Reproduction Abstracts

Introduction: Proper interactions between uterus and conceptuses are necessary for establishment of pregnancy and implantation. Key factors in these regulations are prostaglandins (PGs). Recently we presented an important role of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and its receptor (PTGFR) in porcine endometrium during early pregnancy. The aim of present study was to determine whether PGF2α can regulate the endometrial and embryonic expression of biglycan (BGN), metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9), transforming growth factor 3 (TGFB3), interleukin-1α (IL1A) and interleukin-6 (IL6) genes that are potentially involved in embryo-maternal interaction during early pregnancy in the pig.

Methods: Endometrial explants collected from gilts on day 12 of the estrous cycle were incubated with PGF2α (100 nM, 1 μM) or vehicle (M199 with 0.1% ethanol) for 24 h at 37°C in a humidified atmosphere (95% air and 5% CO2). After incubation, explants were snap-frozen in the liquid nitrogen. Similarly, cells of conceptuses collected from gilts (n=5) on day 14 of pregnancy were treated with PGF2α (100 nM, 1 μM) or vehicle for 24 h at 37°C in a humidified atmosphere (95% air and 5% CO2). After incubation cells were lysed and snap-frozen. Total RNA was isolated from endometrial explants and conceptus cells. The expression of BGN, MMP9, TGFB3, IL1A and IL6 genes was analyzed by real-time PCR.

Results and discussion: In endometrial explants, 1 μM PGF2α elevated gene expression of BGN, MMP9, TGFB3 and IL1A (P<0.05). 100 nM PGF2α elevated endometrial expression of BGN and IL1A (P<0.05). In conceptus cells, 1 μM PGF2α increased BGN expression (P<0.05), while IL1A, MMP9 and TGFB3 was down-regulated by 1 μM PGF2α (P<0.05). There was no effect of PGF2α on IL6 expression in porcine endometrial explants and conceptus cells.

Summarizing, differential regulation of BGN, MMP9, TGFB3 and IL1A gene expression by PGF2α in the endometrium and conceptus may promote endometrial remodeling and embryo-maternal communication during early pregnancy.

Supported by NSC (2012/05/E/NZ9/03493).