Effect of undernutrition on the uterine environment during maternal recognition of pregnancy in sheep

• DOI: 10.1071/rd09051
• Publication Date: 2009-08-24T04:02:24Z
• Authors: C. Sosa; J. A. Abecia; M. Carriquiry; M. I. Vázquez; A. Fernández-Foren; M. Talmon; F. Forcada; A. Meikle
• Keywords: Conceptus; Oxytocin receptor

The effects of pregnancy and undernutrition on endometrial gene expression were investigated in ewes fed all or half their maintenance requirements killed Day 14 the oestrous cycle. progesterone, oestrogen, oxytocin interferon receptors (PR, ERα, OXTR IFNAR, respectively), cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), insulin-like growth factors (IGF)-I -II, IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) was studied by immunohistochemistry real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. luminal epithelium cyclic control devoid PR staining had relatively high levels OXTR, COX-2 IFNAR2. presence a conceptus decreased vitro uterine secretion prostaglandin (PG) F2α IFNAR2 most types, increased IGF-I IGF-II. Undernutrition tended to increase ERα protein gene, but PGE2 ewes. There no effect rates number conceptuses recovered. Consistent with this, pregnant did not have any expression. Moreover, cases where changes observed ewes, these negated when present.