title: Uterine secretory alterations coincident with embryonic mortality in the gilt after exogenous estrogen administration.
abstract: Sixteen crossbred gilts were assigned randomly to receive either an i.m. injection of sesame oil (control) or estrogen (E), 5 mg of estradiol valerate, on d 9 and 10 of pregnancy. Gilts were unilaterally hysterectomized on either d 12 and 14 or 16 and 18. Uterine horns were flushed with 20 ml of .9% sterile NaCl solution to recover conceptus tissue. Conceptuses and endometrial explants were cultured for 24 h with 100 microCi [3H] leucine in 15 ml of minimum essential media. After dialysis, culture media were submitted to 2D-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and incorporated proteins were analyzed by fluorography. Normal, intact conceptus tissue was recovered from control gilts. Estrogen-treated gilts flushed on d 12 and 14 contained intact conceptuses; however, uteri from two gilts on d 16 and three on d 18 contained degenerating conceptus tissue. Comparison of endometrial polypeptides synthesized in vitro indicated an alteration in E-treated gilts on d 12 through 18. Although similar polypeptides were present, a band of polypeptides with a Mr of approximately 30,000 and pI from 7.9 to 8.9 and a larger, acidic polypeptide (Mr = 100,000, pI 3.5 to 5.0) were faint or absent in E-treated gilts. Conceptuses elongated normally in the altered uterine environment, but failed to survive past d 14 in E-treated gilts. Although loss of specific polypeptides in E-treated gilts coincides with conceptus death, their function in conceptus development or attachment is unknown.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Anim. Sci., Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Stillwater 74078.
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Gries
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Geisert
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Zavy
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Garrett
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D004958:Estradiol