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Ontogeny of Uteroplacental Progestagen Production in Pregnant Mares During the Second Half of Gestation¹

Department of Physiology,³ University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, United Kingdom Beaufort Cottage Stables,⁴ High Street, Newmarket, CB8 8JS, United Kingdom Horserace Forensic Laboratories,⁵ Newmarket Road, Fordham, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 5WP, United Kingdom

In pregnant mares during late gestation, little, if any, progesterone (P₄) is found in the maternal circulation. Hence, quiescence of the equine uterus is believed to be maintained by metabolites of pregnenolone and P₄ known as progestagens, which are produced by the uteroplacental tissues. However, little is known about the ontogeny, distribution, or actual rates of uteroplacental progestagen production in pregnant mares and their fetuses during the second half of pregnancy. Therefore, the present study measured the rates of uteroplacental uptake and output of eight specific progestagens in chronically catheterized, pregnant pony mares from 180 days to term. No significant uteroplacental uptake of any of the eight individual progestagens was observed from the uterine circulation. In contrast, significant uteroplacental uptake was observed for five of the eight individual progestagens from the umbilical circulation, and the uptakes increased toward term. The major uteroplacental progestagen outputs were 5-pregnane-3,20-dione (5DHP) and 20-hydroxy-5-pregnan-3-one (205P). These were released into both the umbilical and uterine circulations at rates that increased toward term. The majority of the total uteroplacental 205P output was distributed into the uterine circulation at all gestational ages studied. In contrast, distribution of the total uteroplacental 5DHP output switched from preferential delivery into the uterine circulation before 220 days of gestation to release predominantly into the umbilical circulation after 260 days. These findings demonstrate that uteroplacental progestagen production changes during the second half of gestation, which may have important implications for the maintenance of pregnancy and the onset of labor in the mare.

¹ Financial support was provided by the Horserace Betting Levy Board.

² Correspondence: A.L. Fowden, Department of Physiology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, U.K. FAX: 44 0 1223 333840; alf1000{at}cam.ac.uk