In this study, the relationship between maternal hormone environment and early embryo development in mature non-lactating Holstein-Friesian cows was investigated. Animals were inseminated at either ...72 or 96 h after prostaglandin injection (n = 23) or were left as uninseminated controls (n = 10). Plasma samples were collected once a day from the first day of insemination (day 1) until day 16, when the cows underwent an oxytocin challenge, and were then slaughtered and their reproductive tracts removed. The tracts were flushed to collect embryos and the flushes were measured for interferon tau (IFN-tau) activity. Inseminated cows without an embryo on day 16 (n = 5) underwent both delayed ovulation (indicated by delayed decrease in oestradiol concentrations) and a delayed increase in progesterone concentrations after ovulation compared with cows with an embryo on day 16 (n = 15). Within the group of cows with an embryo, those with poorly developed embryos producing undetectable concentrations of IFN-tau (n = 7) had similar oestradiol profiles but underwent a delayed progesterone increase after ovulation compared with cows with well developed embryos producing measurable quantities of IFN-tau (n = 8). In the cows with an embryo, the plasma concentration of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto PGF2a, the principal metabolite of PGF2a, after injection of oxytocin was lower than that of control cows and cows without an embryo. However, when the cows with an embryo were compared on the basis of production of embryonic IFN-tau, the PGF2a response to oxytocin was attenuated completely in cows that had measurable IFN-tau activity, whereas a response of similar magnitude to that in control cows and cows without an embryo was observed in those with undetectable IFN-tau activities. In conclusion, the successful maternal recognition of pregnancy in cows depends on the presence of a sufficiently well developed embryo producing sufficient quantities of IFN-tau, which is, in turn, dependent on an appropriate pattern of maternal progesterone secretion.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) develops on the background of chronic hepatitis. Leukocytes found within the HCC microenvironment are implicated as regulators of tumour growth. We show that ...diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced murine HCC is attenuated by antibody-mediated depletion of hepatic neutrophils, the latter stimulating hepatocellular ROS and telomere DNA damage. We additionally report a previously unappreciated tumour suppressor function for hepatocellular nfkb1 operating via p50:p50 dimers and the co-repressor HDAC1. These anti-inflammatory proteins combine to transcriptionally repress hepatic expression of a S100A8/9, CXCL1 and CXCL2 neutrophil chemokine network. Loss of nfkb1 promotes ageing-associated chronic liver disease (CLD), characterized by steatosis, neutrophillia, fibrosis, hepatocyte telomere damage and HCC. Nfkb1(S340A/S340A)mice carrying a mutation designed to selectively disrupt p50:p50:HDAC1 complexes are more susceptible to HCC; by contrast, mice lacking S100A9 express reduced neutrophil chemokines and are protected from HCC. Inhibiting neutrophil accumulation in CLD or targeting their tumour-promoting activities may offer therapeutic opportunities in HCC.
Ovarian function is dependent on the establishment and continual remodelling of a complex vascular system. This enables the follicle and/or corpus luteum (CL) to receive the required supply of ...nutrients, oxygen and hormonal support as well as facilitating the release of steroids. Moreover, the inhibition of angiogenesis results in the attenuation of follicular growth, disruption of ovulation and drastic effects on the development and function of the CL. It appears that the production and action of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) is necessary at all these stages of development. However, the expression of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) in the cow is more dynamic than that of VEGFA with a dramatic upregulation during the follicular-luteal transition. This upregulation is then likely to initiate intense angiogenesis in the presence of high VEGFA levels. Recently, we have developed a novel ovarian physiological angiogenesis culture system in which highly organised and intricate endothelial cell networks are formed. This system will enable us to elucidate the complex inter-play between FGF2 and VEGFA as well as other angiogenic factors in the regulation of luteal angiogenesis. Furthermore, recent evidence indicates that pericytes might play an active role in driving angiogenesis and highlights the importance of pericyte-endothelial interactions in this process. Finally, the targeted promotion of angiogenesis may lead to the development of novel strategies to alleviate luteal inadequacy and infertility.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the possibility of linking the tracing of whole blood clotting in a thrombelastograph® (TEG®) hemostasis system with the generation of thrombin assessed by ...thrombin/antithrombin complex (TAT). Citrated whole blood containing corn trypsin inhibitor from volunteers was clotted in the presence of CaCl2 and tissue factor. Clotting was monitored with the eight channels of a TEG® system. At different time points, the whole blood TEG® reaction cups were kept in a cold quenching solution, centrifuged, and the supernatants were kept at −80 °C until assayed for TAT by ELISA. The total thrombus generation (TTG) was calculated from the first derivative of the TEG® waveform and was compared with thrombin generation measured by TAT. The two vector values – the TAT thrombin generation data and the corresponding TEG® TTG – were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients (r) and linear, non‐linear and natural log (ln) transformation of TAT values for least‐squares goodness‐of‐fit curves. The best least‐squares fit is an exponential curve. Linearizing using the ln of the TAT thrombin generation variable produces the same r (0.94) as of the exponential curve. The prediction equation is y = 8.0465 + 0.0005x (P ≤ 0.0001), where y is the TAT thrombin generation variable in the ln transformation and x is the TEG® TTG variable. The high magnitude of r and the high significance of the prediction equation demonstrate the high efficacy of the prediction of TAT thrombin generation by the use of TEG® TTG.
This study examined the expression patterns of oxytocin and steroid receptors in the bovine endometrium during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy to elucidate their respective roles in the ...regulation of luteolysis and the maternal recognition of pregnancy. In Expt 1, uterine biopsies were collected from four cows throughout three oestrous cycles each, to provide daily samples. In Expt 2, uterine tissue was collected on days 12, 14, 16 and 18 of the oestrous cycle (n = 20) or early pregnancy (n = 16). Oxytocin receptor, oestrogen receptor alpha and progesterone receptor mRNAs were localized by in situ hybridization, and localization of oestrogen receptor and progesterone receptor was confirmed by immunocytochemistry. All three receptors showed time- and cell-specific expression patterns. Oestrogen receptor alpha increased in all regions at oestrus but high concentrations were also found in the luminal epithelium during the mid-luteal phase and in the deep glands throughout the oestrous cycle. Progesterone receptor expression was higher in the stroma than it was in the types of epithelial cell, and increased expression was observed at oestrus and during the early luteal phase. The cyclical upregulation of oxytocin receptors in the luminal epithelium on about day 16 was not related to preceding changes in the endometrial expression of either oestradiol alpha or progesterone receptors. During early pregnancy, oxytocin receptor expression was suppressed. Oestrogen receptor a concentrations increased in the non-pregnant cows and decreased in the pregnant cows between days 16 and 18, but these changes followed rather than preceded the upregulation of oxytocin receptors in the non-pregnant cows. It is concluded that the initial upregulation of oxytocin receptors in the luminal epithelium, which triggers luteolysis, is not associated directly with changes in expression of oestrogen receptor alpha.
We have investigated the effects of the timing of progesterone supplementation on early embryo development in mature, non-lactating Holstein–Friesian cows. Animals were inseminated 72 h (day 1) and ...96 h following prostaglandin injection and were either left as untreated controls (
n
=
6) or received progesterone supplementation from either days 5 to 9 (early;
n
=
6) or from days 12 to 16 (late;
n
=
6). Daily plasma samples were collected until day 16, when cows were slaughtered and reproductive tracts recovered and flushed to collect embryos and to measure interferon-τ activity. Both early and later progesterone supplementation resulted in marked increases in plasma progesterone (
P
<
0.01). Early, but not late, progesterone supplementation resulted in a fourfold increase in trophoblast length (
P
<
0.01) and a sixfold increase in uterine concentration of interferon-τ (
P
<
0.05). The results demonstrate that progesterone supplementation during the postovulatory rise, but not later in the luteal phase, increases embryo development and interferon-τ production.
It is often assumed that a larger corpus luteum will produce more progesterone and generate higher circulating plasma concentrations. The aim of the study was to determine whether the size of the ...corpus luteum does actually determine circulating plasma progesterone concentrations. Data were collated from a number of studies on various aspects of luteal function in non-lactating dairy cows to allow comparisons to be made between corpus luteum weight and plasma progesterone concentration across the luteal phase. In these studies oestrous cycles had been synchronised and animals slaughtered on day 5, day 8 or day 16 following oestrus. Both corpus luteum weight and plasma progesterone concentration increased between day 5 and day 8. Plasma progesterone concentration but not luteal weight also increased between day 8 and day 16. On day 5 there was a strong relationship between corpus luteum weight and plasma progesterone (
R
2
=
0.64;
P
<
0.001). However, no such relationship was present on day 8 or day 16. These results indicate that while during the early stage of corpus luteum development a relationship between size and progesterone is present, by day 8 of the cycle, the size of the corpus luteum is no longer of importance in determining circulating progesterone concentrations.
•Cows with endometritis had increased risk of atypical progesterone profiles.•Prolonged luteal activity was the principal cyclicity problem associated with endometritis.•Cows with endometritis had a ...3-day delay in the onset of luteal activity.•Endometritis was not associated with adverse effects on delayed first ovulation or cessation of cyclicity.•The effect of endometritis on ovarian cyclicity was dependent on the grade of endometritis.
Endometritis in dairy cows is a major global issue and has been associated with a decrease in reproductive performance. The aim of this study was to quantify the effect of endometritis (as defined by the presence of any abnormal vaginal discharge after 21 days post-partum) on post-partum ovarian cyclicity in dairy cows. Milk progesterone analysis was used to monitor reproductive cyclicity in 170 dairy cows across three different commercial herds. Associations between the occurrence of endometritis and the incidence risk of a variety of atypical cycle profiles during the calving to conception period were investigated to establish the importance of endometritis on post-partum ovarian activity.
Endometritis increased the incidence odds of atypical ovarian profiles (P < 0.05) with prolonged luteal activity being the most affected (P < 0.05), but also showed prolonged time (3 days) to onset of luteal activity after parturition (P < 0.05). Using milk progesterone analysis, we found a relatively low incidence odds for reproductive cycle problems in healthy cows during the calving to conception period. However, the incidence odds of cycle problems, in particular prolonged luteal activity, were high in cows that had experienced endometritis, which would have significantly impaired reproductive function.
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