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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 17(5)

Experimentally induced subnormal or normal luteal phases in sheep: reproductive hormone profiles and uterine sex steroid receptor expression

C. Tasende A B C , M. Forsberg B , M. Rodríguez-Piñón A , S. Acuña A and E. G. Garófalo A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Biochemistry, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Veterinary Faculty, Lasplaces 1550, Montevideo, Uruguay.

B Department of Clinical Chemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.

C Corresponding author. Email: ctasende@adinet.com.uy

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 17(5) 565-571 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD05001
Submitted: 4 January 2005  Accepted: 10 April 2005   Published: 19 May 2005

Abstract

This study investigated if ewes expected to have subnormal luteal phases (SNLP) present a different pattern of uterine oestrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) expression at the expected time of premature luteolysis. The concentrations of uterine ER, PR and ERα mRNA, and the steroid ovarian hormone were determined in anoestrous ewes treated with either gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) to develop a SNLP (n = 16), or progesterone + GnRH to develop a normal luteal phase (NLP; n = 16). The ER, PR and ERα mRNA concentrations were measured using binding and solution hybridisation assays, while the hormone level concentration was measured by radioimmunoassay. In all ewes, a luteinising hormone- and follicle-stimulating hormone-synchronised surge was found. The SNLP group had lower preovulatory oestradiol levels than the NLP group. On Day 5, the SNLP group had lower progesterone levels, and higher uterine ER, PR and ERα mRNA concentrations than the NLP group. While in the SNLP group the receptor expression increased from Days 1 to 5, in the NLP group the receptor expression decreased. The results suggest that the induction of steroid receptor expression in the uterus and the hormonal environment found in the experimental SNLP group at the expected time of premature luteolysis may be involved in the mechanisms causing SNLP.

Extra keywords: oestrogen, progesterone.


Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Dr A. F. Parlow and NIDDK’s National Hormone and Peptide Program for the donation of reagents for the LH and FSH assay, and Dr J. Roser for donation of the LH antibody. We are grateful to P. Rubianes and I. Sartore for technical assistance and animal experimentation. The authors wish to thank F. Perdigón and L. Sosa for providing the animals. The present study received financial support from the University of Uruguay, CSIC, and the Veterinary Faculty, CIDEC, PEDECIBA, Uruguay, and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.


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