The influence of steroids on the vascular tension of isolated superficial nasal and facial veins in gilts during sexual maturation.
The arrangement of the superficial facial veins enables blood flow from the nasal cavity into the peripheral circulation by two pathways: through the facial vein into the external jugular vein and through the frontal vein into the cavernous sinus. The venous cavernous sinus is the site where hormones and pheromones permeate from venous blood into the arterial blood supplying the brain and hypophysis. The present study was designed to: (1) determine whether estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) affect the vascular tone of the superficial veins of the nose and face in maturating prepubertal gilts (PP) and in prepubertal gilts deprived of ovarian hormones (PPov), and (2) to analyze the immunolocalization of progesterone receptors (PR), and estradiol receptors alpha (ER alpha) and beta (ER beta) in these veins. The influence of hormones on the vascular tension differed depending on the type of vessel, the hormonal status and dose of hormone used. Estradiol decreased the vascular tension in the nasal and facial veins of PP gilts (P < 0.01). In PPov gilts, the effect of E2 was opposing, however it caused strong tension in the proximal and distal parts of the facial vein (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). Progesterone increased the vascular tension in the proximal segment of the nasal vein and in the distal segment of the frontal and facial veins, and decreased the tension in the distal segment of the nasal and facial veins (P < 0.05) of PP gilts. In PPov gilts, P4 produced strong increase in the tension of distal and proximal segments of the nasal vein (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively) and of distal segment of the facial vein (P < 0.01), strong decrease in the tension of the distal part of the nasal vein (P < 0.01) and had limited effect on other veins. Expression of ER beta, but not of PR, was observed in the superficial nasal and facial veins. In conclusion, the ovarian steroid hormones that modulate the vascular tension of the nasal and facial veins in prepubertal gilts may influence the transfer of boar pheromones from the nasal mucosa to the brain via local humoral pathway during sexual maturation.
Grzegorzewski
W J
WJ
Department of Local Physiological Regulation, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima 10, 10-747 Olsztyn, Poland. w.grzegorzewski@pan.olsztyn.pl
Muszak
J
J
Tabecka-Łonczyńska
A
A
Stefańczyk-Krzymowska
S
S
D000818:Animals; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005145:Face / Q000098:blood supply; D005260:Female; D009666:Nose / Q000098:blood supply; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000662:veterinary*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology*; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*; D014680:Veins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D004967:Estrogens; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D011374:Progesterone