title: Maternal nutrient restriction in the ewe from early to midgestation programs reduced steroidogenic enzyme expression and tended to reduce progesterone content of corpora lutea, as well as circulating progesterone in nonpregnant aged female offspring.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previously we reported decreased circulating progesterone and fertility in one and two year old ewes born to undernourished mothers. This study was designed to investigate if this reduction in progesterone persisted into old age, and if it did, what mechanisms are involved.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ewes were fed a nutrient restricted (NR, 50% of NRC recommendations) or control (C, 100% of NRC) diets from day 28 to 78 of gestation, then all were fed to requirements through parturition and weaning. Female offspring (4 per treatment group) were maintained as a group and fed to requirements from weaning until assigned to this study at 6 years of age. Ewes were synchronized for estrus (day 0) and blood samples were collected daily from day 0 to day 11 before necropsy on day 12. Blood serum and luteal tissue were assayed for progesterone concentrations by validated radioimmunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Circulation progesterone concentrations tended to be lower (P = 0.06) in NR than C offspring from day 0 to 11 of the estrous cycle. While total luteal weight was similar across groups, total progesterone content also tended to be reduced (P = 0.07) in luteal tissue of NR than C offspring. Activity of hepatic progesterone catabolizing enzymes and selected angiogenic factors in luteal tissue were similar between groups. Messenger RNA expression of steroidogenic enzymes StAR and P450scc were reduced (P < 0.05), while protein expression of StAR tended to be reduced (P < 0.07) and P450scc was reduced (P < 0.05) in luteal tissue of NR versus C offspring.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There appears to be no difference in hepatic steroid catabolism that could have led to the decreased serum progesterone. However, these data are consistent with the programming of decreased steroidogenic enzyme expression in CL of NR offspring, leading to reduced synthesis and secretion of progesterone.
authors: The Center for the Study of Fetal Programming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA.
authors: Nathan M
authors: NM
authors: Long
authors: Nuermaimaiti
authors: N
authors: Tuersunjiang
authors: Lindsey A
authors: LA
authors: George
authors: Caleb O
authors: CO
authors: Lemley
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Ma
authors: William J
authors: WJ
authors: Murdoch
authors: Peter W
authors: PW
authors: Nathanielsz
authors: Stephen P
authors: SP
authors: Ford
mesh_terms: D015089:20-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D042682:Angiopoietins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000378:metabolism*; D051544:Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004798:Enzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D030762:Estrous Cycle; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D005865:Gestational Age; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009251:NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size; D010053:Ovary / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012756:Sheep; D013997:Time Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D042682:Angiopoietins; D004798:Enzymes; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C400322:cytochrome P-450 CYP2C subfamily; D011374:Progesterone; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D015089:20-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D051544:Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A; D009251:NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase
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