Physiological Factors Affecting Ovine Uterine Estrogen and Progesterone Receptorconcentrations Redacted for Privacy Abstract Approved: W-A Fredrick Stormshak
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Patrice L. Prater for the degree of Master ofScience in Animal Science presented on November 14. 1990 Title: Physiological Factors Affecting Ovine Uterine Estrogen and Progesterone ReceptorConcentrations Redacted for Privacy Abstract Approved: w-A Fredrick Stormshak Two experiments were conducted todetermine whether in ewes uterine concentrationsof estrogen and progesterone receptors are affected by the presence of aconceptus or by the hormonal milieu associated withextremes in photoperiod to which ewes are exposed. In Exp.1, nine mature ewes were unilaterally ovariectomized by removing an ovary bearing the corpusluteum (CL). The ipsilateral uterine horn wasligated at the external bifurcation and a portion of theanterior ipsilateral uterine horn was removed and assayed forendometrial nuclear and cytosolic concentrations of estrogenreceptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) by exchange assays. After a recovery estrous cycle, ewes werebred to a fertile ram. On day 18 of gestation a 10 ml jugular bloodsample was collected for measurement of serum concentrationsof estradiol -178 (E2) and progesterone by radioimmunoassay. Ewes were relaparotomized on day 18 and the remaining uterine tissue was removed. Endometrium from both the pregnant and nonpregnant uterine horn was assayed for nuclear and cytosolic ER and PR concentrations. Nuclear and cytosolic ER concentrations on day 10 of the cycle were greater than in endometrium of gravid and nongravid uterine horns on day 18 of gestation (p<.01). Endometrial nuclear PR levels were also greater on day 10 of the cycle than in the pregnant (p<.05) and nonpregnant horn (p<.01) on day 18 of gestation. There were no differences in nuclear and cytosolic ER and PR concentrations between the pregnant and nonpregnant uterine horn on day 18. Serum levels of E2 and progesterone on day 18 of gestation were 16.56 ± 2.43 pg/ml and 1.74 ± 0.57 ng/ml, respectively. These data suggest that duration of exposure of the uterus to progesterone and(or) the presence of the conceptus causes a reduction in uterine concentrations of ER and PR. Further, an effect of the conceptus, if any, is exerted via asystemic route. In Exp. 2, ten mature ewes were bilaterally ovariectomized in early October. During the onset of the winter solstice (late December), a 10 ml blood sample was collected from five ewes for analysis of serum levels of E2 and progesterone. Ewes were then laparotomized and approximately one-third to one-half of a uterine horn was removed and assayed for endometrial nuclear and cytosolic ER. The contralateral horn was ligated at the external bifurcation and 10 Ag of E2 in 3 ml of physiological saline was injected into the uterine lumen of the ligated horn. After 48 h, a jugular blood sample was collected for steroid analysis and a section of the E2_treated horn was removedand assayed for endometrial cytosolic and nuclear ER. This procedure was repeated on the remaining five ewes during the height of the summer solstice (lateJune). Endometrialnuclear and cytosolic concentrations of ER prior to and after exogenous E2 stimulation were similar during the winter and summer solstice (p>.05). However, treatment with E2 increased endometrialnuclearandcytosolic concentrations of ER compared with those of the nonstimulated uterine horn during the winter and summer solstice (p<.05 for each). Serum levels of E2 prior to luminal treatment of ewes with E2during the winter and summer solstice did not differ (16.55 ± 4.05 vs 16.00 ± 3.0 pg/ml, respectively, p>.05). Serum levels of E2 48 h after administration of E2 did not differ among ewesat the winter and summer solstice (18.75 ± 2.4 vs 18.65 ± 1.65 pg/ml, respectively, p>.05). Serum levels of progesterone were basal (<0.10 ng/ml) anddid not differ in ewes prior to and after E2 treatment at the winter and summersolstice (p>.05). These data indicate that physiological factors and(or) hormones such as prolactin and melatonin secretedin response to extremes in photoperiod do not appearto influence uterine concentrations of ER in ovariectomized ewes. Physiological Factors Affecting Ovine Uterine Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor Concentrations by Patrice L. Prater A THESIS submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Completed November 14, 1990 Commencement June, 1991 APPROVED: Redacted for Privacy Professor of Animal Science and Biochemistry andBiophysics in charge of the major Redacted for Privacy Head of Department of Animal Science Redacted for Privacy Dean of C Date thesis presented: November 14, 1990 Typed for Researcher by: Patrice L. Prater ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to take the opportunity to express my thanks to all of the individuals who helped make this thesis a reality. Sincere thanks to Dr. "Stormy" Stormshak for his guidance and friendship, and most importantly, for teaching me perseverance to "take the bull by thetail on a uphill pull" as there will always be worthwhile and attainable goals to pursue. I would also like to thank Ligaya Tumbelaka, Anna Cortell-Brown, Ov Slayden, and Sue Leers-Sucheta for their help and friendship during surgeries and laboratory tribulations. Appreciation also to the U.S.F.S, LaGrande research station and Dr. John Stellflug of the U.S. Sheep Experimental Station, Dubois, Idaho for their contributions toward this research.Thanks also to Dr. Kenneth Rowe, Oregon State University, for his statistical guidance. In hindsight,I realize that without the support and encouragement of those most dear to me, this degree would not have been realized.Therefore, I would like to extend a very special thank you to my family (Moores and Praters) and my husband Brian for believing in me and for giving me the foundation of love and encouragement on which to build. An extra special thank you to Brian, who as a husband and best friend has shown me that prosperity in life is found through love and laughter. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page REVIEW OF LITERATURE 1 Introduction 1 ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE 4 Origin of Estrogen and Progesterone 4 Physiological Responses to Estrogens 5 Physiological Responses to Progesterone 7 Biosynthesis of Estrogen and Progesterone 7 Steroid Hormone Transport 11 Steroid Hormone Receptors 12 THE ESTROUS CYCLE 17 Follicular Phase 17 Luteal Phase 18 Luteolysis 20 EARLY GESTATION 23 Maternal Recognition of Pregnancy 23 Implantation or Attachment 26 SEASONAL REPRODUCTION 30 Melatonin 31 Prolactin 34 EXPERIMENT 1 38 Introduction 38 Materials and Methods 39 Animals 39 Nuclear Estrogen Receptor Assay 40 Cytosolic Estrogen Receptor Assay 42 Nuclear Progesterone Receptor Assay 43 Cytosolic Progesterone Receptor Assay 44 DNA Determination 45 Serum Progesterone Radioimmunoassay 46 Serum Estradiol Radioimmunoassay 47 Statistical Analysis 49 Results 49 Discussion 52 EXPERIMENT 2 55 Introduction 55 Materials and Methods 56 Animals 56 Nuclear and Cytosolic Estrogen Receptor Assay 57 TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT.) Page DNA Determination 57 Serum Progesterone and Estradiol Radioimmunoassay 58 Statistical Analysis 58 Results 58 Discussion 61 BIBLIOGRAPHY 64 LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Specific binding ofClflestradio1-178 to nuclear and cytosolic estrogen receptors (mean ± SE) in endometria of ewes on day 10 of the estrous cycle and in endometria of gravid and non-gravid uterine horns of ewes on day 18 of gestation. Mean nuclear and cytosolic concentrations of estrogen receptors, day 10 vs day 18 gravid and nongravid horns differ (p<.05). 51 2. Specifically bound (3H)R5020 to nuclear progesterone receptors (mean ± SE) in endometria of ewes on day 10 of the estrouscycle and in endometria of the gravid and nongravid uterine horns of ewes on day 18 of gestation. Day 10 vs day 18 gravid and nongravid horns differ in concentrations of progesterone receptors (p<.05). 51 3. Specifically bound [3H]estradio1-178 to nuclear and cytosolic estrogen receptors (mean ± SE) in nonstimulated and exogenous estradiol-stimulated endometria of ewes during the winter and summer solstice. Stimulated vs nonstimulated endometrium; nuclear (p<.05), cytosolic (p<.01). 60 PHYSIOLOGICAL FACTORS AFFECTING OVINE UTERINE ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE RECEPTOR CONCENTRATIONS REVIEW OF LITERATURE INTRODUCTION The mechanisms of steroid hormone action havelong been an area of fascination andscientific inquiry. In the female, estrogen and progesterone play a primary rolein promoting the development of an intrauterine environment necessaryfor successful procreation. Prior to 1960 most research on estrogens and progesterone entailed studies with various mammalian species toelucidate the physiological effects of these steroids onthe development of the uterus and mammary glands. During the 1960's interest in the effects of these hormones shifted fromphysiological to biochemical. Indeed, it was during the late 1960's that experimental evidence was first presented to suggest thatthe biological responses evoked by estrogens were the consequence of this steroid being bound within the targetcell by a macromolecular receptor. Subsequently, research demonstrated the existence of target tissue receptors for othersteroids, including progesterone. Because the availability of estrogen andprogesterone receptors directly affects the biologicalactivity of these steroids, much research hasbeenconductedtoquantify 2 estrogen and progesterone receptors in uteri of laboratory animals. However, comparatively little is known about the changes in uterine concentrations of estrogen and progesterone receptors