The influence of progesterone and prostaglandin F2α on decorin and the adhesion of caruncular epithelial cells of bovine placenta at early-mid pregnancy—Part II

One of the most important processes determining the proper course of gestation and its physiological termination in cows is the adhesion of epithelial cells allowing for direct contact of maternal and foetal parts of the placenta. Throughout pregnancy, placental cells are under strict hormonal control, which among others regulates the concentration and activity of specific proteins participating in the extracellular matrix remodelling of foetal membranes. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of progesterone and prostaglandin F_2α on the adhesion of epithelial cells at early-mid pregnancy in cows. Additionally, the impact of selected hormones on anti-adhesive properties of decorin was evaluated. Caruncular epithelial cells were isolated from healthy cows during pregnancy, immediately after slaughter. Primary cell cultures derived from the 2nd and 4th month of gestation were used in the experiments. The viability of cells was assessed by MTT assay. The adhesion of cells to fibronectin was measured spectrophotometrically. The activity of metalloproteinases was confirmed by the metalloproteinase assay. Progesterone (10^–5 and 10^–7 mol/L) and prostaglandin F_2α (10^–4_, 10^–5 and 10^–7 mol/L) increased the viability of bovine caruncular epithelial cells in the 2nd month of pregnancy. The treatment with prostaglandin F_2α significantly reduced the number of adherent cells from the 2nd month of gestation at the doses of 10^–4 and 10^–5 mol/L. Both progesterone and prostaglandin F_2α were shown to have an effect of decorin resulting in both a decrease in metalloproteinase activity and an increase in adhesion of cells to fibronectin.     

奶牛发情周期中毛 唾液和乳汁孕酮水平的变化

本实验采用放射免疫分析法(RIA)测定了11头奶牛一个发情周期里毛、唾液、乳汁中孕酮(P_4)含量。经产牛(n=8)的毛和唾液中P_4水平变化与乳汁中P_4水平变化一致。青年牛(n=3)的毛和睡液中的P_4水平变化一致,并分别与经产牛毛和唾液中P_4水平变化一致。7头配种后的经产牛和5头配种后的青年牛分别取20和23天的样品进行妊娠诊断,与配种后60天的直检结果相对照,依据经产牛毛、乳P_4水平进行妊娠诊断的阳性准确率分别是85.7％(6/7)和100％(7/7),依据青年牛毛P_4水平进行妊娠诊断的阳性准确率为100％(5/5)。     

Serum levels of reproductive steroid hormones in captive sand tiger sharks, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carcharias</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">taurus</Emphasis> (Rafinesque), and comments on their relation to sexual conflicts

Levels of reproductively-related steroids were determined in captive male sand tiger sharks, Carcharias taurus, maintained at two institutions: SeaWorld Adventure Park Orlando and the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Sexual conflicts were absent at the former, but were documented at the latter. Serum titers of 17β-estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, and 5α-dihydrotestosterone were determined via radioimmunoassay in adult male sharks from 1988 to 2000. Sampling overlap between the two institutions occurred for 3 months of the year, but steroid concentrations were compared only for April due to the occurrence of sexual conflicts in the sharks at the National Aquarium in Baltimore in that month. For April, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone were significantly higher in the SeaWorld males, and progesterone was significantly higher in the National Aquarium in Baltimore males, while estradiol was not significantly different. Steroid levels were also determined from serial samples taken monthly over 17 months from three male sharks and one female shark at the National Aquarium in Baltimore in 2001–2002 and were compared with corresponding observed sexual conflicts. The steroid levels obtained showed distinct annual hormonal cycles in the male sharks and corroborated a biennial cycle for the single serially-sampled female shark. Furthermore, the steroid levels for individual males correlated with sexual conflicts as well as their position within the male dominance hierarchy. As this species is depleted in some regions globally, insight into the steroid profile of mature sand tiger sharks is important for a greater understanding of the relationship between their reproductive physiology and behavior, and may aid in captive management and reproduction. L. E. L. Rasmussen—Deceased.     

Accessory corpora lutea formation in pregnant Hokkaido sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis) investigated by examination of ovarian dynamics and steroid hormone concentrations

Generally, sika deer conceive a single fetus, but approximately 80% of pregnant females have two corpora lutea (CLs). The function of the accessory CL (ACL) is unknown; moreover, the process of ACL formation is unclear, and understanding this is necessary to know its role. To elucidate the process of ACL formation, the ovarian dynamics of six adult Hokkaido sika deer females were examined ultrasonographically together with peripheral estradiol-17β and progesterone concentrations. ACLs formed in three females that conceived at the first estrus of the breeding season, but not in those females that conceived at the second estrus. After copulation, postconception ovulation of the dominant follicle of the first wave is induced by an increase in estradiol-17β, which leads to formation of an ACL. A relatively low concentration of progesterone after the first estrus of the breeding season is considered to be responsible for the increase in estradiol-17β after copulation.     

Relationship of Progesterone,Bovine Pregnancy-Associated Glycoprotein-1 and Nitric Oxide with Late Embryonic and Early Fetal Mortalities in Dairy Cows

The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship of progesterone (P4), bovine pregnancy-associated glycoprotein-1 (bPAG-1) and nitric oxide (NO) levels with late embryonic (LEM; day 28 to day 42) and early fetal mortalities (EFM; > day 42 to day 56) in dairy cows. Transrectal ultrasonography (6–8 MHz) was performed in 100 Holstein-Friesian cows at days 28, 42 and 56 after artificial insemination (AI; day 0) to diagnose pregnancy and to monitor the fate of the embryo. After ultrasound scanning of each cow, a milk sample was collected for assessment of P4 by an ELISA test and a blood sample was collected for assessment of bPAG-1, by using a double-antibody radioimmunoassay, and serum NO metabolites (nitrate + nitrite). Based on ultrasonographic examinations and bPAG-1-RIA, 41 of 100 inseminated cows were confirmed pregnant at day 28 after AI. Nine cows suffered of LEM, and 6 cows suffered of EFM and the overall pregnancy loss rate was 36.6% (15/41) between days 28 and 56 of pregnancy. By logistic regression analysis, there were no significant relationships between the level of P4 and bPAG-1 at day 28 after AI and the occurrence of LEM and EFM. Also, there were no significant relationships between the levels of P4 and bPAG-1 at day 42 and the occurrence of EFM. On the other hand, a significant relationship (P<0.05) was found between NO level at day 28 and the occurrence of LEM. In conclusion, measurement of the serum NO concentration at day 28 of pregnancy might help to predict the outcome of pregnancy by day 42 in dairy cows but further studies are needed to confirm this.     

不同时期小鼠血浆中孕激素的变化

[目的]了解不同妊娠期、泌乳期小鼠血浆中孕激素水平的变化。[方法]通过放射免疫法测定血浆中孕激素的水平。[结果]妊娠期内孕激素的水平先升后降,而在泌乳期内孕激素水平较稳定。[结论]不同时期体内孕激素的水平受多种因素的影响。     

不孕母牛血清抗精子抗体反应与孕酮含量之间的关系

微量滴定板酶免疫法和固相酶染色法分别检测试验组不孕母牛(n=119)和对照组母牛(n=26)包括处女牛、正常空怀母牛和妊娠母牛)的血清孕酮水平和抗精子抗体反应,以研究不孕母牛血清抗精子抗体反应与卵巢功能之间的关系。结果表明:各种原因不孕母牛的血清孕酮含量显著高于处女牛(P>0.05),但与正常空怀母牛和妊娠母牛比较无显著差异(P>0.05)。不孕母牛血清抗精子抗体阳性检出率显著高于对照组(P<0.01),但其抗精子抗体阳性反应血清(n=43)孕酮含量显著低于抗精子抗体阴性反应血清(n=76,P<0.05),而且孕酮含量与抗精子抗体阳性率呈负相关趋势。     

特定电磁波对激发产后奶牛发情、配种效果及有关性腺激素变化的观察

 特定电磁波（TDP）辐射器，通过电热激发，可产生2-25μm红外光谱，其峰值为9μm，具有对生物体有益的特异生物效应，目前在中国已广泛地应用。奶牛产后乏情达3个月以上且无卵泡发育者，用特定电磁波（TDP）居髎穴区照射，照射组（30头）在照射的21天内16头发情，对照组（30头）在此期间仅1头发情，两者比较，差异极显著；经3个情期配种，照射组16头发情牛中15头妊娠（第一情期配种8头妊娠），对照组1头发情牛经3个情期配种没有妊娠，两者比较，差异极显著。用放射免疫方法测定经照射发情16头奶样中雌二醇（E#-2）和孕酮（P#-4）含量变化曲线与正常发情牛周期中两种性腺激素含量变化规律一致，对照组牛奶样中雌二醇（E#-2）和孕酮（P#-4）没有规律性变化。     

氟孕酮在提高奶牛受胎率上的应用

[目的]为了解决奶牛的繁殖障碍,特别是高产奶牛产后不发情或屡配不孕的问题。[方法]介绍以牛欢氟孕酮阴道海绵栓为核心组合的“二次发情配种法”,综述氟孕酮在提高奶牛受孕率上的研究与应用进展。[结果]结果表明:奶牛第一情期受胎率达到65%左右,其余牛经1个情期后自然发情配种,2次总发情率95%,受胎率90%,效果明显。[结论]该技术值得推广,解决了奶牛的繁殖障碍问题,促进了奶牛业的发展。