial destruction, increased cellular infiltration, hyperaemia and extracasation, which persisted up to 42 days post-partum. During the subsequent reproductive season, all ewes in group I lambed normally and produced healthy and viable lambs. No significant difference in reproductive performance parameters were seen in I comparison to C ewes. It is concluded that the innate immunity of the uterus sufficed to counteract the bacterial infection, although the process of involution took longer than in healthy animals; moreover, the ultrasonographic examination is a useful means for assessment of the genital tract of ewes post-partum; finally, no adverse effects were noted in the subsequent reproductive performance of ewes.


1975 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 357-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOUKO HALME ◽  
J. F. WOESSNER

SUMMARY Progestational agents were studied for their effects on collagenolytic activity and loss of collagen and wet weight from the involuting post-partum rat uterus. Administration of very large doses of progesterone (80–150 mg/day) significantly retarded uterine involution and loss of collagen. This was accompanied by a significant reduction in uterine collagenolytic activity. By 72 h post partum, uteri of rats treated with 150 mg progesterone/day had wet weights 30% above, collagen 85% above, and collagenolytic activity 45% below, those of the control uteri. Similar effects were produced by 17α-acetoxy-6α-methylprogesterone at the same dosage levels. However, the progestational agent 6α-chloro-17α-acetoxypregna-4,6-diene-3,20dione acetate had no effect in this system.


1985 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. Usmani ◽  
N. Ullah ◽  
S. K. Shah

ABSTRACTNineteen pluriparous buffaloes of Nili-Ravi breed which calved during the months of October and November 1983 were studied for the effects of sucking stimulus on the uterine involution, post-partum ovarian functions and fertility. On the day of calving, buffaloes were assigned to either a limited-suckling (LS) or non-suckling (NS) group. Changes in reproductive organs were monitored by rectal palpations at weekly intervals. Buffaloes were observed for oestrus twice daily (04.00 and 18.00 h) with the help of a teaser bull, and were artificially inseminated at the first post-partum and each subsequent oestrus. LS buffaloes had a shorter period to uterine involution (20 days) than NS buffaloes (28 days). Intervals to regression of the corpora lutea of pregnancy and to resumption of post-partum follicular development did not differ in the two groups. LS buffaloes had longer intervals to first post-partum oestrus and conception (54 and 88 days respectively) than NS buffaloes (39 and 68 days respectively). However, the difference in services per conception of LS and NS buffaloes was non-significant (2-05 v. 1·62). These limited data reveal that the suckling stimulus has a negative effect on the post-partum resumption of oestrous activity, and that conception is delayed. Further studies are indicated to verify these observations in a larger sample size and during all seasons of the year.


1980 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 387-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. WOESSNER ◽  
JANET N. RYAN

Treatment of parturient rats with 100 μg oestradiol/day caused a significant retardation of uterine involution and collagen breakdown. The post-partum uterus had a peroxidase activity of 180 μmol H2O2 reduced/min per uterus. Treatment with oestradiol caused an eight- to tenfold increase in this activity within 3–4 days. Treatment of rats with 4 mg cortisol/day commencing 3 days prepartum had no effect on uterine peroxidase activity but it blocked the oestradiol-induced increase in peroxidase. Cortisol had no effect on collagen breakdown and did not reverse the inhibition of collagen breakdown produced by oestradiol. It is postulated that the effects of oestradiol on peroxidase activity are mediated by uterine epithelial cells but that oestradiol effects on collagen breakdown may be mediated by another cell type.


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