The influence of the phase of the estrous cycle on sheep endometrial tissue response to lipopolysaccharide

The effect of lipopolysaccharide on ovine endometrial tissue was examined at estrus (follicular phase) and during the luteal phase. Endometrial tissues were cultured with 0, 1, or 10 microg/mL lipopolysaccharide. After 24 h, culture supernates were harvested and analyzed for PGF2alpha, PGE2, 6-keto-PGF1alpha, thromboxane B2 (TXB2), and cysteinyl-leukotrienes (leukotrienes) using EIA. Homogenates of endometrial tissue were analyzed for prostaglandin endoperoxidase-1 (PTGS-1), and -2 (PTGS-2) as well as Type-I, -II, and -III nitric oxide synthase (NOS) by Western analysis. Follicular phase tissue produced more PGF2alpha (P < 0.001), TXB2 (P < 0.001), and leukotrienes (P < 0.02) than luteal tissue. Lipopolysaccharide increased PGE2 (P < 0.001) and TXB2 (P < 0.02) production by endometrial tissue. Elevations in these eicosanoids were likely due to the measured increases in PTGS-2 (P = 0.002) because no changes in PTGS-1 (P = 0.54) or Type-I, -II, or -III NOS (P > or = 0.20) occurred in endometrial tissue following lipopolysaccharide exposure. These data suggest that the phase of the estrous cycle regulates prostaglandin production by immune-challenged endometrial tissue.