Endocrinology, Vol 119, 527-529, Copyright © 1986 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Advancement of uterine secretion of prostaglandin E2 by treatment with progesterone and transfer of asynchronous embryos

DL Vincent, S Meredith and EK Inskeep

Effects of treatment with progesterone early after estrus and the age of the blastocyst in the uterus on day-6 postestrus on uteroovarian venous concentration of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) during days 7-12 postestrus were examined. At estrus, 24 ewes were assigned randomly to mating with fertile rams and daily injections of progesterone from days 1-3 postestrus, mating with fertile rams and daily injections of vehicle from days 1-3 postestrus, no mating, injection of progesterone from days 1-3 postestrus and transfer of a day-10 blastocyst into the uterus on day-6 postestrus, and no mating, injection of vehicle from days 1-3 postestrus and transfer of a day-10 blastocyst into the uterus on day-6 postestrus. PGE2 increased beginning on day 8 in progesterone- treated ewes that received a day-10 blastocyst on day-6 postestrus, but did not increase until day 12 in mated ewes with confirmed pregnancy. PGE2 remained at basal concentrations in mated progesterone-treated ewes (with a day-6 blastocyst on day-6) and showed only a transient rise on day-11 in vehicle-treated ewes which received a day-10 blastocyst on day-6 postestrus. It is concluded that progesterone regulates the ability of the uterus to release PGE2 in response to a blastocyst of appropriate age.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. K. Inskeep Preovulatory, postovulatory, and postmaternal recognition effects of concentrations of progesterone on embryonic survival in the cow J Anim Sci, January 1, 2004; 82(13_suppl): E24 - 39. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]