title: Activin A and follistatin during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy in ewes.
abstract: The activin pathway has been postulated to be involved in regulation of multiple reproductive processes important for survival of the conceptus. These processes include luteinisation of the follicular cells and thus function of the corpus luteum, early embryo development and uterine function including implantation of the conceptus. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to determine whether the concentrations of activin A and follistatin (FST), an activin-binding protein, differed between ewes with a lifetime history of enhanced or reduced embryonic survival (ES). The mRNAs encoding FST and activin A (inhibin beta A subunit; INHBA) were present in the uterus and abundant in the uterine luminal or glandular epithelia by day 18 of gestation. A peak of activin A was observed in the systemic circulation around the time of oestrus, and activin A concentrations were elevated in animals with reduced ES during the oestrous cycle and early gestation. Concentrations of activin A in uterine fluid were approximately twofold greater on day 16 of gestation in ewes with reduced ES compared to those with enhanced ES. No consistent differences in FST were observed between these groups. Treatment of luteinising ovine granulosa cells with activin A in vitro suppressed progesterone secretion providing evidence of a potential pathway whereby increased concentrations of activin A may decrease ES.
authors.affiliation: Animal ReproductionAgResearch Limited, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Puddle Alley Mosgiel, Mosgiel 9092, New ZealandSchool of Biological SciencesVictoria University, Wellington 6021, New ZealandDepartment of AnatomySchool of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New ZealandDepartment of Animal SciencesWashington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6353, USADepartment of Animal ScienceCenter for Animal Biotechnology and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2471, USA.
authors.forename: Anne R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: O'Connell
authors.affiliation: Animal ReproductionAgResearch Limited, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Puddle Alley Mosgiel, Mosgiel 9092, New ZealandSchool of Biological SciencesVictoria University, Wellington 6021, New ZealandDepartment of AnatomySchool of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New ZealandDepartment of Animal SciencesWashington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6353, USADepartment of Animal ScienceCenter for Animal Biotechnology and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2471, USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: McNatty
authors.affiliation: Animal ReproductionAgResearch Limited, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Puddle Alley Mosgiel, Mosgiel 9092, New ZealandSchool of Biological SciencesVictoria University, Wellington 6021, New ZealandDepartment of AnatomySchool of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New ZealandDepartment of Animal SciencesWashington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6353, USADepartment of Animal ScienceCenter for Animal Biotechnology and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2471, USA.
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Hurst
authors.affiliation: Animal ReproductionAgResearch Limited, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Puddle Alley Mosgiel, Mosgiel 9092, New ZealandSchool of Biological SciencesVictoria University, Wellington 6021, New ZealandDepartment of AnatomySchool of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New ZealandDepartment of Animal SciencesWashington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6353, USADepartment of Animal ScienceCenter for Animal Biotechnology and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2471, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.affiliation: Animal ReproductionAgResearch Limited, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Puddle Alley Mosgiel, Mosgiel 9092, New ZealandSchool of Biological SciencesVictoria University, Wellington 6021, New ZealandDepartment of AnatomySchool of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New ZealandDepartment of Animal SciencesWashington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6353, USADepartment of Animal ScienceCenter for Animal Biotechnology and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2471, USA.
authors.forename: Fuller W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Bazer
authors.affiliation: Animal ReproductionAgResearch Limited, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Puddle Alley Mosgiel, Mosgiel 9092, New ZealandSchool of Biological SciencesVictoria University, Wellington 6021, New ZealandDepartment of AnatomySchool of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New ZealandDepartment of Animal SciencesWashington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6353, USADepartment of Animal ScienceCenter for Animal Biotechnology and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2471, USA.
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Reader
authors.affiliation: Animal ReproductionAgResearch Limited, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Puddle Alley Mosgiel, Mosgiel 9092, New ZealandSchool of Biological SciencesVictoria University, Wellington 6021, New ZealandDepartment of AnatomySchool of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New ZealandDepartment of Animal SciencesWashington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6353, USADepartment of Animal ScienceCenter for Animal Biotechnology and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2471, USA.
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Johnstone
authors.affiliation: Animal ReproductionAgResearch Limited, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Puddle Alley Mosgiel, Mosgiel 9092, New ZealandSchool of Biological SciencesVictoria University, Wellington 6021, New ZealandDepartment of AnatomySchool of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New ZealandDepartment of Animal SciencesWashington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6353, USADepartment of Animal ScienceCenter for Animal Biotechnology and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2471, USA.
authors.forename: George H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Animal ReproductionAgResearch Limited, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Puddle Alley Mosgiel, Mosgiel 9092, New ZealandSchool of Biological SciencesVictoria University, Wellington 6021, New ZealandDepartment of AnatomySchool of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New ZealandDepartment of Animal SciencesWashington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6353, USADepartment of Animal ScienceCenter for Animal Biotechnology and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2471, USA jenny.juengel@agresearch.co.nz.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Juengel
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000502:physiology; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology; D020964:Embryo Loss / Q000378:metabolism; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D038681:Follistatin / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D034461:Luteinization; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D038681:Follistatin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C422405:activin A; D028341:Activins; D011374:Progesterone
keywords: activin; early pregnancy; endometrium; follistatin; sheep