dinoprost and estrone-sulfate

During late bovine pregnancy, several hormones are involved to maintain and develop a successful result with a live calf. These hormones are e.g., progesterone, high levels during the whole pregnancy period, originating from the corpus luteum, maternal adrenals and placenta. Oestrone sulphate, oestrone in its conjugated form, shows elevated levels from about mid-pregnancy until the third stage of parturition (expelling of the fetal membranes). For the onset of normal parturition and the parturition process as such, a change from progesterone to oestrone synthesis is crucial. The increasing levels of oestrone are time-related to an increased synthesis of prostaglandin F(2alpha) (reflected as elevated levels of 15-ketodihydro-PGF(2alpha)) causing prepartal luteolysis and several hormones are then involved in the labour process such as prostaglandin F(2alpha), cortisol and oxytocin. Cortisol might also be an indicator of stressful events for the dam. Levels of pregnancy associated glycoproteins (PAGs), originating from the trophoblastic binucleate cells, are increasing during the last 10 days prior to parturition. All the mentioned hormones have certain functions during pregnancy, more or less understood. However, could deviations from the expected profiles during late bovine pregnancy indicate impaired fetal well-being or be of importance for reproductive performance during the postpartum period? Abortions, stillbirths or dystocia are situations where endocrine profiles might predict the status of the calf. There are two possible approaches to study the endocrine changes in late pregnancy-to follow spontaneous cases of normal or impaired pregnancies or to experimentally disturb the gestation or induce parturition. We have in one study followed pregnant animals to depict reproductive disturbances, both animals with expected normal parturitions and animals where the sire of the calf has given rise to a high incidence of stillborn calves. The number of stillborn calves or dystocia has been small and so far it has not been possible to obtain a clear picture of the usefulness of endocrine parameters to follow fetal well being, but some of the hormonal parameters show a deviating profile. In a small group of animals with induced parturition (PGF(2alpha)), two out of three had parturition problems and one of these animals had a stillborn calf. All three animals had retained fetal membranes. It was possible to demonstrate a deviating endocrine profile in the cow ha

Topics: Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Dinoprost; Dystocia; Estrone; Female; Fetus; Hormones; Hydrocortisone; Labor, Induced; Oxytocin; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Progesterone

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of the somatic cell count (SCC) in milk on reproductive performance, such as pregnancy status in the prepartum period and ovarian function in the postpartum period, in dairy cows. Blood samples were collected every week from one month prepartum to parturition in order to measure the concentrations of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF2α (PGFM), estrone sulfate (E1S) and progesterone. Milk samples were collected three times per week in both the prepartum (for one month before the dry period) and postpartum periods (for 3 months immediately after parturition) to measure the SCC. Progesterone was also determined in the whole milk of postpartum cows to define the day of the first ovulation. In the prepartum period, the maximum SCC negatively correlated with the pregnancy period (r = -0.77), but not the calf birth weight. Positive and negative correlations were observed between the average SCC and PGFM or progesterone concentrations in plasma, respectively (r = 0.84 or -0.92, respectively), at 39 weeks of pregnancy. In the postpartum period, a correlation was observed between the day of the first ovulation and both the average and maximum SCC (r = -0.74 and -0.75, respectively), whereas days open was not related to the SCC. These results suggest that a high SCC in the prepartum period may advance parturition by increasing PGF2α and decreasing progesterone and that the first ovulation in the postpartum period was affected by a high SCC.

Topics: Animals; Cattle; Cell Count; Dinoprost; Estrone; Female; Milk; Ovary; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Animal; Progesterone; Reproduction

Many hormones are involved in the regulation of male reproductive functions, controlling sexual behavior, and influencing sexual arousal, the onset of erection and ejaculation, and the post-ejaculatory detumescence. The aims of this study were to analyze the plasma concentrations of 15-ketodihydro-PGF(2α) (PGFM), LH, testosterone (T), oestrone sulphate (OS), and cortisol (C) in relation to sexual stimulation and to evaluate the possible correlations among circulating hormones and between hormones and semen characteristics in the donkey stallion. Thirteen sexually experienced Martina Franca jackass of proven fertility were enrolled and semen was collected through an artificial vagina. Plasma samples were collected at 12, 9, 6 and 3 min before oestrous jenny exposure, at the first erection in the mating arena in the presence of an oestrous jenny, during ejaculation, at dismounting, 3, 6, 9 and 12 min after ejaculation in box, and then every 10 min during the following 50 min. PGFM showed an increasing trend with significant differences between the pre-ejaculatory and post-ejaculatory period, suggesting a role of this hormone in the control of ejaculation. LH showed a significantly higher concentration at ejaculation compared to last samples, while T showed significantly higher levels at erection, ejaculation and dismounting, probably for its influence on these processes and on sexual behavior. Finally, OS did not show any difference in the period of observation, while C presented a significant increase only 22 minutes after erection. The only hormonal correlation found was a positive one between LH and T at erection and dismounting, while T and OS were positively correlated with total and progressive motility, respectively.

Topics: Animals; Dinoprost; Equidae; Estrone; Hydrocortisone; Luteinizing Hormone; Male; Semen; Sexual Behavior, Animal; Time Factors

This experiment was designed to determine the effects of sexual stimulation on plasma concentrations of oxytocin (OT), vasopressin (VP), 15-ketodihydro-PGF(2alpha) (PG-metabolite), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T), estrone sulfate (ES), and cortisol (C) in stallions. Semen samples were collected from 14 light horse stallions (Equus caballus) of proven fertility using a Missouri model artificial vagina. Blood samples were collected at 15, 12, 9, 6, and 3 min before estrous mare exposure, at erection, at ejaculation, and at 3, 6, and 9 min after ejaculation. Afterwards, blood sampling was performed every 10 min for the following 60 min. Sexual activity determined an increase in plasma concentrations of OT, VP, C, PG-metabolite, and ES and caused no changes in LH and T concentrations. The finding of a negative correlation between C and VP at erection, and between C and T before erection and at the time of erection, could be explained by a possible inhibitory role exerted by C in the mechanism of sexual arousal described for men.

Topics: Animals; Arginine Vasopressin; Dinoprost; Ejaculation; Estrone; Hormones; Horses; Hydrocortisone; Luteinizing Hormone; Male; Oxytocin; Penile Erection; Semen; Sexual Behavior, Animal; Testosterone

Very little information is available regarding the physiological mechanisms involved in the normal sexual activity in the stallion and, in particular, the endocrine control of reproduction is still not clearly understood. This experiment was designed to determine the short-term effect of sexual stimulation on plasma concentrations of testosterone, cortisol, oestrone sulphate and 15-ketodihydro-PGF(2alpha) in stallions. Semen samples were collected from 10 lighthorse stallions of proven fertility using a Missouri model artificial vagina. At the same time, blood samples were collected from the jugular vein with heparinized tubes, 20 and 10 min before oestrous mare exposure, at exposure and 10, 20, 30 min after dismounting. Testosterone concentrations showed a sharp rise 10 min after mating (p < 0.001), reached a plateau, and then showed a further increase 30 min after mating (p < 0.001). Cortisol concentrations increased 10 min after mating (p < 0.001) and remained at high levels in the subsequent samples taken. A peak of oestrone sulphate was observed 10 min after mating (p < 0.001). 15-Ketodihydro-PGF(2alpha) concentrations decreased rapidly at the moment of the exposure of the stallions to an oestrous mare (p < 0.05), returned to pre-mating concentrations and then decreased again 30 min after mating (p < 0.05).

Topics: Animals; Dinoprost; Ejaculation; Estrone; Horses; Hydrocortisone; Male; Sexual Behavior, Animal; Testosterone

We succeeded in isolating a novel organic solute carrier from a human placenta cDNA library. The isolated cDNA consisted of 1137 base pairs that encoded a 379-amino acid protein, hOSCP1. Northern blot and reverse transcription PCR analyses revealed that the hOSCP1 mRNA is expressed in the placenta and testis and weakly expressed in the thymus and small intestine. When expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, hOSCP1 mediated the high affinity transport of p-aminohippurate (PAH) (K(m) = 35.0 +/- 7.5 microm) and tetraethylammonium (K(m) = 62.3 +/- 12.2 microm) in a sodium-independent manner. However, the hOSCP1-expressing oocyte did not mediate the transport of L-carnitine. The transport of PAH by hOSCP1 was sensitive to pH, but the tetraethylammonium was not transported at the high pH examined. hOSCP1 transported prostaglandin E(2), prostaglandin F(2alpha), estrone sulfate, glutarate, L-leucine, L-ascorbic acid, and tetracycline. Thus, hOSCP1 also showed broad substrate specificity. A wide range of structurally unrelated organic compounds inhibited the hOSCP1-mediated PAH uptake. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the hOSCP1 protein is localized in the basal membrane of the syncytiotrophoblast in the human placenta. Our results suggest that hOSCP1 is a novel polyspecific organic solute carrier protein responsible for drug clearance from the human placenta.

Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Biological Transport; Blotting, Northern; Cell Line, Tumor; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; DNA, Complementary; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Estrone; Female; Gene Library; Genes, Tumor Suppressor; Glutarates; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Immunohistochemistry; Intestine, Small; Kinetics; Leucine; Male; Membrane Transport Proteins; Mice; Molecular Sequence Data; Oocytes; p-Aminohippuric Acid; Phylogeny; Placenta; Regression Analysis; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Complementary; RNA, Messenger; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Sodium; Substrate Specificity; Testis; Tetracycline; Tetraethylammonium; Thymus Gland; Tissue Distribution; Trophoblasts; Xenopus laevis

Stress due to regrouping of breeding females is difficult to avoid completely in loose-housing systems. The effects of stress during the maternal recognition of pregnancy on fetal development and survival at Day 30 of pregnancy was, therefore, studied in 17 sows allocated into one control (C-) group, one group deprived of food during Days 13 and 14 (FD-), and one group (A-), which was treated with ACTH (0.01 mg/kg body weight of Synacthen Depot) every sixth hour during the same period. Total number of fetuses, fetal survival rate, volume of allantoic fluid, and the weight and length of total fetal unit, placentas, allantochorion and fetuses were determined. The concentrations of progesterone (P4), PGFM, PGF2, PGE, estrone-sulfate, and estradiol-17beta in the allantoic fluid were analyzed. No significant differences between groups were found for any parameter measured except for P4. Food deprivation increased P4 concentration in the allantoic fluid, and there was a positive correlation between the P4 concentration and the weight of the placenta. It is, therefore, suggested that P4 influences the placenta size among food-deprived sows.

Topics: Allantois; Animals; Body Fluids; Dinoprost; Embryonic and Fetal Development; Estradiol; Estrone; Female; Fetal Weight; Gestational Age; Organ Size; Placenta; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Progesterone; Prostaglandins E; Stress, Physiological; Swine; Swine Diseases

Group housing of sows during the mating and gestation period has become the overall common management practice in Sweden. Loose housing is probably less stressful for the animals because it allows them more opportunities to behave naturally, but mixing unfamiliar sows does create a stressful situation due to aggressive interactions, which can lead to food deprivation. The objective of the present study was to investigate and compare the effects of stress in form of food deprivation and ACTH administration at days 13 and 14 of pregnancy (day 1, first day of standing oestrus) in sows. The hormonal secretion of the sows and foetal survival by day 30 of pregnancy was, therefore, studied in 17 crossbred multiparous sows. The sows were randomly allocated into three different groups: one control (C-) group; one food deprived (FD-) group, which was deprived of food from the morning of day 13 of pregnancy until the evening meal on day 14; and a third group (A-), which was given intravenous injections of synthetic ACTH (Synachten Depot), at a dose of 0.01 mg/kg body weight every sixth hour from 6 a.m. on day 13 until 6 a.m. on day 15 of pregnancy. All sows were slaughtered at 30 +/- 2 day of pregnancy and the genital tracts recovered. Total number of corpora lutea (CL), total number of viable or nonviable embryos and foetal survival rates were determined. Samples from the peripheral blood circulation were collected four times a day from day 12 until slaughter, except during days 13-15 when blood was collected every second hour. The blood samples were analysed for cortisol, progesterone, oestrone, prostaglandin F(2alpha)-metabolite, oestrone-sulphate, insulin, free fatty acids and triglycerides. FD-sows had increased levels of cortisol, free fatty acids and progesterone, as well as a lowered level of insulin in the peripheral blood plasma, while A-group sows had increased levels of both cortisol and insulin compared with the C-group. Treatment with ACTH seemed to cause a 2-day delay in the increase of oestrone, from day 19, as seen in the FD- and C-group, to day 21 of pregnancy. At the time of slaughter, there were no significant differences among groups in terms of total number of foetuses and foetal survival rate. The results of the present study suggest a capacity of the sow to compensate for the influence of induced moderate stress at the time of pregnancy when maternal recognition occurs.

Topics: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Animals; Breeding; Dinoprost; Embryo, Mammalian; Estrone; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; Female; Food Deprivation; Gestational Age; Hormones; Hydrocortisone; Injections, Intravenous; Insulin; Parity; Pregnancy; Progesterone; Stress, Physiological; Swine; Triglycerides

Three dairy heifers (A, B and C) were induced to parturition with two prostaglandin (PG) F(2alpha) injections on day 268 and 269 of pregnancy. Signs of approaching parturition were carefully observed. The following parameters were registered: degrees of calving difficulty, date and time of parturition, calf's birth weight and calf's sex. Body temperature was measured and blood samples were taken every 3 h 3 days before the first PGF(2alpha) injection until 3 days after parturition. The plasma concentrations of the PGF(2alpha) metabolite, progesterone, cortisol, oestrone sulphate and pregnancy associated glycoproteins (PAGs) were analysed. Heifers A, B and C delivered 48, 51 and 57 h after the first PGF(2alpha) injection, respectively. Heifer A delivered without any signs of calving difficulty, whereas, the parturition was considered to be slight and moderate difficulty occurred in the delivery of heifers B and C, respectively. The calf of heifer C, without any abnormal gross-evidences, was stillborn. All animals had retained foetal membranes. A slight increase of the PGF(2alpha) metabolite at the time of parturition was found only in heifer C, whereas the levels dramatically increased in all animals 15-24 h after parturition. At the same time, progesterone levels decreased within 3 h after the first PGF(2alpha) injection (P < 0.05) and reached 0.8, 2.7 and 12.4 nmol/l at the time of parturition in heifers A, B and C, respectively. High release of cortisol at the time of parturition was seen in heifer C. Rising levels of oestrone sulphate around the time of parturition were recorded in all heifers, whereas, increasing levels of PAGs were recorded only in heifer A. In conclusion, the patterns of the PGF(2alpha) metabolite, cortisol, progesterone and PAGs were changed in the cases of calving difficulty and stillbirth after PGF(2alpha)-induction of parturition. However, the relationship between oestrone sulphate and PAGs and the status of foetal well being prior to parturition require further elucidation.

Topics: Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Dinoprost; Dystocia; Estrone; Female; Fetal Death; Fetal Monitoring; Gestational Age; Hormones; Hydrocortisone; Kinetics; Labor, Induced; Labor, Obstetric; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Proteins; Progesterone

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of somatotropin (ST) on porcine reproductive and metabolic statuses during early pregnancy. Four pregnant crossbred gilts received 6 mg of recombinant porcine somatotropin (rpST) daily from days 10 to 27 after artificial insemination while six pregnant gilts served as controls. Blood samples were taken on days 8, 10, 12, 14, 18, 22, and 27 prior to rpST injections (8:00 h) and subsequently at 9:00, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00, and 20:00 h. On all remaining days of treatment, samples were taken once daily before injections (8:00 h). The samples were assayed for the metabolic hormones: ST, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), insulin, thyroxine (T(4)), triiodothyronine (T(3)), and cortisol; for metabolites: free fatty acids (FFA) and glucose; and for the reproductive hormones: luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone, estradiol-17beta, estrone sulfate, and prostaglandin F(2alpha). Delivery of rpST daily induced a 20- to 40-fold increase in plasma ST concentrations. Moreover, repeated administration of rpST resulted in a continuous increase in plasma IGF-I concentration (P < 0.001), from 191.0 +/- 22.3-340.0 +/- 15.3 ng/mL 24 h after initial injection to 591.3 +/- 46.8 ng/mL after final injections. Mean serum insulin tended to be greater in rpST-treated gilts. Blood concentrations of T(4) were reduced (P < 0.05) from day 14 of gestation in treated gilts while T(3) concentrations remained unchanged. Concentrations of both glucose and FFA were greater (P < 0.01) and cortisol concentrations were unchanged in treated gilts. Changes in reproductive steroid hormones were minimally affected. Circulating progesterone (P = 0.078), and estradiol-17beta (P = 0.087) concentrations tended to be lower in treated animals. These data show that treatment of pregnant gilts with rpST during early gestation mainly impacts metabolic rather than reproductive status.

Topics: Adrenal Glands; Animals; Dinoprost; Estradiol; Estrone; Fallopian Tubes; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; Female; Glucose; Growth Hormone; Hydrocortisone; Insulin; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Luteinizing Hormone; Male; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Animal; Progesterone; Receptors, Estrogen; Receptors, Progesterone; Swine; Thyroxine; Triiodothyronine; Uterus

Plasma concentrations of 15-ketodihydroprostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha, progesterone, oestrone sulphate, oestradiol-17 beta and cortisol during late gestation, parturition and the early post-partum period were measured in six llamas and five alpacas. During the last 100 days of pregnancy, 15-ketodihydro-PGF2 alpha concentrations increased steadily until the day of parturition when a massive release was detected (P < 0.01) concomitant with a decrease in progesterone concentrations (P < 0.01). The highest PGF2 alpha metabolite concentrations (159 +/- 35 nmol l-1 and 92 +/- 29 nmol l-1 in llamas and alpacas respectively) were detected in the sample collected during the morning on the day of parturition. Basal concentrations were registered by day 3 after delivery. Plasma concentrations of oestrone sulphate started to increase 80 days before parturition and reached peak concentrations immediately before parturition (15 +/- 3 nmol l-1 in llamas and 18 +/- 5 nmol l-1 in alpacas). Oestrone sulphate concentrations dropped sharply (P < 0.01) on the day of parturition in llamas and one day later in alpacas, whereupon they remained relatively unchanged until at least 20 days postpartum. Oestradiol-17 beta concentrations were higher than 180 pmol l-1 during the last 45 days of pregnancy, began to decrease on the day of parturition and reached very low concentrations within the following two days. High oestradiol-17 beta concentrations were registered 7 days postpartum in all alpacas (P < 0.05) and within 10 days of parturition in five of six llamas (P < 0.01). No significant cortisol peaks were observed around parturition, but mean concentrations were increased in both species.

Topics: Animals; Camelids, New World; Dinoprost; Estradiol; Estrogens; Estrone; Female; Gestational Age; Hydrocortisone; Labor, Obstetric; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Animal; Progesterone

Plasma concentrations of progesterone, oestradiol-17beta, oestrone, oestrone sulphate and PGFM have been measured daily during the first peri-partum period of 45 Hereford x Friesian heifers bred at 11 months of age. Anatomical measurements of dam and calf were also recorded. Twelve of the calvings were scored easy, 33 difficult. Each of five models (fitted by linear logistic regression) relating difficulty of calving to the hormonal and anatomical measurements, predicts with at least 94% accuracy the calving score (easy or difficult) among the calvings. The models predict that increases of progesterone concentration on the day before calving, of oestrone sulphate concentration on the day after calving and of heifer heart girth decrease the odds of difficult calving, whereas increases of heifer body length and of calf head circumference increase the odds of difficult calving.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Body Weight; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Dinoprost; Dystocia; Estradiol; Estrogens; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); Estrone; Female; Insemination, Artificial; Labor, Obstetric; Logistic Models; Male; Multivariate Analysis; Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted; Pregnancy; Progesterone; Radioimmunoassay

The effect of Listeria monocytogenes infection on hormone levels in pregnant goats was studied. Four goats (Group I) received an intravenous inoculation of a bacterial culture (Type 1) on Days 69-77 and another four goats (Group II) received a similar inoculation on Days 105-106 of gestation. Five non-inoculated goats were used as controls. Plasma was analysed for progesterone, oestrone sulphate and 15-ketodihydro-PGF2 alpha. The status of the foetus was followed using real-time ultrasonography. Three of the four goats in Group I aborted 8-10 days after inoculation. The fourth goat gave birth to a normal live kid at term. The three goats which aborted showed clinical signs of disease in connection with abortion. In Group II, all goats aborted after 9-11 days. All the goats showed clinical symptoms of disease from a few days after inoculation and the symptoms continued until abortion. The clinical symptoms of disease were more pronounced in Group II than in Group I. L. monocytogenes was isolated from all aborted foetuses. None of the control goats aborted. Ultrasound examination revealed foetal death either immediately before or up to 2 days before abortion. Mummification had begun in the foetus that had been dead for 2 days before expulsion. In comparison with pre-inoculation plasma levels in Group I, a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in progesterone levels and an increase in 15-ketodihydro-PGF2 alpha levels were observed from Days 4 and 6 after inoculation, respectively. In Group II, a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in progesterone levels and an increase in 15-ketodihydro-PGF2 alpha levels in plasma were observed from Days 8 and 6, respectively. The oestrone sulphate levels decreased slightly in the inoculated goats a few days before abortion. The pattern of changes in levels around abortion was similar to the pattern present in the control animals around parturition. However, oestrone sulphate levels did not increase in the inoculated groups before abortion in contrast to goats which delivered healthy kids. The changes in levels of 15-ketodihydro-PGF2 alpha in goats that aborted indicated that the endocrine foetal-placental function was disturbed, which was most likely due to the establishment and development of L. monocytogenes in the placenta and foetus.

Topics: Animals; Dinoprost; Estrone; Female; Goats; Listeriosis; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Progesterone

Peripheral serum samples were collected from 8 pregnant dromedary camels and hormone secretion patterns were examined at specific time intervals. Mean serum progesterone concentrations began to rise 3-4 days after ovulation and remained reasonably constant at 3-5 ng mL-1 for the first 90-100 days of gestation. Concentrations then showed a definite fall, but thereafter remained constant again at 2-4 ng mL-1 throughout the rest of pregnancy. In contrast, serum oestrogen concentrations showed pronounced fluctuations during the first 100 days of gestation. Mean oestradiol-17 beta concentrations increased at around Day 50 to about 100 pg mL-1 and then remained relatively constant from Day 90 to Day 300. Mean oestrone sulfate concentrations, however, showed two definite peaks in early gestation, each reaching about 10 ng mL-1, with the first peak occurring around Day 25 and the second peak around Day 75. Oestrogen production then remained fairly constant until around Day 300, after which concentrations of both oestrone sulfate and free oestradiol-17 beta rose steeply over the next 80 days to reach mean peak values of 46 ng ML-1 and 518.7 pg mL-1, respectively, at the time of parturition. Concentrations of 13,14 dihydro-15-keto prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGFM) remained low and reasonably steady at 100-200 pg mL-1 during the first 320 days of pregnancy; thereafter, PGFM concentrations rose steeply over the next 50 days, before an explosive further increase to a peak of 1900 +/- 141 pg mL-1 mean +/- sem on the day of calving. These results suggest that, as in the cow, a major change in steroid synthetic capability and/or enzyme content of the placenta may occur at around 80% (Day 300) of gestation in the pregnant camel.

Topics: Animals; Camelus; Dinoprost; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Estradiol; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); Estrone; Female; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Animal; Progesterone; Radioimmunoassay

The effect of Toxoplasma gondii inoculation on pregnancy and on endocrine foetal-placental function in pregnant goats was studied. Five susceptible goats were inoculated subcutaneously with T. gondii bradyzoites at 71 +/- 2 days of gestation. Another five goats were used as controls. Plasma was analysed for progesterone, oestrone sulphate and 15-ketodihydro-PGF2 alpha. The condition of the foetuses was monitored by real-time ultrasonography. All inoculated goats aborted or delivered stillborn or weak kids 54-73 days after inoculation. None of the goats showed signs of general disease. In cases of foetal death, the ultrasound examination revealed that death occurred between day 1 and 12 before abortion or birth. The appearance of the foetuses varied from fresh to mummified, depending on the number of days between foetal death and expulsion. All five goats became serologically positive to T. gondii after inoculation. None of the goats used as controls aborted, but one goat delivered one mummified and one weak kid for unknown reasons. In inoculated animals an increase in 15-ketodihydro-PGF2 alpha levels in plasma and a subsequent tendency to a decrease in oestrone sulphate levels were observed from about day 40 after inoculation and until abortion or birth. High levels of 15-ketodihydro-PGF2 alpha were seen after foetal death. High levels of 15-ketodihydro-PGF2 alpha were not always followed by a drop in progesterone levels. The mean level of progesterone was slightly decreased after inoculation and onwards. The pattern of progesterone levels around abortion in the inoculated goats was very similar to the pattern around parturition in the control goats. However, 15-ketodihydro-PGF2 alpha levels were higher both before and after abortion in inoculated goats than in control goats. The level of oestrone sulphate did not increase in the inoculated group before abortion in contrast to the level in goats which delivered healthy kids. The patterns of changes in levels of 15-ketodihydro-PGF2 alpha and oestrone sulphate in inoculated animals indicate that the endocrine foetal-placental function was disturbed in most of the inoculated goats, probably due to the injury caused by the establishment and development of T. gondii infection in the placenta and foetus.

Topics: Abortion, Veterinary; Animals; Dinoprost; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); Estrone; Female; Goat Diseases; Goats; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic; Progesterone; Time Factors; Toxoplasma; Toxoplasmosis, Animal

The aim of this study was to examine the endocrinological response (15-ketodihydro-PGF2 alpha, progesterone and oestrone sulphate) of pregnant ewes which were constantly treated with flunixin meglumine (FM) after infection with Toxoplasma gondii. Seven Swedish Peltsheep ewes were dosed orally with 2,000 T. gondii oocysts at 90.5 (82-94) days of pregnancy. The ewes were treated with FM, 1 mg/kg, intramuscularly twice a day, starting one day before infection until the end of the gestation period. Further three ewes were treated with FM alone during the corresponding time of pregnancy. Another four ewes were used as uninfected and untreated controls. All infected ewes developed antibodies to T. gondii and aborted, but the FM treated control group and the non-treated control group, which remained seronegative, delivered the lambs in the normal gestation range. No early abortions (less than 10 days after infection) were seen in the infected group. The endocrinological changes reflected the pathological changes in the uterus and foetuses. FM could neither completely inhibit prostaglandin release during abortion nor the physiological change of the hormone before parturition even though it depressed prostaglandin release before abortion or parturition and eliminated fever. The infectious process caused by the organism was probably not affected. FM treatment alone had no observed negative effects on pregnant ewes and their foetuses.

Topics: Animals; Clonixin; Dinoprost; Estrone; Female; Nicotinic Acids; Pregnancy; Progesterone; Sheep; Sheep Diseases; Toxoplasmosis, Animal; Ultrasonography

In order to study the effect of Toxoplasma infection on hormonal levels in pregnant ewes, twenty-eight Scottish Blackface ewes were dosed orally with Toxoplasma gondii oocytes at 91 +/- 1 days of gestation. Fifteen of these ewes were vaccinated with an experimental Toxoplasma iscom vaccine prior to inoculation. Further three ewes were used as non-infected controls. All challenged ewes became infected. Plasma was analysed for the content of 15-ketodihydro-PGF2 alpha, progesterone and oestrone sulphate. The endocrinological changes appeared to reflect the pathological changes in the uterus. Infected animals tended to show an increase in the levels of the prostaglandin metabolite between two and eleven days after challenge, followed by a decrease in progesterone and later also of oestrone sulphate levels. Following the initial phase, the pattern was more variable but related to the outcome of gestation. There was a marked tendency towards more normal endocrinological patterns in the vaccinated animals in comparison to unvaccinated challenged ones.

Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Animals; Dinoprost; Estrone; Female; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Progesterone; Sheep; Sheep Diseases; Toxoplasmosis, Animal; Vaccination

Food deprivation during pregnancy leads to an increase in maternal and fetal prostaglandin (PG) production and increased uterine contractility. We investigated the effect of maintaining fetal normoglycemia during food withdrawal-induced maternal hypoglycemia on uterine 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGFM) production and myometrial activity in late pregnant sheep. Pregnant sheep were surgically instrumented with fetal and maternal catheters and electromyogram leads under halothane anesthesia. Maternal and fetal blood plasma samples were obtained once a day at 0900 h, 24 h before (baseline sample) and after 48 h of food withdrawal. Food, but not water, was withdrawn from ewes in group I (n = 5). During food withdrawal in group II (n = 5), glucose was infused into a fetal vein to maintain fetal normoglycemia. All data were normalized to the concentration in the baseline sample in each animal as 100%. After 48 h of food withdrawal, maternal whole blood glucose fell by 42.2 +/- 4.4% (mean +/- SEM: group I) and 31.4 +/- 6.2% (group II). These values were not significantly different. Fetal blood glucose fell by 40.4 +/- 5.7% (group I). In group II, fetal blood glucose was maintained in the normal range (99.6 +/- 1.6% of baseline). Maternal uterine electromyogram activity, uterine venous estrone sulfate, and uterine veno-arterial difference in PGFM rose significantly during food withdrawal in group I ewes, but not in group II ewes. Maternal and fetal arterial plasma ACTH and cortisol did not change in group II animals. We conclude that maintenance of fetal normoglycemia during 48 h of food withdrawal in sheep prevents the increase in myometrial activity, maternal plasma estrogens, and uterine PGFM production during food withdrawal in late pregnancy.

Topics: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Animals; Blood Glucose; Dinoprost; Electromyography; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); Estrone; Fasting; Female; Fetal Blood; Hydrocortisone; Myometrium; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Animal; Sheep; Uterus

The temporal relationship among changes of the concentrations of the 13,14-dihydro-15-keto metabolite of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGFM), estrone (E1) and estrone sulphate (E1S) in maternal arterial plasma (MP) and amniotic fluid (AF), the prepartum progesterone (P4) decline in MP, and the evolution of uterine electromyographic (EMG) activity was investigated in 6 cows. Calving was induced by a single i.m. injection of 5 mg flumethason on Day 270 of gestation. The period under investigation was subdivided into four consecutive periods: Period 1 covered the last 2 days before flumethason treatment; Period 2 (mean +/- SEM duration: 16.1 +/- 2.5 h), Period 3 (8.8 +/- 1.1 h), and Period 4 (13.0 +/- 1.5 h) together included the interval between injection and the onset of the expulsive stage of induced parturition. Each was defined by its pattern of uterine EMG activity. During Periods 1 and 2, this activity occurred in long episodes (2-20 min; contractures) at a similar mean (+/- SEM) frequency (0.51 +/- 0.14/h and 0.42 +/- 0.07/h, respectively). No significant differences in hormonal concentrations in MP and AF between these two periods were detected. During Period 3, contractures nearly disappeared (freq: 0.09 +/- 0.05/h), and in MP mean P4 levels were significantly lower and PGFM levels were significantly higher than before. Mean PGFM concentrations in AF were not significantly changed during Period 3. Finally, during Period 4, EMG activity reappeared and a parturient EMG pattern gradually evolved in the presence of a further significant decline of P4 levels and significant increase of PGFM concentrations in MP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Amniotic Fluid; Animals; Cattle; Dinoprost; Electromyography; Estrone; Female; Flumethasone; Labor, Induced; Myometrium; Pregnancy; Progesterone; Uterine Contraction

Guinea-pigs treated by gavage with a total dose of 100 mg polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB: Clophen A50) during Days 17-61 of gestation had higher plasma concentrations of 15-keto-13,14-dihydroprostaglandin F-2 alpha, oestrone sulphate and oestradiol-17 beta during the later stages of gestation than did vehicle-treated guinea-pigs. No changes were observed in plasma progesterone concentrations. Our results provide no support for the hypothesis that an enzyme-induced decrease in progesterone concentrations is the main cause of the fetal death observed in PCB-treated guinea-pigs.

Topics: Animals; Dinoprost; Environmental Pollutants; Estradiol; Estrogens; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); Estrone; Female; Fetal Death; Guinea Pigs; Polychlorinated Biphenyls; Pregnancy; Progesterone

Serum and urinary estrone sulfate concentrations were determined in 7 pregnant mares before and after prostaglandin-induced abortion (n = 4) or surgical removal of the fetus (n = 3) to determine the source of estrogen during early pregnancy (gestation days [GD] 44 to 89). Estrone sulfate concentrations also were determined in serum samples (stored frozen for 2 years) from 3 mares that had been ovariectomized between GD 51 and 58. Estrone sulfate concentrations decreased in serum and urine after expulsion or removal of the fetus (urinary patterns were more definitive than were patterns for serum), whereas a transient decrease in serum estrone sulfate concentration was observed after ovariectomy. Seemingly, products of conception are the major source of estrone sulfate during early pregnancy, although there appears to be some ovarian contribution. Serum or urinary estrone sulfate measurements provide a simple and accurate test for fetal viability after GD 44 in the mare.

Topics: Abortion, Induced; Abortion, Veterinary; Animals; Dinoprost; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); Estrone; Female; Fetal Death; Horse Diseases; Horses; Pregnancy; Prostaglandins F

Two mares received PGF-2 alpha twice daily until abortion and 2 mares received a combined treatment with oestradiol benzoate and oxytocin. The mares were about 150 days pregnant. The PG-treated animals aborted after 37 and 61 h, respectively, and the fetuses were expelled in intact fetal membranes. The other 2 mares aborted 13 and 27 h after the first oxytocin injection, respectively, and showed strong uterine contractions and expelled the fetuses in disrupted fetal membranes. Concentrations of 15-ketodihydro-PGF-2 alpha increased both after PG and oxytocin injections and in association with the abortion, but after the PG-induced abortion there was an immediate return to basal levels and after the oxytocin-induced abortion there was a large increase in the concentrations, indicating damage of the uterus. Progesterone and relaxin concentrations followed the placental function and decreased in association with the abortions. Oestrone sulphate values differed in the two groups; the oxytocin-treated animals showed a rapid decrease while the mares treated with PG showed first a marked increase and then a decrease. Concentrations of PMSG appeared to be unaffected by the abortions.

Topics: Abortion, Induced; Animals; Dinoprost; Estradiol; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); Estrone; Female; Gonadal Steroid Hormones; Gonadotropins, Equine; Horses; Oxytocin; Pregnancy; Progesterone; Prostaglandins F; Relaxin

We examined whether different cell subpopulations from human fetal membranes and decidua produce steroids (estrone and progesterone) and metabolize prostaglandins (prostaglandin F2 alpha to 13, 14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F2 alpha and if these changed with labor. Amnion, chorion, and decidua were obtained at elective cesarean section at term or at spontaneous labor. Cells were dispersed with collagenase and separated by density on discontinuous Percoll gradients. At cesarean section there was a major broad band of cells from amnion and chorion. This band contained most of the estrone sulfatase (estrone sulfate to estrone) activity. The 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (pregnenolone to progesterone conversion) and prostaglandin F2 alpha metabolizing activities were present in these cells and those that migrated at greater Percoll densities. Amnion and chorion obtained after spontaneous labor had two major bands of cells. Estrone sulfatase was present in cells from both hands, whereas progesterone output from pregnenolone and prostaglandin F2 alpha metabolism predominated in the second band of cells with greater density. This pattern was particularly apparent in chorion. Dispersed cells from decidua tended to migrate throughout the gradient. In general, estrone sulfate to estrone conversion predominated in lighter cells whereas progesterone output from pregnenolone and prostaglandin F2 alpha metabolism predominated in cells of greater density. The output of progesterone from pregnenolone was significantly lower in cell preparations from chorion and decidua at spontaneous labor compared with cesarean section. We conclude that human amnion, chorion, and decidua contain distinct cell subpopulations based on Percoll migration and that in the membranes these change between cesarean section and spontaneous labor. Partial separation of estrone sulfatase from 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and prostaglandin F2 alpha metabolizing activities has been demonstrated, which raises the possibility of paracrine interactions in vivo.

Topics: Cells, Cultured; Centrifugation, Density Gradient; Decidua; Dinoprost; Estrone; Extraembryonic Membranes; Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Pregnenolone; Progesterone; Prostaglandins F

Holstein heifers (n = 21) were balanced across sires and assigned to three service-sire-breed groups in which heifers were inseminated artificially to either purebred Angus (n = 7), Holstein (n = 7) or Brahman (n = 7) bulls. Semen from four bulls was used for each service sire-breed group. Blood samples were collected from a jugular vein thrice weekly from d 160 to 265 of pregnancy, daily thereafter until 15 d postpartum, and then thrice weekly until d 60 postpartum. Concentrations of progesterone, estrone, estradiol, and estrone sulfate from 23 d prepartum to parturition, and of 15-keto-13,14-dihydro-prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGFM) from 2 d prepartum to d 15 postpartum were measured by radioimmunoassay. Heifers within the Brahman-service-sire group had longer gestations (P less than .05) than those of Holstein- or Angus-service-sire groups (285.0 vs 278.7), 279.0 d). Calf birth weight was lower (P less than .05) in Angus- than Holstein- and Brahman-service-sire groups (30.6 vs 36.1, 43.4 kg). Daily trends of prepartum maternal progesterone concentrations were approximately 1 ng/ml lower (P less than .01) in Angus- than Holstein- or Brahman-service-sire groups until luteolysis occurred. Heifers bearing crossbred Angus conceptuses had lower daily trends of prepartum estrogens concentrations (P less than .01), whereas heifers of the Holstein- and, even more dramatically, of the Brahman-service-sire groups had a higher magnitude and greater rise of plasma estrogens concentrations between d -10 and -1 prepartum (less than .01). Postpartum mean concentrations (P less than .05) and response curves of PGFM were lower (P less than .01) in the Angus- than in the Holstein- or Brahman-service-sire groups. Calf birth weights were correlated with least-squares means for maternal concentrations of prepartum estrone (r = .57), estradiol (r = .59) and estrone sulfate (r = .64) and postpartum maternal concentrations of PGFM (r = .56). Functional responses of the conceptus (e.g., estrogens) and maternal units (e.g., progesterone and PGFM) were influenced by conceptus genotype during the periparturient period.

Topics: Animals; Cattle; Crosses, Genetic; Dinoprost; Estradiol; Estrogens; Estrone; Female; Insemination, Artificial; Male; Progesterone; Prostaglandins F

Blood samples from 4 mares during the late luteal phase, oestrus, early pregnancy and up to about 150 days of gestation were analysed for 15-keto-13,14-dihydroprostaglandin F-2 alpha (PGFM), progesterone, PMSG and oestrone sulphate by radioimmunoassays. During the late luteal phase, at the time of corpus luteum regression and decreasing progesterone levels, PGFM peaks were recorded. During early pregnancy (i.e. from mating and up to about Day 30) no such peaks were detected. After mating the progesterone levels increased and remained high throughout the observation period. During the oestrous cycle PMSG levels tended to reflect gonadotrophic activity because of high cross-reaction with horse LH and horse FSH. During early pregnancy PMSG levels increased at around Day 40, reaching maximum values between Days 50 and 80, when the blood concentration was 1000 times higher than values during oestrus. Oestrone sulphate concentrations increased about 3-fold during oestrus and about 10-fold at the peak of PMSG. After about Days 70-75 of pregnancy the levels of oestrone sulphate increased further and values of greater than 250 nmol/l were reached around Day 100.

Topics: Animals; Dinoprost; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); Estrone; Female; Gonadotropins, Equine; Horses; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Animal; Progesterone; Prostaglandins F; Radioimmunoassay; Time Factors