Effects of exogenous somatotropin during early gestation on maternal performance, fetal growth, and compositional traits in pigs

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of maternal treatment with porcine somatotropin (pST) during early gestation on embryonic survival, fetal development, and internal environment for fetal growth. Sixty-two crossbred gilts received daily injections of either 3 mL of a placebo (control, n = 31) or 6 mg of pST (n = 31) from d 10 to 27 of gestation. Representative gilts were slaughtered on d 28, 37, and 62 of gestation. The remaining gilts were allowed to farrow. It was found that embryonic survival was not influenced by pST treatment (P > 0.10). However, pST affected the growth and composition of the maternal (endometrium) and fetal (chorion) parts of the placenta. Thus, endometrial RNA concentration tended to be increased by pST at d 37 (P = 0.15), and it was increased at d 62 (P < 0.05) of gestation, which is indicative of increased capacity for protein synthesis. At birth, placental chorion weight (P < 0.10) and contents of DM and protein (P < 0.05) were increased due to pST treatment, but no effects were detectable up to d 62 of gestation. Maternal pST treatment was effective at increasing nutrient supply to the embryo as suggested from elevated glucose concentrations in amniotic and allantoic fluids (P < 0.05) at d 28 of gestation. With regard to prenatal growth, embryonic DNA concentration was slightly elevated at d 28 (P < 0.10), but pST did not induce any changes in average embryonic, fetal, or neonatal weights. However, within litters, the birth weights of piglets in the 25% lowest weight group (LW) were increased by pST treatment vs control LW pigs (1,241+/-55 vs 1,099+/-59 g, P < 0.10). Thirty-eight neonates from 15 litters divided among the three weight groups were examined for body composition. The weight of the intestinal tract was increased above average after maternal pST treatment (P < 0.01). Additionally, the amounts of tissues such as bone (P = 0.12) and s.c. fat (P = 0.06), and of protein, fat (P = 0.10), and ash (P < 0.05) were increased, whereas the relative body composition remained unchanged by pST (P > 0.10). On average, muscle protein concentration was elevated due to pST (P < 0.01), and, in LW piglets, plasma IGF-I concentration was increased (P < 0.10). The results suggest that maternal somatotropin is a critical factor in early pregnancy capable of influencing placental nutrient transfer and placental growth. It thereby selectively improves the growth conditions for the smaller littermates.     

Uterine blood flow during early pregnancy in ewes: interaction between the conceptus and the ovary bearing the corpus luteum

To determine if a transient increase in uterine blood flow (BF) and estradiol-17 beta (E2 beta) secretion occurs during maternal recognition of pregnancy in ewes (as previously observed for sows and cows), 40 nonpregnant (NP) ewes were assigned in equal numbers to surgery on d 9, 11, 13 or 15 postestrus (d 0 = day of estrus). For 20 NP ewes (five/day), each uterine horn (UH) was flushed with saline and uterine flushings (UF) collected. For the remaining 20 ewes, BF was determined for each UH using electromagnetic transducers, and samples of uterine arterial (UA) and uterine venous (UV) blood were obtained from each UH. After an intervening cycle, each ewe was mated, subjected to surgery on the same day postmating as during her previous nonmated cycle, and BF measurements and UA and UV samples were obtained. In addition, each UH of pregnant (P) ewes was flushed and the location of conceptuses was determined. Concentrations of E2 beta and progesterone (P4) in UA and E2 beta in UV and UF were determined by radioimmunoassay. For NP ewes, BF (ml/min) was not different for UH ipsilateral or contralateral to the ovary bearing the corpus luteum (CL), and did not differ across days, averaging 6.5 +/- .4. For P ewes, BF to UH contralateral to the ovary bearing the CL on all days and BF to UH ipsilateral to ovaries bearing CL on d 9 was similar to BF of either UH of NP ewes, averaging 6.8 +/- .6. On d 11, 13 and 15 of pregnancy, BF to UH ipsilateral to the ovary bearing CL was elevated (P less than .01) twofold (13.3 +/- .9).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of administering exogenous bovine somatotropin to beef heifers during the first trimester on conceptus development as well as steroid- and eicosanoid-metabolizing enzymes

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of bovine somatotropin (bST) on fetal and placental development during the first third of gestation in beef heifers. Angus heifers (n = 97) were randomly assigned to either receive a 500-mg injection of bST (BST) biweekly on days 0, 15, 29, 43, and 57 of gestation or not receive bST (CTL) throughout the experiment. Body weight (BW) was assessed on days −9, −3, 0, 15, 22, 29, 43, 50, 57, 64, and 77, while blood samples were collected on days 0, 22, 50, and 64. Pregnancy status was determined via transrectal ultrasonography on days 29 and 64. A subset of pregnant heifers (BST, n = 7; CTL, n = 5) were harvested on day 84, and complete gravid reproductive tracts and liver tissue were collected for analysis. Cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A), 2C (CYP2C), 3A (CYP3A), and uridine 5′-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) activities were determined. Mean change in BW and average daily gain of heifers between fixed-time artificial insemination (day 0) and day 77 did not differ between treatments (P ≥ 0.05). Mean concentrations of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) were greater (P < 0.001) in BST (347 ± 27.7 ng/mL) compared with CTL (135 ± 32.8 ng/mL) heifers. Mean placental weight, fetal membrane weight, uterine weight, and ovarian and corpus luteum (CL) weights, as well as fetal morphometric data, did not differ (P ≥ 0.05) between treatments. However, BST heifers had greater (P = 0.03) quantities of combined fetal fluid compared with CTL (521.6 ± 22.9 vs. 429.6 ± 27.14 g, respectively). Tendencies were observed for BST heifers to have reproductive tracts with fewer placentomes (P = 0.08) and fetuses with greater umbilical diameters (P = 0.09) compared with CTL. The activity of CYP1A did not differ (P ≥ 0.05) within the maternal and fetal liver, caruncle, cotyledon, or CL tissue samples between treatments. Furthermore, CYP3A activity was only observed in maternal liver samples and was not different between treatments (P ≥ 0.05). Interestingly, CYP2C activity was greater (P = 0.01) in the liver of BST vs. CTL heifers, and UGT activity was greater (P = 0.02) in the CL from BST heifers compared with CTL. In conclusion, the administration of bST during the first third of gestation increased plasma concentrations of IGF-1, which resulted in an increase in fetal fluid, decrease in placentome number, and greater umbilical diameter, but failed to alter fetal development.     

Effects of intramuscular administration of recombinant bovine interferon-alpha I1 during the period of maternal recognition of pregnancy

One hundred ewes were utilized to determine the effects of interferon supplementation on the number of ewes pregnant and embryonic survival. Ewes were checked twice daily (0700 and 1600) for estrus using fertile rams. On d 12 through 16, ewes received twice-daily i.m. injections of either recombinant bovine interferon alpha I1 (2 mg IFN) or vehicle. Ewes remained penned with rams and were observed for subsequent estrous activity for at least 35 d after mating. To determine the number of fetuses and corpora lutea, all ewes were subjected to one surgery during mid-pregnancy (d 45 to 80). More (P less than .05) ewes were pregnant after treatment with IFN vs vehicle (45 of 49, 92% vs 37 of 49, 76%, respectively). The interestrous interval for ewes that were treated with IFN and did not conceive was longer (P less than .05) than for ewes given vehicle (26 +/- 1 vs 17 +/- 2 d, respectively). Embryonic survival (98.2 vs 87.9%; P less than .05), calculated as the number of fetuses present at the time of laparotomy and expressed as a percentage of the ovulation rate, and percentage of ewes with 100% fetal survival (96 vs 76%; P less than .05) were greater after treatment with IFN. It was concluded that supplementation of IFN increased both the number of ewes pregnant and embryonic survival.     

Aspects of the antiluteolytic activity of the conceptus during early pregnancy in ewes

Experiments were undertaken to determine whether the conceptus renders a corpus luteum resistant to the luteolytic action of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), and modulates release of this prostaglandin by the uterus of early pregnant ewes. Prostaglandin F2 alpha was luteolytic when administered to indomethacin-treated ewes on d 10 and 11 of the estrous cycle. The same PGF2 alpha treatment was not luteolytic when applied on d 19 and 20 of pregnancy in ewes treated with indomethacin. Pulsatile release of PGF2 alpha (measured by 15-keto-13,14-dihydro PGF2 alpha-PGF2 alpha plasma level, PGFM) was observed between d 14 and 16 of the cycle but not during the same period of pregnancy. Ablation of the conceptus on d 17 resulted in progressive restoration of PGFM surges and subsequent luteolysis. Estradiol-17 beta (E2-17 beta) administration on d 12 of the cycle induced earlier PGFM surges and luteal regression. The same E2-17 beta treatment administered on d 14, 19 and 33 of pregnancy failed to induced PGFM pulses and luteolysis. In the absence of the conceptus (surgical ablation), E2-17 beta treatment was luteolytic (PGFM surges) on d 17 but not on d 33. We conclude that the conceptus controls the amount and pattern of PGF2 alpha released by the uterus, as well as the sensitivity of the uterus to E2-17 beta as early as d 14 of pregnancy. Simultaneously, an embryonic protective effect takes place at the luteal level.     

Corpus luteum vascularization during the maternal recognition of pregnancy in llamas (Lama glama)

The aim of this study was to characterize corpus luteum vascularization and its association with plasma progesterone concentration in early stages of pregnancy, when maternal recognition of pregnancy is expected to occur. In all animals, both plasma progesterone concentration and corpus luteum vascularization increased from Day 6 to Day 8 post-mating and afterwards in non-pregnant llamas they started to decrease to reach basal levels around Days 12 to 14 post-mating, while in pregnant animals, both variables remained elevated until the end of the study. A lineal positive relationship between corpus luteum vascularization and plasma progesterone concentration was observed in pregnant (r² = .46, p < .0001) and non-pregnant llamas (r² = .66, p < .0001). Pregnant animals showed higher plasma progesterone concentration and corpus luteum vascularization than the non-pregnant ones from Day 12 post-mating until the end of the study (p ˂ .05 and p ˂ .01, respectively). These results suggest that maternal recognition of pregnancy should occur before Day 12 post-mating in order to expand luteal lifespan, maintaining corpus luteum vascularization and progesterone production. Also, the assessment of CL vascularization area could be a useful and non-invasive method for early pregnancy diagnosis due to its association with plasma progesterone concentration.     

Luteal maintenance in cattle after conceptus death during the first trimester of gestation.

The objectives of this experiment were to evaluate effect of age of the conceptus at death on subsequent interval to estrus and to determine whether prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF) treatment after induced conceptus death would reduce interval to estrus. Sixty-four beef cows were diagnosed pregnant by ultrasonography between 24 and 50 d of gestation. Nine pregnancy groups were identified; each encompassed a 3-d interval from d 24 through 50 of gestation. Cows were allocated at random within pregnancy group to be treated with colchicine to induce conceptus death. Forty-eight hours after colchicine treatment, conceptus death was verified by ultrasonography and each animal received either saline or PGF. There was no evidence of an effect of age of conceptus at death on the subsequent interval to estrus after either saline or PGF. Interval to estrus after saline was 13.5 +/- .8 d, which was greater (P less than .01) than the 6.2 +/- .8 d after PGF. After saline, the estimate for the linear effect of time on serum progesterone (P4) was -1.32 +/- .36 ng/d and was less (P less than .05) than -2.83 +/- .36 ng/d for cows given PGF. Cows were exposed to fertile bulls at the first postabortion estrus. Pregnancy rates were 37.5% for cows given saline vs 31.3% for those given PGF. These results indicate that interval to estrus after conceptus death between 24 and 50 d of gestation is not affected by the age of the conceptus and can be reduced by PGF treatment.     

Effects of maternal undernutrition during early pregnancy on growth, muscle cellularity, fiber type and carcass composition in lambs

Seventy-two Rambouillet ewes were fed one of two different levels of energy and protein during gestation to determine the effects of maternal undernutrition on growth and development in their offspring. Levels of energy and protein for the two groups of ewes were: 70% of National Research Council (NRC) requirements 30 d prior to breeding and the first 100 d of gestation and then alfalfa hay fed at 70% of the average consumed by group 2, and 100% of NRC requirements 30 d prior to breeding and throughout gestation. Dissection data from the leg and muscle characteristics were recorded for each lamb. Neither dissected muscle and fat percentages nor proximate analyses of dissected muscles was influenced by ewe undernutrition during early pregnancy. However, the reduced conception rate, increased embryonic/fetal mortality, decreased birth weights and increased lamb mortality resulted in a severe reduction in kilograms of lamb per ewe bred. Feeding ewes 70% of NRC requirements during gestation resulted in lambs with heavier semitendinosus muscle weights, larger muscle fiber diameters and shorter sarcomere lengths than in lambs from adequately fed ewes. No influence of ewe diet, birth type or sex was observed for proportions of muscle fiber type (beta R, alpha R or alpha W). Therefore, low level feeding of ewes during early gestation had no detrimental effects on the carcass or muscle fiber characteristics of their lambs at slaughter.     

淫羊藿苷对性成熟雌性大鼠卵巢、子宫发育的影响

为了研究淫羊藿苷（Icariin,ICA）的促动物生殖作用,给性成熟的雌性大鼠不同剂量的ICA,观察其对大鼠卵巢和子宫重量的影响,并通过组织切片观察其对卵泡发育和子宫发育的影响。结果表明,ICA能提高大鼠卵巢和子宫重量。ICA低剂量组、高剂量组大鼠卵巢指数均显著高于对照组（P〈0.05）;ICA药物组子宫指数和阴性对照组虽然没有显著差异（P〉0.05）,但是有升高的趋势。组织切片显示,ICA能明显促进大鼠卵泡发育。药物组有腔卵泡数量明显多于对照组;ICA对子宫有一定的影响,但效果不显著。提示ICA可以促进大鼠卵巢和子宫的发育。     

Embryonic migration relative to maternal recognition of pregnancy in sheep

Twenty-five crossbred ewes were utilized to examine the timing of embryonic migration relative to maternal recognition of pregnancy. These ewes also were utilized to examine whether ovine embryos synthesized estradiol-17 beta in association with embryonic elongation and intrauterine migration. Embryos were flushed on d 11 through 15 from hemiovariectomized ewes. Recovery of embryos from the uterine horn contralateral to the remaining ovary indicated that migration had occurred. Ewes subsequently were returned with rams to determine their interestrous interval. Recovered embryos were classified morphologically, their length determined and individually incubated. Changes in estradiol within the medium were determined after a 6-h incubation. Embryo migration began on d 14 (P less than .05); on consecutive days from 11 through 15, 0, 0, 0, 60 and 100% of ewes examined, respectively, had an embryo in the contralateral horn. Extended estrous cycles (greater than 20 d) were observed in 0, 0, 40, 80 and 100% of ewes examined (P less than .05) following removal of embryos on d 11 through 15 of the cycle. Ovine embryos were longer (P less than .05) on d 14 (4.8 +/- 1.1 cm length, mean +/- SE) compared with d 13 (.2 +/- .1 cm) and increased further (P less than .05) on d 15 (7.8 +/- 1.1 cm). Incidence of intrauterine migration was correlated with embryonic length (r = .83; P less than .01) and estradiol synthesis (r = .77; P less than .01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Endogenous opioid peptides in cattle during pregnancy, birth and the newborn period

The concentrations of beta-endorphin and met-enkephalin in plasma were investigated in cows in different stages of gestation, during parturition and in the early postpartum period as well as in their newborn calves. Plasma beta-endorphin concentrations were low in the early stages of pregnancy. In the last month of gestation beta-endorphin levels almost as high as during parturition were found. Therefore in cattle the antepartum increase in plasma beta-endorphin concentration is not linked to the onset of labour. Met-enkephalin levels in plasma of calving cows were higher than those in cows in the last month of gestation. For met-enkephalin a relation to the stress of parturition is more likely than for beta-endorphin. In conjunction with a cesarean section the concentrations of beta-endorphin and met-enkephalin in plasma increased during surgery. This increase is likely to be caused by surgery-related stress. Calves showed highest beta-endorphin concentrations immediately after delivery. One hour post natum beta-endorphin levels were markedly decreased and showed only minor changes thereafter. In calves born at term highest met-enkephalin concentrations were found immediately post natum with levels decreasing continuously over the first two days of life. Preterm calves showed lower met-enkephalin concentrations in plasma than those born at term. During the first hour post natum in preterm animals met-enkephalin levels in plasma even increased. A highly significant correlation existed between met-enkephalin levels and the degree of acidosis in calves. An antagonism between endogenous opioids and catecholamines in newborns is suggested.     

交感神经对妊娠早期大鼠子宫内DKK-1和Wnt-1表达的影响

为研究交感神经对妊娠早期子宫内DKK-1和Wnt-1的调控作用,选取180~200日龄健康的性成熟Wistar雌性大鼠,随机分为对照组和处理组,处理组采用静脉注射6-OHDA损毁交感神经,用免疫组化法和qRT-PCR法,观察和分析交感神经对妊娠早期大鼠子宫内膜的DKK-1和Wnt-1蛋白及mRNA相对表达量的影响。结果显示:6-OHDA损毁交感神经后,对卵巢排卵数无显著性影响,但子宫囊胚数量显著下降、囊胚发育延迟,导致子宫腔上皮和腺上皮细胞自分泌DKK-1和Wnt-1紊乱,呈现与正常状态相反的变化趋势。结果表明:在着床窗口期,交感神经通过影响DKK-1对Wnt-1信号分子的调控作用而影响囊胚着床、发育。     

Current knowledge about the processes of luteolysis and maternal recognition of pregnancy in camelids

Camelids have many unique reproductive features that considerably differ from those of other domestic species. Females are induced ovulators with subsequent development of a corpus luteum (CL) with a short lifespan. Plasma progesterone concentration starts to increase on day 4, peaks on day 8–9 and, in non-pregnant animals, basal concentration is reached around day 10–11 post-induction of ovulation. Luteolytic pulses of prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α) are firstly detected on day 7 or 8 (approximately on day 5–6 after ovulation), with maximal luteolytic peaks observed between days 9 and 11 post-mating, in coincidence with a high endometrial expression of cyclooxygenase 2, a limiting enzyme in prostaglandins synthesis. Unlike other species, oxytocin seems not to be involved in the luteolytic process in these species. The CL is the main source of progesterone secretion, and its function is required to support pregnancy. Despite constant research efforts, aspects of reproduction and maternal recognition of pregnancy in camelids remain not fully understood. A transient decrease and subsequent recovery in plasma progesterone concentration are observed after day 9 post-mating in pregnant animals in association with a pulsatile release of PGF_2α and a transitory decrease in CL vascularization. Thus, embryo recognition should occur between days 8 and 12 post-mating. In camels, conceptus tissues exhibit aromatizing activity with the capacity to synthesize large amounts of oestradiol. Similarly, llama blastocysts secrete oestradiol-17β during the preimplantation stage, with a higher production during the elongation period. An increase in the endometrial expression of oestrogen receptor α is also observed on day 12 post-mating. All these evidences suggest that oestrogen could be the signal released by the embryo at the time of its recognition in camelids. Besides, nearly 98% of pregnancies are carried out in the left horn. A decrease in the endometrial expression of mucin 1 and 16 genes has been reported, suggesting that these changes are crucial for successful embryo implantation; however, no differences have been observed between horns. Thus, maternal recognition of pregnancy in camelids is a particularly complex process that must occur in a concise time to allow the rescue of the CL and embryo survival.