Expression of receptors for ovarian steroids and prostaglandin E2 in the endometrium and myometrium of mares during estrus, diestrus and early pregnancy.

The objective of this study was to compare expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ER-α), ß (ER-ß), progesterone receptor (PR), as well as prostaglandin E2 type 2 (EP2) and 4 (EP4) receptors in the equine myometrium and endometrium during estrus, diestrus and early pregnancy. Tissues were collected during estrus, diestrus, and early pregnancy. Transcripts for ER-α (ESR1), ER-ß (ESR2), PR (PGR), EP2 (PTGER2) and EP4 (PTGER4) were quantified by qPCR. Immunohistochemistry was used to localize ER-α, ER-ß, PR, EP2 and EP4. Differences in transcript in endometrium and myometrium were compared by the ΔΔCT method. Expression for ESR1 (P<0.05) tended to be higher during estrus than diestrus in the endometrium (P=0.1) and myometrium (P=0.06). In addition, ESR1 expression was greater during estrus than pregnancy (P<0.05) in the endometrium and tended to be higher in estrus compared to pregnancy in the myometrium (P=0.1). Expression for PGR was greater (P<0.05) in the endometrium during estrus and diestrus than during pregnancy. In the myometrium, PGR expression was greater in estrus than pregnancy (P=0.05) and tended to be higher during diestrus in relation to pregnancy (P=0.07). There were no differences among reproductive stages in ESR2, PTGER2 and PTGER4 mRNA expression (P>0.05). Immunolabeling in the endometrium appeared to be more intense for ER-α during estrus than diestrus and pregnancy. In addition, immunostaining for PR during pregnancy appeared to be more intense in the stroma and less intense in glands and epithelium compared to estrus and diestrus. EP2 immunoreactivity appeared to be more intense during early pregnancy in both endometrium and myometrium, whereas weak immunolabeling for EP4 was noted across reproductive stages. This study demonstrates differential regulation of estrogen receptor (ER) and PR in the myometrium and endometrium during the reproductive cycle and pregnancy as well as abundant protein expression of EP2 in the endometrium and myometrium during early pregnancy in mares.

Sexual behavior and ejaculate characteristics in Pêga donkeys (Equus asinus) mounting estrous horse mares (Equus caballus).

The objectives were to (i) characterize sexual behavior of donkey stallions (jacks; Equus asinus) during on-farm semen collection using estrous horse mares (mares; Equus caballus); (ii) compare behavior of young (less experienced) versus older (more experienced) jacks; (iii) determine whether semen suitable for artificial insemination (AI) could be collected using mares; and (iv) determine the suitability of using mares in field collection of semen from jacks. Six Pêga jacks (3.5 to 16 yr old), previously conditioned to breed mares, were used. Mount mares were confirmed in estrus by a teaser horse stallion (stallion) and a jack. Semen was collected with an artificial vagina, at intervals of 48 to 72h (180 collections). The mean+/-SD (young [3.5 yr] vs. old [14 to 16 yr]) were Flehmen response frequency, 7.4+/-5.8 (8.1+/-3.0 vs. 7.0+/-2.0); number of mounts without erection, 1.1+/-1.3 (2.1+/-1.4 vs. 1.2+/-0.4, P<0.05); latency from first exposure to mare to full erection on the ejaculatory mount, 18.3+/-17.7min (25.3+/-21.3 vs. 12.2+/-6.2, P<0.05); latency from erection to insertion, 5.1+/-3.5sec (5.3+/-3.8 vs. 4.8+/-3.2); and duration of copulation from insertion to dismount after ejaculation, 25.4+/-7.8sec (22.1+/-2.9 vs. 28.1+/-9.3). In all jacks, sexual behavior was generally normal, with the notable absence of open mouth behavior. Mare estrous behavior was markedly less intense than that in the presence of a stallion and usually absent. Semen characteristics were gel free volume, 47.3+/-28.7mL; gel volume, 71.8+/-54.8mL; total motility, 84.3+/-6.0%; progressive motility, 74.3+/-74.5%; sperm vigor, 3.9+/-0.5 (scale 1 to 5); sperm concentration, 253x10(6) cells/mL; and total number of sperm, 10.3x10(9) cells. Copulation duration was significantly correlated with gel free volume (r=0.9) and gel volume (r=0.7). We concluded that (i) the sexual behavior of jacks during semen collection using mares was similar to that reported for natural mating to jennies, (ii) precopulatory and copulatory behavior for the young (less experienced) jacks and older (more experienced) jacks were generally similar (except number of mounts without erection and latency to full erection); (iii) semen obtained using mares as stimulus and mount females was similar to that reported with estrous jennies; and (iv) semen collection from previously conditioned jacks, using estrous mares, was appropriate for field collection of semen.

Restrição alimentar e os mecanismos endócrinos associados ao desenvolvimento folicular ovariano em vacas / Feeding restriction and the endocrine mechanisms involved in ovarian follicular development in cows

Em ruminantes, a nutrição afeta as concentrações circulantes e as reservas hipofisárias de gonadotrofinas, as quais são importantes para o desenvolvimento final de folículos dominantes. Assim, qualquer fator que interfira na sua secreção será limitante ao desempenho reprodutivo. A nutrição pode influenciar a função ovariana por modular a secreção dos hormônios luteinizante (LH) e folículo estimulante (FSH) tanto em condições de alta quanto de baixa ingestão alimentar. O desenvolvimento dos folículos ovarianos também está relacionado com as mudanças na concentração dos hormônios metabólicos periféricos, como: insulina, hormônio do crescimento (GH), leptina, fator de crescimento semelhante à insulina (IGF-I) e neuropeptídeo-Y (NPY), cujas concentrações podem ser afetadas pelo estado metabólico do animal.(AU)

In ruminants, the nutrition effect on the blood and pituitary gonadotropins which are important to the final maturation of dominant follicles. Thus, any factor that interferes in their secretion will limit animal reproductive performance. Nutrition may influence the ovarian function by modulating luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion, either in high or low feed intake condition. Development of ovarian follicles is also related to changes in peripheral metabolites hormones concentrations like: insulin, growth hormone (GH), leptin, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and neuropeptide-Y (NPY), whose concentrations may be affected by animal metabolic status.(AU)

Restrição alimentar e os mecanismos endócrinos associados ao desenvolvimento folicular ovariano em vacas / Feeding restriction and the endocrine mechanisms involved in ovarian follicular development in cows

Em ruminantes, a nutrição afeta as concentrações circulantes e as reservas hipofisárias de gonadotrofinas, as quais são importantes para o desenvolvimento final de folículos dominantes. Assim, qualquer fator que interfira na sua secreção será limitante ao desempenho reprodutivo. A nutrição pode influenciar a função ovariana por modular a secreção dos hormônios luteinizante (LH) e folículo estimulante (FSH) tanto em condições de alta quanto de baixa ingestão alimentar. O desenvolvimento dos folículos ovarianos também está relacionado com as mudanças na concentração dos hormônios metabólicos periféricos, como: insulina, hormônio do crescimento (GH), leptina, fator de crescimento semelhante à insulina (IGF-I) e neuropeptídeo-Y (NPY), cujas concentrações podem ser afetadas pelo estado metabólico do animal.

In ruminants, the nutrition effect on the blood and pituitary gonadotropins which are important to the final maturation of dominant follicles. Thus, any factor that interferes in their secretion will limit animal reproductive performance. Nutrition may influence the ovarian function by modulating luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion, either in high or low feed intake condition. Development of ovarian follicles is also related to changes in peripheral metabolites hormones concentrations like: insulin, growth hormone (GH), leptin, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and neuropeptide-Y (NPY), whose concentrations may be affected by animal metabolic status.