Steroids in the equine oviduct: synthesis, local concentrations and receptor expression.
Abstract: Steroids play an important role in mammalian reproduction and early pregnancy. Although systemic changes in steroid concentrations have been well documented, it is not clear how these correlate with local steroid concentrations in the genital tract. We hypothesised that, in the horse, the preimplantation embryo may be subjected to high local steroid concentrations for several days. Therefore, we measured progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, 17?-oestradiol, testosterone and 17?-testosterone concentrations in equine oviductal tissue by ultra-HPLC coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, and progesterone, 17?-oestradiol, oestrone and testosterone concentrations in oviduct fluid by radioimmunoassay, with reference to cycle stage and side of ovulation. Progesterone concentrations were high in oviductal tissue and fluid ipsilateral to the ovulation side during dioestrus, whereas other steroid hormone concentrations were not influenced by the side of ovulation. These results suggest that the high ipsilateral progesterone concentration is caused by: (1) contributions from the follicular fluid in the oviduct and diffusion of follicular fluid steroids after ovulation; (2) local transfer of steroids via blood or lymph; (3) local synthesis of progesterone in the oviduct, as evidenced by the expression of steroidogenic enzymes; and (4) a paracrine contribution from follicular cells. These data provide a basis for the study of the importance of endocrine and paracrine signalling during early embryonic development in the horse.
Publication Date: 2015-03-10 PubMed ID: 25751414DOI: 10.1071/RD14483Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research examines the role of steroids in equine reproductive processes. It explores how systemic changes in steroid concentrations align with local steroid concentrations in the horses’ genital tract. It suggests that preimplantation embryos experience high local steroid concentrations, which could impact early pregnancy and embryonic development.
Objective of the Research
- The study aimed at investigating the correlation between systemic changes in steroid levels and local steroid concentrations within a horse’s genital tract. It also sought to shed light on the potential effects of local steroid synthesis on preimplantation embryos, contributing to our understanding of early equine pregnancy and embryonic development.
Research Methodology
- The researchers measured concentrations of different steroids including progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, 17?-oestradiol, testosterone and 17?-testosterone in equine oviductal tissue using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) and tandem mass spectrometry.
- Progesterone, 17?-oestradiol, oestrone and testosterone concentrations in oviduct fluid were examined using radioimmunoassay, and were taken into consideration in relation to the cycle stage and ovulation side.
Key Findings
- Results indicate that progesterone concentrations were significantly high in oviductal tissue and fluid on the side ipsilateral (same side) to ovulation during dioestrus, a phase in the horse’s reproductive cycle, while other steroid hormone concentrations didn’t seem to be affected by the ovulation side.
- The study suggests that the high progesterone concentration on the ovulating side may be due to several factors: steroids from the follicular fluid in the oviduct diffusing after ovulation; local steroids transfer via blood or lymph; local synthesis of progesterone in the oviduct evidenced by the presence of steroidogenic enzymes; and a paracrine contribution from follicular cells.
Implications of the Research
- This study enhances our understanding of reproductive physiology in horses, specifically the role of steroids in the oviduct and early stages of pregnancy. The findings could foster more research on endocrine and paracrine signaling during early embryonic development in equines. Understanding these processes could ultimately improve reproduction techniques and outcomes in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Nelis H, Vanden Bussche J, Wojciechowicz B, Franczak A, Vanhaecke L, Leemans B, Cornillie P, Peelman L, Van Soom A, Smits K.
(2015).
Steroids in the equine oviduct: synthesis, local concentrations and receptor expression.
Reprod Fertil Dev.
https://doi.org/10.1071/RD14483 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- Téteau O, Liere P, Pianos A, Desmarchais A, Lasserre O, Papillier P, Vignault C, Lebachelier de la Riviere ME, Maillard V, Binet A, Uzbekova S, Saint-Dizier M, Elis S. Bisphenol S Alters the Steroidome in the Preovulatory Follicle, Oviduct Fluid and Plasma in Ewes With Contrasted Metabolic Status. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022;13:892213.
- Mirihagalle S, Hughes JR, Miller DJ. Progesterone-Induced Sperm Release from the Oviduct Sperm Reservoir. Cells 2022 May 12;11(10).
- Leemans B, Bromfield EG, Stout TAE, Vos M, Van Der Ham H, Van Beek R, Van Soom A, Gadella BM, Henning H. Developing a reproducible protocol for culturing functional confluent monolayers of differentiated equine oviduct epithelial cells†. Biol Reprod 2022 Apr 26;106(4):710-729.
- Mahé C, Zlotkowska AM, Reynaud K, Tsikis G, Mermillod P, Druart X, Schoen J, Saint-Dizier M. Sperm migration, selection, survival, and fertilizing ability in the mammalian oviduct†. Biol Reprod 2021 Aug 3;105(2):317-331.
- Pinto-Bravo P, Rebordão MR, Amaral A, Fernandes C, Galvão A, Silva E, Pessa-Santos P, Alexandre-Pires G, Roberto da Costa RP, Skarzynski DJ, Ferreira-Dias G. Microvascularization and Expression of Fibroblast Growth Factor and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Their Receptors in the Mare Oviduct. Animals (Basel) 2021 Apr 12;11(4).
- Satué K, Fazio E, Medica P. Can the Presence of Ovarian Corpus Luteum Modify the Hormonal Composition of Follicular Fluid in Mares?. Animals (Basel) 2020 Apr 9;10(4).
- Saint-Dizier M, Schoen J, Chen S, Banliat C, Mermillod P. Composing the Early Embryonic Microenvironment: Physiology and Regulation of Oviductal Secretions. Int J Mol Sci 2019 Dec 28;21(1).
- Locatelli Y, Forde N, Blum H, Graf A, Piégu B, Mermillod P, Wolf E, Lonergan P, Saint-Dizier M. Relative effects of location relative to the corpus luteum and lactation on the transcriptome of the bovine oviduct epithelium. BMC Genomics 2019 Mar 21;20(1):233.
- Soto-Heras S, Volz LJ, Bovin N, Miller DJ. Porcine sperm bind to an oviduct glycan coupled to glass surfaces as a model of sperm interaction with the oviduct. Sci Rep 2025 Feb 8;15(1):4680.
- Amaral A, Sadowska A, Cerveira-Pinto M, Kordowitzki P, Skarzynski D, Ferreira-Dias G, Szóstek-Mioduchowska A. Ovarian steroids modulate mRNA expression of ECM associated genes and collagen deposition induced by TGF β1 in equine endometrium in vitro. Sci Rep 2025 Jan 2;15(1):538.
- Leemans B, Gadella BM, Marchand JHEAM, Van Soom A, Stout TAE. Induction of in vivo-like ciliation in confluent monolayers of re-differentiated equine oviduct epithelial cells†. Biol Reprod 2024 Sep 14;111(3):580-599.
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