Biology of Reproduction, Vol 58, 1026-1031, Copyright © 1998 by Society for the Study of Reproduction

ARTICLES

Intrauterine infusion of high doses of pig trophoblast interferons has no antiluteolytic effect in cyclic gilts

F Lefevre, F Martinat-Botte, A Locatelli, P De Niu, M Terqui and C La Bonnardiere
Unite de Virologie et Immunologie Moleculaires, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Jouy-en-Josas, France. lefevre@biotec.jouy.inra.fr

In the pig species, the preimplanting trophoblast is known to synthesize and secrete high amounts of interferon during early development. Previous experiments in cyclic gilts using total conceptus secretory proteins suggested that porcine trophoblastic interferons, unlike those of ruminants, exert no effect on the luteal cycle. In the present experiment, cyclic Meishan gilts were divided into two groups, cannulated on both uterine horns, and given daily injections of either a placebo or increasing doses of a mixture of recombinant interferon- gamma and interferon-delta, on Days 11-14 of the estrous cycle. In treated gilts, the injected doses were much higher than those previously found in uterine perfusates from pregnant gilts. However, no significant differences could be found between the control (n = 4) and the treated (n = 5) group concerning the days of the estrous cycle for mid-decrease of progesterone (control: Day 14.5+/-0.57 [mean+/-SD]; treated: Day 15+/-1.25), the day of estrus (control: Day 19+/-0.96; treated: Day 19.6+/-0.55), and the subsequent ovulation rate (control: 14+/-2.2 corpora lutea; treated: 13.1+/-1.1 corpora lutea). These data confirm that pig trophoblastic interferons, unlike those of ruminants, do not themselves exert an antiluteolytic effect. A possible synergistic effect of embryonic estrogens on the luteal functions of nonpregnant sows remains to be determined.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. M. Joyce, J. R. Burghardt, R. C. Burghardt, R. N. Hooper, F. W. Bazer, and G. A. Johnson Uterine MHC Class I Molecules and {beta}2-Microglobulin Are Regulated by Progesterone and Conceptus Interferons during Pig Pregnancy J. Immunol., August 15, 2008; 181(4): 2494 - 2505. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. M. Joyce, R. C. Burghardt, R. D. Geisert, J. R. Burghardt, R. N. Hooper, J. W. Ross, M. D. Ashworth, and G. A. Johnson Pig Conceptuses Secrete Estrogen and Interferons to Differentially Regulate Uterine STAT1 in a Temporal and Cell Type-Specific Manner Endocrinology, September 1, 2007; 148(9): 4420 - 4431. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. M. Joyce, J. R. Burghardt, R. C. Burghardt, R. N. Hooper, L. A. Jaeger, T. E. Spencer, F. W. Bazer, and G. A. Johnson Pig Conceptuses Increase Uterine Interferon-Regulatory Factor 1 (IRF1), but Restrict Expression to Stroma Through Estrogen-Induced IRF2 in Luminal Epithelium Biol Reprod, August 1, 2007; 77(2): 292 - 302. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. A. Hicks, S. J. Etter, K. G. Carnahan, M. M. Joyce, A. A. Assiri, S. J. Carling, K. Kodali, G. A. Johnson, T. R. Hansen, M. A. Mirando, et al. Expression of the uterine Mx protein in cyclic and pregnant cows, gilts, and mares, J Anim Sci, June 1, 2003; 81(6): 1552 - 1561. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. S. Rosenfeld, C.-S. Han, A. P. Alexenko, T. E. Spencer, and R. M. Roberts Expression of Interferon Receptor Subunits, IFNAR1 and IFNAR2, in the Ovine Uterus Biol Reprod, September 1, 2002; 67(3): 847 - 853. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. McCracken, E. E. Custer, and J. C. Lamsa Luteolysis: A Neuroendocrine-Mediated Event Physiol Rev, April 1, 1999; 79(2): 263 - 323. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]