Embryo mortality and altered uterine luminal proteins in progesterone-treated rabbits.
This study was undertaken to elucidate the location, time, and nature of embryo mortality induced by preovulatory progesteron administration. Progesterone was injected into rabbits on days -2, -1, and 0 (the day of mating) at doses of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.0 mg, respectively. Normal fertilization rates resulted, but embryonic death occurred by day 4. Embryos residing in progesterone-treated does for up to 3 days survived normally when transferred to normal recipients, whereas day 4 embryos from treated does exhibited a reduced ability to implant. Uterine fluid (UF) protein pattern was examined on days 1 to 7 after mating. Total UF protein levels were significantly greater in treated animals on day 4 than in controls. Uteroglobin secretion was significantly advanced in the treated animals by day 3. Examination of the time of the arrival of embryos into the uterus revealed a delay in the progesterone-treated rabbits. This delay, coupled with the earlier secretion of uteroglobin in the treated rabbits, indicated a possible asynchrony of approximately 1 day between embryo arrival in the uterus and certain uterine proteins. To determine whether UF could be etiologically implicated in the progesterone-induced embryonic death, embryonic development in vitro and in vivo was examined after exposure to UF collected at different gestational stages. More normal day 3 morulae placed in UF from day 3 control and day 2 progesterone-treated rabbits developed than similar morulae placed in UF from day 2 controls and day 3 progesterone-treated does. Hence, partial physiologic synchrony was achieved. This was interpreted to mean that "asynchronous" UF can be embryotoxic. Infertility was transient. Ability of the does to produce young at a pregnancy immediately following a progesterone-treated pregnancy was not impaired.
D000418:Albumins / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000032:analysis; D020964:Embryo Loss / Q000139:chemically induced*; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000633:toxicity*; D011817:Rabbits / Q000196:embryology*; D014598:Uteroglobin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D014599:Uterus / Q000032:analysis
D000418:Albumins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D011374:Progesterone; D014598:Uteroglobin