Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Reproduction, Fertility and Development Reproduction, Fertility and Development Society
Vertebrate reproductive science and technology
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > RD > RD05100
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 18(5)

Effect of systemic progesterone concentration on the expression of progesterone-responsive genes in the bovine endometrium during the early luteal phase

R. E. McNeill A B , J. M. Sreenan A , M. G. Diskin A , M. T. Cairns B , R. Fitzpatrick A , T. J. Smith C and D. G. Morris A D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Animal Reproduction Department, Teagasc Research Centre, Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland.

B National Diagnostics Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.

C National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.

D Corresponding author. Email: dmorris@athenry.teagasc.ie

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 18(5) 573-583 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD05100
Submitted: 6 September 2005  Accepted: 22 February 2006   Published: 24 May 2006

Abstract

Increasing evidence indicates an association between the concentration of systemic progesterone during the early luteal phase of the oestrous cycle and embryo survival rate in cattle. We examined the relationship between the concentration of systemic progesterone on Days 4 to 8 post-ovulation and expression of progesterone receptor (PGR), oestrogen receptor α (ESR1) and retinol-binding protein (RBP) mRNA in the bovine endometrium. Heifers were blood sampled from the day of ovulation (Day 0) to Day 8 post-ovulation. On Day 4, animals were divided into low progesterone control (LC) and high progesterone control (HC) groups based on their plasma progesterone concentrations. Half of each group was supplemented with exogenous progesterone resulting in two further groups, low progesterone supplemented (LS) and high progesterone supplemented (HS). Endometrial tissues were recovered from all groups on Day 6 or Day 8 and gene expression was analysed following Northern blotting. Increasing progesterone concentrations were associated with decreased PGR and ESR1 expression. Duration-dependent effects of progesterone supplementation on ESR1 were evident and there was an effect of systemic progesterone concentrations between Day 0 and Day 4 on the expression of RBP at Days 6 and 8. Such progesterone-responsive changes in uterine gene expression are likely to affect embryo development.

Extra keywords: gene expression, oestrogen, retinol-binding protein, uterus.


Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the Teagasc Walsh Fellowship scheme and BioResearch Ireland. The authors acknowledge the skilled technical assistance of P. Joyce, W. Connolly, J. Nally, G. Morris, G. Burke and P. Crevan for care of the animals and Ms A. Glynn for her invaluable assistance with the progesterone assays.


References

Bagavandoss, P. , and Midgley, A. R. J. (1987). Lack of difference between retinoic acid and retinol in stimulating progesterone production by luteinizing granulosa cells in vitro. Endocrinology 121, 420–428.
| PubMed | Diskin M. G., Kenny D. A., Dunne L. D., and Sreenan J. M. (2002). Systemic progesterone pre- and post-AI and embryo survival in heifers. In ‘Irish Agricultural Research Forum’. (Ed. M. D. Diskin.) p. 27. 11–12 March 2002, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, Ireland.

Duque, P. , Diez, C. , Royo, L. , Lorenzo, P. L. , Carneiro, G. , Hidalgo, C. O. , Facal, N. , and Gomez, E. (2002). Enhancement of developmental capacity of meitotically inhibited bovine oocytes by retinoic acid. Hum. Reprod. 17, 2706–2714.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | Ing N. H., Tsai S. Y., and Tasi M. J. (1993). Progesterone and estrogen. In ‘Genes in Mammalian Reproduction’. (Ed. R. B. L. Gwatkin.) pp. 271–291. (Wiley-Liss: New York, USA.)

Jayaram, P. M. , Murty, S. K. , and Ganguly, J. (1973). Effect of vitamin A deprivation on the cholesterol side-chain cleavage activity of testes and ovaries of rats. Biochem. J. 136, 221–223.
| PubMed | McNeill R., Diskin M. G., and Sreenan J. M. (2002). Progesterone and early embryo survival in dairy cows. In ‘Irish Agricultural Research Forum’. (Ed. M. D. Diskin.) p. 23. 11–12 March 2002, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, Ireland.

McNeill, R. E. , Morris, D. G. , Diskin, M. G. , and Sreenan, J. M. (2006). Associations between milk progesterone concentration on different days and with embryo survival during the early luteal phase in dairy cows. Theriogenology 65, 1435–1441.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | SAS (2001). SAS/STATTM users guide, release 8.1 edition. In ‘Statistical Analysis Systems Institute’. (SAS Institute Inc.: Cary, NC.)

Savouret, J. F. , Misrahi, M. , and Milgrom, E. (1990). Molecular action of progesterone. Int. J. Biochem. 22, 579–594.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | Starbuck G. R., Darwash A. O., Mann G. E., and Lamming G. E. (2001). The detection and treatment of post-insemination progesterone insufficiency in dairy cows. In ‘Fertility in the High-Producing Dairy Cow’. BSAS Occasional Publication No. 26(2). (Ed. M. G. Diskin.) pp. 447–450. (British Society of Animal Science.)

Stronge, A. J. H. , Sreenan, J. M. , Diskin, M. G. , Mee, J. F. , Kenny, D. A. , and Morris, D. G. (2005). Post-insemination milk progesterone concentration and embryo survival in dairy cows. Theriogenology 64, 1212–1224.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

Takahasi, Y. I. , Smith, J. E. , Winick, M. , and Goodman, D. S. (1975). Vitamin A deficiency and fetal growth and development in the rat. J. Nutr. 105, 1299–1310.
| PubMed |

Thomas, P. G. A. , Leslie, M. V. , and Hansen, P. J. (1992). Retinol-binding protein is produced by the bovine endometrium and accumulates in a progesterone-dependent manner. Anim. Reprod. Sci. 27, 55–66.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Thompson, J. N. , Howell, J. , and Pitt, G. A. J. (1964). Vitamin A and reproduction in rats. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B. Biol. Sci. 159, 510–535.
| PubMed |

Vallet, J. L. (1995). Uteroferrin induces lipid peroxidation in endometrial and conceptus microsomal membranes and is inhibited by apotransferrin, retinol binding protein, and the uteroferrin-associated proteins. Biol. Reprod. 53, 1436–1445.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

Vallet, J. L. , Christenson, R. K. , Trout, W. E. , and Klemcke, H. G. (1998). Conceptus, progesterone, and breed effects on uterine protein secretion in swine. J. Anim. Sci. 76, 2657–2670.
| PubMed |

Wathes, D. C. , and Hamon, M. (1993). Localization of oestradiol, progesterone and oxytocin receptors in the uterus during the oestrous cycle of the ewe. J. Endocrinol. 138, 479–491.
| PubMed |

Wathes, D. C. , Mann, G. E. , Payne, J. H. , Riley, P. R. , Stevenson, K. R. , and Lamming, G. E. (1996). Regulation of oxytocin, oestradiol and progesterone receptor concentrations in different uterine regions by oestradiol, progesterone and oxytocin in ovariectomised ewes. J. Endocrinol. 151, 375–393.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

Wellik, D. M. , and DeLuca, H. F. (1995). Retinol in addition to retinoic acid is required for successful gestation in vitamin A deficient rats. Biol. Reprod. 53, 1392–1397.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

Wolf, G. (1984). Multiple functions of vitamin A. Physiol. Rev. 64, 873–937.
| PubMed |

Xiao, C. W. , and Goff, A. K. (1999). Hormonal regulation of oestrogen and progesterone receptors in cultured bovine endometrial cells. J. Reprod. Fertil. 115, 101–109.
| PubMed |

Zelinski, M. B. , Noel, P. , Weber, D. W. , and Stormshak, F. (1983). Characterization of cytoplasmic progesterone receptors in the bovine endometrium during proestrus and diestrus. J. Anim. Sci. 55, 376–383.


Zile, M. H. (1998). Vitamin A and embryonic development: an overview. J. Nutr. 128(Suppl.), 455S–458S.
| PubMed |