• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.643-652
• /
• 2017

Objective: Prostaglandins (PGs) function in various reproductive processes, including luteolysis, maternal pregnancy recognition, conceptus development, and parturition. Our earlier study has shown that PG transporters ATP-binding cassette, subfamily C, member 4 (ABCC4) and solute carrier organic anion transporter family, member 2A1 (SLCO2A1) are expressed in the uterine endometrium in pigs. Since several other PG transporters such as ABCC1, ABCC9, SLCO4C1, and SLCO5A1 are known to be present in the uterine endometrium, this study investigated the expression of these PG transporters in the porcine uterine endometrium and placenta. Methods: Uterine endometrial tissues were obtained from gilts on day (D) 12 and D15 of the estrous cycle and days 12, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 114 of pregnancy. Results: ABCC1, ABCC9, SLCO4C1, and SLCO5A1 mRNAs were expressed in the uterine endometrium, and levels of expression changed during the estrous cycle and pregnancy. Expression of ABCC1 and ABCC9 mRNAs was localized mainly to luminal and glandular epithelial cells in the uterine endometrium, and chorionic epithelial cells during pregnancy. Conceptuses during early pregnancy and chorioallantoic tissues from mid to late pregnancy also expressed these PG transporters. $Estradiol-17{\beta}$ increased the expression of ABCC1 and SLCO5A1, but not ABCC9 and SLCO4C1 mRNAs and increasing doses of $interleukin-1{\beta}$ induced the expression of ABCC9, SLCO4C1, and SLCO5A1 mRNAs in endometrial explant tissues. Conclusion: These data showed that several PG transporters such as ABCC1, ABCC9, SLCO4C1, and SLCO5A1 were expressed at the maternal-conceptus interface, suggesting that these PG transporters may play an important role in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy by regulating PG transport in the uterine endometrium and placenta in pigs.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.47 no.5
• /
• pp.711-720
• /
• 2005

In the corpus luteum, TNF$\alpha$ is known to induce functional and structural luteolysis. In addition, it acts as luteotropic agent during the initial and early stage of luteal development. In spite of its importance in corpus luteal development, there is still different opinions for the source cells of TNF$\alpha$ in the corpus luteum. One is the macrophages only, and the other is macrophages are the main source and endothelial cells are the minor source. In this experiment, using the porcine corpora lutea of pregnancy and ovulatory stages, hematoxylin-eosin stain, macrophage and TNF$\alpha$ immunohistochemistry were carried to reveal the sources of TNF$\alpha$. As a result, MAC 387-positive macrophages were present in all the stages of corpora lutea. In the mature corpora lutea of nonpregnant stages, the sites of MAC 387-positive macrophages and those of TNF$\alpha$- positive macrophages were coincided, and the sites of endothelial cells and those of TNF$\alpha$-positive endothelial cells were nearly coincided. But, in the mature CL of pregnant stage, mid- and advanced luteolytic stages of both nonpregnant and pregnant stages, the sites of MAC 387-positive macrophages and those of TNF$\alpha$-positive macrophages were coincided, but not in the endothelial cells. Accordingly, it can be concluded that macrophages are the main source of TNF$\alpha$ in the corpus luteum and endothelial cells are the minor source in the mature and mid-lytic stages, but, in the advanced luteolytic stage, macrophages are the only source of TNF$\alpha$.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.36-45
• /
• 1984

This study was carried out to investigate the changes in ovary in repeatedly superovulated rabbits. A total of 57 New Zealand White and Californian, 25 mature virgin and 32 immature does were used in this study. For induction of repeated superovulation, PMSG and HCG were injected at 17-day and 30-day intervals for mature does and 17-day intervals for immature ones. The repeatedly superovulated does at 17-day intervals were induced luteolysis of pseudopregnant corpus luteum with PGF2${\alpha}$ on Day 8 to 9 p.c. The effect of repeated superovulation on reproductive organs was investigated on Day 3 p.c. in mature does and on Day 3 and 6 p.c. in immature ones, respectively. 1. In mature virgin does, the number of ovulation points in the 2nd and 3rd superovulation period averaged 7.0 and 5.0 at 17-day intervals and 13.4 and 6.0 at 30-day intervals, respectively. These numbers were statistically similar to 9.5 ovulation points in the control. However, there were less (p<0.05) ovulation points in those periods compared with 22.1 ovulation points in the 1st superovulation period. 2. In immature does, the number of ovulation points in the 2nd and 3rd superovulation period averaged 5.3 and 2.3, respectively. These numbers were significantly (p<0.05) decreased than 17.1 ovulation points in the 1st periods. The number of ovulation points in the 2nd superovulation period was similar to that in the control, but there was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the number of ovulation points in the 3rd period as compared to the control. 3. In mature virgin does, the number of visible normal and hemorrhagic follicles (>1.0mm diameter) on day 3 p.c. averaged 19.1 and 8.9 in the 1st superovulation period, respectively. In the 2nd 3rd superovulation period, the number of normal follicles averaged 8.3 and 15.5 at 17-day intervals and 17.8 and 14.5 at 30-day intervals. The number of hemorrhagic follicles in the 2nd and 3rd superovulation period averaged 6.3 and 2.0 at 17-day intervals and 5.2 and 7.8 at 30-day intervals, respectively. There was a slight decrease, although not significant, in the number of normal and hemorrhagic follicles in the 2nd and 3rd period at 17-day intervals compared to that in the 1st period. 4. In immature does, the number of visible normal follicles on day 3 and day 6 p.c. in the 1st superovulation period averaged 27:3 and 26.1, respectively. The follicles on day 3 p.c. tended to increase slightly more than that in the cortrol, but the average number of normal follicles on day 6 p.c. did not differ from that in the control. The number of visible hemorrhagic follicles on day 3 and day 6 p.c. in the 1st of follicles in the 1st superovulation period average 10.2 and 9.9, respectively. There was a slight increase in the number of follicles in the 1st period compared to that in the control. In the 2nd and 3rd superovulation period, the number of normal follicles revealed a slight decrease in the 3rd period, but the number of hemorrhagic follicles was not different between periods. 5. The number of growing follicles with incipient intral formation on day 3 p.c. in mature does of the 1st superovulaton period average 29.7 and the average number of growing follicles in the 3rd period was 26.7 at 17-day intervals and 31.0 at 30-day intervals, respectively. These numbers did not differ from that in the control. In immature does, the number of growing follicles averaged 57.7, 45.0 and 59.3 in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd superovulation period, respectively. There was a slight but not significant decrease in the number of growing follicles in the 3rd period compared to that in the control.