Temporal changes in endometrial gene expression and protein localization of members of the IGF family in cattle: effects of progesterone and pregnancy

2012 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. D. McCarthy ◽  
J. F. Roche ◽  
N. Forde

In the study presented, the hypothesis that ligands of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) family, as well as their binding proteins (BPs), are temporally regulated and are altered by elevated progesterone (P4) and/or pregnancy was tested. Heifers detected in standing estrus following synchronization ( n = 210, day 0), were artificially inseminated ( n = 140) or left as noninseminated cyclic controls ( n = 70). On day 3, half of each group were randomly assigned to receive a P4-releasing intravaginal device resulting in four treatment groups, pregnant and cyclic heifers with high and normal P4 concentrations on either day 5, 7, 13, or 16 of the estrous cycle/early pregnancy. Quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry were performed on endometrial homogenate and uterine cross sections to measure transcript abundance and protein localization respectively ( n = 5 per treatment per time point). No effect of day, treatment, or their interactions was observed for IGF2, IGFBP4, and - 5 ( P > 0.05). IGF1 and IGFBP6 expression decreased, while IGF1R and IGFBP2 expression increased ( P < 0.05) as the days of the cycle or pregnancy progressed. The expression of IGFBP2 was increased by elevated P4; in addition, localization of both IGF2 and IGFBP2 protein in the luminal and superficial glandular epithelium displayed a P4 × day interaction. In conclusion it is proposed that decreased IGF1 and IGFBP6 expression with a coordinate increase in IGF1R and IGFBP2 as the estrous cycle/early pregnancy progresses, along with other factors, are required to establish a uterine environment that promotes the growth and development of the conceptus prior to implantation. In addition, the increased protein abundance of both IGF2 and IGFBP2 observed in heifers supplemented with P4 contributes to the enhanced conceptus elongation observed in this model.

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 143
Author(s):  
F. Randi ◽  
B. Fernandez ◽  
M. McDonald ◽  
C. Johnson ◽  
N. Forde ◽  
...  

Maternal progesterone (P4) regulates early conceptus growth and development in ruminants. Early embryo transfer studies in sheep and cattle demonstrated a need for close synchrony between the embryo and the uterine environment of the recipient. However, manipulating P4 may be one way of strategically regulating the temporal changes that normally occur in the uterine environment in order to allow flexibility in the timing of embryo transfer. For example, previous studies have demonstrated that P4 administration during the first few days of the oestrous cycle facilitates pregnancy establishment with older embryos. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of embryo-uterine synchrony on conceptus elongation in cattle. Oestrous cycles of crossbred beef heifers were synchronised using an 8-day P4-Releasing Intravaginal Device (PRID Delta®, CEVA, Mountain View, CA, USA) with administration of a prostaglandin F2α analogue (Enzaprost®, CEVA; 5 mL equivalent to 25 mg of dinoprost) given on the day before PRID removal. Heifers were checked for signs of oestrus 4 times per day commencing 30 h after PRID withdrawal. Only those seen in standing oestrus (n = 50) were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 treatment groups to receive Day 7 in vitro-produced blastocysts (n = 10 per recipient) (1) on Day 5 post-oestrus; (2) on Day 5, with P4 supplementation via PRID from Day 3 to 5 + 750 IU of eCG at PRID insertion; (3) on Day 5, PRID Delta from Day 3 to 5 plus 3000 IU of hCG at PRID insertion; (4) on Day 7, or (5) on Day 9. At embryo age Day 14, all heifers were slaughtered and the uterus was flushed to recover and measure conceptuses. Data are summarised in Table 1. Fewer recipients yielded conceptuses (P < 0.05) and fewer conceptuses overall were recovered (P < 0.05) following transfer on Day 5 compared with Day 7 or Day 9. Supplementation with P4 resulted in short cycles (evidenced by corpus luteum regression and/or a recent ovulation at slaughter) in 33.3 to 54.5% of recipients receiving embryos on Day 5. Mean conceptus length was greater (P < 0.05) following transfer to an advanced uterus. In conclusion, transfer of embryos to a retarded (Day 5) uterine environment results in poor embryo survival. Supplementation with P4 shortened the interoestrous period in a significant number of heifers. Transfer to an advanced uterine environment promotes conceptus elongation, presumably driven by P4. Table 1.Embryo survival and conceptus length data


Reproduction ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 142 (4) ◽  
pp. 593-603 ◽  
Author(s):  
L A Silva ◽  
C Klein ◽  
A D Ealy ◽  
D C Sharp

This work examined how the conceptus modulates endometrial tissue remodeling and vascular development prior to implantation in mares. A macroscopic uterine examination was completed at day 21 of pregnancy.In situmorphology revealed that the endometrium involved in encroachment is restricted to the dorsal endometrium immediately overlying the yolk sac. The amount of stromal area occupied by blood vessels and the number of endometrial glands were increased during early pregnancy. Endometrial histomorphometry as well as the endometrial mRNA abundance and immunolocalization of VEGF, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and Ki-67 was completed at days 14 and 21 of pregnancy, at day 10 of the estrous cycle, and during estrus. No obvious differences in VEGF and VEGFR1 protein localization were detected between pregnant and cycling mares but differential staining pattern for VEGFR2 and Ki-67 was observed. VEGFR2 localized to luminal and glandular epithelium of pregnant mares, while luminal epithelium was negative in cycling mares. Ki-67 staining was weak during the luteal phase but exhibited prominent luminal epithelium staining during estrus. In pregnant mares, all endometrial layers were Ki-67 positive. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed a greater abundance ofVEGFmRNA during pregnancy.VEGFR2transcript abundance was greatest in pregnant mares on day 21. This study supports the concept that the conceptus plays an active role in directing vasculogenesis within the uterus and thereby establishing hemotrophic nutrition that supports pregnancy after implantation.


2011 ◽  
Vol 43 (14) ◽  
pp. 903-910 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A. Okumu ◽  
T. Fair ◽  
J. Szekeres-Bartho ◽  
A. M. O'Doherty ◽  
M. A. Crowe ◽  
...  

Progesterone-induced blocking factor (PIBF) and galectins modulate the maternal immune response during pregnancy. We hypothesized that the relative transcript abundance of the above genes would be different during the luteal phase/early pregnancy and would be affected by progesterone supplementation. To further test this, hypothesis protein expression analyses were carried out to evaluate the abundance and localization of LGALS9 and PIBF. Following estrus synchronization, heifers were inseminated ( n = 140) or not ( n = 70). Half the heifers in each status (cyclic or potentially pregnant) were randomly assigned to receive a progesterone-releasing intravaginal device (PRID) on day 3 after estrus, which elevated progesterone concentrations from day 3.5 to 8 ( P < 0.05), resulting in four treatment groups: cyclic and pregnant heifers, each with normal and high progesterone. After confirmation of pregnancy status in inseminated animals, uterine tissue was collected on days 5, 7, 13, or 16 of the luteal phase of the cycle/pregnancy. Gene and protein expression was determined using Q-RT-PCR and IHC, respectively, on 5 heifers per treatment per time point (i.e., 80 in total). Progesterone concentrations did not affect expression of any of the genes ( P > 0.05). LGALS9 and LGALS3BP were expressed at low levels in both cyclic and pregnant endometria until day 13. On day 16, expression increased only in the pregnant heifers ( P < 0.0001). LGALS1 and LGALS3 decreased on day 7 ( P < 0.0001) and remained low until day 16. Pregnancy had no effect on the expression of LGALS1, LGALS3, and PIBF. Additionally, LGALS9 and PIBF proteins were expressed in distinct uterine cell types. These results indicate that the galectins may be involved in uterine receptivity and/or implantation in heifers.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 347-348
Author(s):  
Kelsey Schubach ◽  
Bruno I Cappellozza ◽  
Marcos Renato Burim ◽  
André Velasco ◽  
Fernando Sagrado ◽  
...  

Abstract Alternatives that alleviate stress-related responses and improve performance of the beef cattle herd are imperative and deserve further investigation. In previous trials, administration of the bovine appeasing substance (BAS) has improved performance of newly-weaned and feedlot received beef animals, as well as reduced the risk of dark, firm, and dry (DFD) cuts in carcass obtained from Bos indicus cattle. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the effects of BAS administration at castration on pre-conditioning performance of crossbred beef animals. On day 0, 390 crossbred Angus × Nellore animals were ranked by initial shrunk BW (255 ± 21.1 kg) and assigned to receive or not (CON) 5 mL/head of BAS (SecureCattle; Nutricorp, Araras, SP, Brazil) immediately before castration. From d 0 to 30, animals within treatments were maintained in 2 feedot pens with a minimum distance (300 m) to avoid contact between treatment groups and received a grass hay-based diet (70:30 roughage:concentrate ratio) ad libitum. On day 30, animals were individually weighed following 16 hours of feed and water restriction. Hence, a descriptive analysis was performed to evaluate pen dry matter intake (DMI) and feed efficiency (FE). Animal was considered the experimental unit and all data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED procedure of SAS (version 9.4; SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC). Bovine appeasing substance administration at castration improved ADG and BW change (P &lt; 0.0001) compared with CON cohorts (0.983 vs. 1.155 kg/d and 29.5 vs. 34.6 kg for ADG and BW change, respectively). Total DMI was similar among treatments when reported as kg/d (6.70 vs. 6.75 kg) or % of BW (2.48 vs. 2.48%), whereas FE was dramatically improved in BAS-administered animals (146 vs. 172 g/kg for CON and BAS, respectively). In summary, BAS administration improved performance of crossbred beef animals for 30 days post-castration.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tadeusz Kaminski ◽  
Marta Kiezun ◽  
Ewa Zaobidna ◽  
Kamil Dobrzyn ◽  
Barbara Wasilewska ◽  
...  

AbstractVisfatin appears to be an energy sensor involved in the regulation of female fertility, which creates a hormonal link integrating the control of energy homeostasis and reproduction. This study evaluates the expression levels of visfatin gene and protein in selected areas of the porcine hypothalamus responsible for gonadotropin-releasing hormone synthesis: the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) and preoptic area (POA), and visfatin concentrations in the blood plasma. The tissue samples were harvested from gilts on days 2–3, 10–12, 14–16, and 17–19 of the estrous cycle, and on days 10–11, 12–13, 15–16, 27–28 of pregnancy. Visfatin was localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus of cells creating both studied hypothalamic structures. The study demonstrated that visfatin gene and protein expression in MBH and POA depends on hormonal status related to the phase of the estrous cycle or early pregnancy. Blood plasma concentrations of visfatin during the estrous cycle were higher on days 2–3 in relation to other studied phases of the cycle, while during early pregnancy, the highest visfatin contents were observed on days 12–13. This study demonstrated visfatin expression in the porcine hypothalamus and its dependence on the hormonal milieu related to the estrous cycle and early pregnancy.


Author(s):  
Allassane F Ouattara ◽  
Catherine M Bjerum ◽  
Méité Aboulaye ◽  
Olivier Kouadio ◽  
Vanga K Marius ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Ivermectin (IVM) plus albendazole (ALB), or IA, is widely used in mass drug administration (MDA) programs that aim to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF) in Africa. However, IVM can cause severe adverse events in persons with heavy Loa loa infections that are common in Central Africa. ALB is safe in loiasis, but more information is needed on its efficacy for LF. This study compared the efficacy and safety of three years of semiannual treatment with ALB to annual IA in persons with bancroftian filariasis. Methods Adults with Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaremia (Mf) were randomized to receive either three annual doses of IA (N=52), six semiannual doses of ALB 400mg (N=45), or six semiannual doses of ALB 800mg (N=47). The primary outcome amicrofilaremia at 36 months. Findings IA was more effective for completely clearing Mf than ALB 400mg or ALB 800mg (79%, CI 67-91; vs. 48%, CI 32-66 and 57%, CI 41-73, respectively). Mean % reductions in Mf counts at 36 months relative to baseline tended to be greater after IA (98%, CI 88-100) than after ALB 400mg (88%, CI 78-98) and ALB 800mg (89%, CI 79-99) (P=0.07 and P=0.06, respectively). Adult worm nest numbers (assessed by ultrasound) were reduced in all treatment groups. Treatments were well tolerated. Interpretation Repeated semiannual treatment with ALB is macrofilaricidal for W. bancrofti and leads to sustained reductions in Mf counts. This is a safe and effective regimen that could be used as MDA to eliminate LF in areas ivermectin cannot be used.


2003 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 1072-1080 ◽  
Author(s):  
Spotswood L. Spruance ◽  
Terry M. Jones ◽  
Mark M. Blatter ◽  
Mauricio Vargas-Cortes ◽  
Judy Barber ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Oral valacyclovir is better absorbed than oral acyclovir, increasing acyclovir bioavailability three- to fivefold. This provides the opportunity to explore whether high systemic acyclovir concentrations are effective in the treatment of cold sores (herpes labialis). Two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies were conducted. Subjects were provided with 2 g of valacyclovir twice daily for 1 day (1-day treatment), 2 g of valacyclovir twice daily for 1 day and then 1 g of valacyclovir twice daily for 1 day (2-day treatment), or a matching placebo and instructed to initiate treatment upon the first symptoms of a cold sore. In study 1, the median duration of the episode (primary endpoint) was reduced by 1.0 day (P = 0.001) with 1-day treatment and 0.5 days (P = 0.009) with 2-day treatment compared to placebo. Similarly, the mean duration of the episode was statistically significantly reduced by 1.1 days with 1-day treatment and 0.7 days with 2-day treatment compared to placebo. The proportion of subjects in whom cold sore lesion development was prevented and/or blocked was increased by 6.4% (P = 0.096) with 1-day treatment and 8.5% (P = 0.061) with 2-day treatment compared to placebo. The time to lesion healing and time to cessation of pain and/or discomfort were statistically significantly reduced with valacyclovir compared to placebo. In study 2, results similar to those in study 1 were obtained. AEs were similar across treatment groups. These studies provide evidence supporting a simple, 1-day valacyclovir treatment regimen for cold sores that is safe and effective. The 1-day valacyclovir regimen offers patients a unique and convenient dosing alternative compared to available topical therapies.


2013 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aydin Guzeloglu ◽  
Mehmet O. Atli ◽  
Ercan Kurar ◽  
Seyit A. Kayis ◽  
Johannes Handler ◽  
...  

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