Effects of steroids on endometrial oxytocin mRNA production.
Abstract: In this study, the roles of oestrogen and progesterone in the regulation of oxytocin gene expression in equine endometrium were examined. Anoestrous mares (n=19) were assigned randomly to one of the following treatment groups: control (vehicle control for 1 day; n=3); progesterone (250 mg progesterone per day for 6 days; n=4); oestradiol (5 mg beta-oestradiol 17-valerate per day for 6 days; n=4); oestradiol plus short duration progesterone (5 mg beta-oestradiol 17-valerate per day for 6 days followed by 250 mg progesterone per day for 6 days; n=4); and oestradiol plus long duration progesterone (5 mg beta-oestradiol 17-valerate per day for 6 days followed by 250 mg progesterone per day for 12 days; n=4). Jugular venous blood samples were obtained for oestrogen and progesterone radioimmunoassays. Endometrial biopsies were obtained and total RNA was extracted. Expression of mRNA for oxytocin and glyceraldehyde 3'-phosphate dehydrogenase was assessed by RT-PCR and Southern blotting. Oxytocin mRNA abundance was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the oestrogen-treated group than in all other groups. These data demonstrate that oestradiol priming for 6 days upregulated expression of the endometrial oxytocin gene. Progesterone treatment for either 6 or 12 days after oestradiol priming returned oxytocin mRNA abundance to levels similar to those of controls.
Publication Date: 2000-01-01 PubMed ID: 20681141
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This research investigates the impact of certain steroids, specifically estrogen and progesterone, on the production of endometrial oxytocin gene expression in horses. It reveals that estrogen increases, while progesterone reduces, the expression of the oxytocin gene.
Overview of the experiment
- A total of 19 Anoestrous mares (female horses that are not in heat) were used for this study.
- These horses were randomly assigned to five different groups: control, progesterone treatment, estrogen treatment, estrogen plus a short duration of progesterone, and estrogen plus a long duration of progesterone.
- Each group received different treatments over six days, with some receiving continued treatment for up to twelve days.
- Jugular blood samples were taken for progesterone and estrogen radioimmunoassays, serving as an analytical method used to measure these hormone levels.
Testing and results
- Endometrial biopsies were obtained, and total RNA, necessary for gene expression, was extracted from these samples.
- The mRNA (messenger RNA), which carries the information from genes to make proteins, was assessed for the presence of oxytocin and glyceraldehyde 3′-phosphate dehydrogenase using RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) and Southern blotting, which are techniques used in molecular biology to detect specific DNA sequences in DNA samples.
- The study found that the abundance of oxytocin mRNA was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the estrogen-treated group compared to the other groups, indicating that estrogen stimulates the expression of the oxytocin gene in the endometrium.
- However, this increased expression was brought back to control levels when progesterone was introduced after the estrogen. This suggests that progesterone can offset the effects of estrogen on oxytocin gene expression.
Conclusion
- The findings of this in-depth study demonstrate that estrogen and progesterone can have direct effects on the expression of the oxytocin gene in the endometrium.
- This research offers valuable insights into how these hormones function and interact, which could further our understanding of reproductive health in horses and possibly other species.
Cite This Article
APA
Behrendt-Adam CY, Adams MH, Simpson KS, McDowell KJ.
(2000).
Effects of steroids on endometrial oxytocin mRNA production.
J Reprod Fertil Suppl(56), 297-304.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Science, Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0099, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Drug Administration Schedule
- Drug Therapy, Combination
- Endometrium / drug effects
- Endometrium / metabolism
- Estradiol / administration & dosage
- Estradiol / analogs & derivatives
- Estradiol / pharmacology
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
- Horses / metabolism
- Oxytocin / genetics
- Oxytocin / metabolism
- Progesterone / administration & dosage
- Progesterone / pharmacology
- RNA, Messenger / genetics
- RNA, Messenger / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 0 times.Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
