Effect of early administration of progesterone on the function of the corpus luteum of llamas.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate if early administration of progesterone immediately after ovulation affects corpus luteum lifespan in llamas. Female llamas (n = 16) were induced to ovulate by Buserelin injection in the presence of an ovulatory follicle (Day 0). On Day 2, ovulation was confirmed and animals were randomly divided into two groups: treated animals (n = 8) received an intravaginal device containing 0.3 g of progesterone from Day 2 to Day 6 post-induction of ovulation and control group (n = 8) received a device with 0 g of progesterone. Blood samples were collected daily to determine plasma progesterone concentration and transrectal ultrasonographies were performed from Day 7 to Day 12 post-induction of ovulation. Mean maximum diameter of the corpus luteum was significantly lower and was reached before in the treated group than in the control group. The mean highest plasma progesterone concentration and the day that concentration was achieved were similar between groups. However, mean plasma progesterone concentration was significantly higher in the treated group than in the control group on Days 3 and 4 and lower on Days 8 and 9 post-induction of ovulation. The day that plasma progesterone concentration returns to 1 ng/ml differed between groups, occurring earlier in the treated group. In conclusion, the early increase of plasma progesterone concentration during the luteal phase, promoted the premature activation of the luteolytic process affecting corpus luteum function in llamas as it was previously reported in other species.

Current knowledge about the processes of luteolysis and maternal recognition of pregnancy in camelids.

Camelids have many unique reproductive features that considerably differ from those of other domestic species. Females are induced ovulators with subsequent development of a corpus luteum (CL) with a short lifespan. Plasma progesterone concentration starts to increase on day 4, peaks on day 8-9 and, in non-pregnant animals, basal concentration is reached around day 10-11 post-induction of ovulation. Luteolytic pulses of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α ) are firstly detected on day 7 or 8 (approximately on day 5-6 after ovulation), with maximal luteolytic peaks observed between days 9 and 11 post-mating, in coincidence with a high endometrial expression of cyclooxygenase 2, a limiting enzyme in prostaglandins synthesis. Unlike other species, oxytocin seems not to be involved in the luteolytic process in these species. The CL is the main source of progesterone secretion, and its function is required to support pregnancy. Despite constant research efforts, aspects of reproduction and maternal recognition of pregnancy in camelids remain not fully understood. A transient decrease and subsequent recovery in plasma progesterone concentration are observed after day 9 post-mating in pregnant animals in association with a pulsatile release of PGF2α and a transitory decrease in CL vascularization. Thus, embryo recognition should occur between days 8 and 12 post-mating. In camels, conceptus tissues exhibit aromatizing activity with the capacity to synthesize large amounts of oestradiol. Similarly, llama blastocysts secrete oestradiol-17ß during the preimplantation stage, with a higher production during the elongation period. An increase in the endometrial expression of oestrogen receptor α is also observed on day 12 post-mating. All these evidences suggest that oestrogen could be the signal released by the embryo at the time of its recognition in camelids. Besides, nearly 98% of pregnancies are carried out in the left horn. A decrease in the endometrial expression of mucin 1 and 16 genes has been reported, suggesting that these changes are crucial for successful embryo implantation; however, no differences have been observed between horns. Thus, maternal recognition of pregnancy in camelids is a particularly complex process that must occur in a concise time to allow the rescue of the CL and embryo survival.

Effect of short-term artificial light and transvaginal progesterone device on first ovulation in late transitional mares.

In study I, plasma progesterone concentrations were evaluated in anoestrous mares that received an intravaginal progesterone release device (IPRD) for 10 days. Mares were divided into 3 groups based on the dosage of progesterone (0 g, n=3; 1.38 g, n=5; and 1.9 g, n=5). No statistical differences were found in plasma progesterone concentrations between the two doses tested. In study II, the effects of a protocol based on a short program of artificial light combined with an IPRD containing 1.38 g of progesterone on oestrous behaviour and onset of ovulation were evaluated. IPRDs were inserted into 31 late transitional mares (10 days of treatment). The mares were divided into a control group (n=9, IPRD with 0 g of progesterone) and two treatment groups (T1, n=10, IPRD with 0 g of progesterone and artificial light; T2, n=12, IPRD with 1.38 g of progesterone and artificial light). The percentages of mares in heat within the first 14 days after treatment were 100%, 70%, and 100% in the control, T1, and T2 groups, respectively (P=0.097), and their ovulation rates were 44%, 60%, and 100%, respectively (P≤0.01). In conclusion, a protocol based on artificial light and an IPRD containing 1.38 g of progesterone for 10 days could be considered to advance the first ovulation of the year in late transitional mares, as it ensures a higher rate of ovulation within the first 14 days after treatment.

Antiproliferative Effects of Oxytocin and Desmopressin on Canine Mammary Cancer Cells.

Neoplasms of the mammary gland represent the most frequent tumor type in the female dog, and according to the histologic criteria, approximately 50% of them are malignant. In the most aggressive cases of mammary cancer, surgery is not enough to warrant a favorable outcome, and adjuvant therapies are needed to improve the patient's overall survival. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of two peptides on proliferation of a canine mammary cancer cell line derived from a simple carcinoma. The cell line CMT-U27 was grown in 96-well plates, at two cell densities (4 × 103 and 8 × 103 cells/well). Cultures were treated with oxytocin (OT) or desmopressin at five concentrations (10, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 nM). After 72 h of incubation, cell proliferation was determined by the MTT assay. Results showed that with 4 × 103 cells/well, OT at 50, 500, and 1000 nM was growth inhibitory for the cells, being statistically significant at 1000 nM. On the contrary, no antiproliferative effect was observed with 10 or 100 nM. At 8 × 103 cells/well, OT showed a significant antiproliferative effect only with the highest concentration (1000 nM). Desmopressin at 4 × 103 cells/well decreased cell viability at concentrations of 50, 100, 500, and 1000 nM (statistically significant with the highest concentration), while no effect was observed with 10 nM. With 8 × 103 cells/well, this peptide reduced cell growth at 100, 500, and 1000 nM. In conclusion, we suggest that these peptides may be potential and promising compounds for the treatment of dogs with simple carcinomas of the mammary gland. In vivo studies are required to confirm this hypothesis.