title: Role of progesterone in embryo development in cattle.
abstract: Progesterone (P4) from the corpus luteum is critical for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy and plays a major role in regulating endometrial secretions essential for stimulating and mediating changes in conceptus growth and differentiation throughout early pregnancy in ruminants. Numerous studies have demonstrated an association between elevated systemic P4 and acceleration in conceptus elongation. A combination of in vivo and in vitro experiments found that the effects of P4 on conceptus elongation are indirect and mediated through P4-induced effects in the endometrium. Despite effects on elongation, data on the effects of post-insemination supplementation with P4 on pregnancy rates are conflicting. This review highlights the effects of P4 on conceptus development and examines strategies that have been undertaken to manipulate P4 concentrations to increase fertility.
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: Pat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lonergan
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproduction and Early Development, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Molecular Medicine, University of Leeds, Clarendon Way, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
authors.forename: Niamh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Forde
authors.affiliation: Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Spencer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D004477:Ectogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000662:veterinary; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000494:pharmacology; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000662:veterinary; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000662:veterinary; D008954:Models, Biological; D010057:Oviducts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011255:Pregnancy Maintenance / Q000187:drug effects; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D011372:Progestins / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D011372:Progestins; D011374:Progesterone