Undernutrition and laterality of the corpus luteum affects gene expression in oviduct and uterus of pregnant ewes

  • V. de Brun Laboratorio de Técnicas Nucleares, Facultad de Veterinaria. Lasplaces 1550, 11600 Montevideo
  • J. A. Abecia Dept. Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos. Universidad de Zaragoza. Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza
  • A. Fernandez-Foren Laboratorio de Técnicas Nucleares, Facultad de Veterinaria. Lasplaces 1550, 11600 Montevideo
  • M. Carriquiry Dept. Producción Animal y Pasturas, Facultad de Agronomía. Av. Garzón 780, 12900 Montevideo
  • F. Forcada Dept. Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos. Universidad de Zaragoza. Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza
  • I. Vazquez Dept. Reproducción Animal; Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Ruta Nac. nº 136, km 601, X5804BYA Río Cuarto
  • A. Meikle Laboratorio de Técnicas Nucleares, Facultad de Veterinaria. Lasplaces 1550, 11600 Montevideo
  • C. Sosa Dept. Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos. Universidad de Zaragoza. Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza
Keywords: nutrition, reproductive tract, steroid receptors, growth factors

Abstract

The effect of undernutrition on gene expression of progesterone and oestrogen receptors (PGR and ESR1), and insulin-like growth factors 1 and 2 (IGF1 and IGF2) in the uterus and oviducts of ewes on day 5 after oestrus was investigated. The effect of the side of the uterus/oviduct regarding the ovary bearing a corpus luteum (CL) (ipsi vs. contralateral) was also analyzed. Fourteen oestrous synchronized ewes were fed either 1.5 (C, n=7) or 0.5 (L, n=7) times their maintenance requirements from the onset of the hormonal treatment (day -14), till slaughter on day 5 post-oestrus. Oviducts and samples of uterus were collected and their gene expression studied by real time RT-PCR. Undernourished ewes had greater PGR expression in the oviduct than control ewes, but lower expression of IGF1 in uterus and of IGF2 in oviducts. The ipsilateral oviduct presented lower expression of PGR, ESR1 and IGF2 mRNA than the contralateral one, but this did not occur in the uterus. In conclusion, there is an effect of undernutrition on gene expression that is transcript and organ dependent (uterus/oviduct). This work reports for the first time that growth factors and sex steroid receptor expression on day 5 after oestrus vary depending on the side of the CL-bearing ovary and the region of the reproductive tract.

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References

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Published
2013-11-05
How to Cite
de Brun, V., Abecia, J. A., Fernandez-Foren, A., Carriquiry, M., Forcada, F., Vazquez, I., Meikle, A., & Sosa, C. (2013). Undernutrition and laterality of the corpus luteum affects gene expression in oviduct and uterus of pregnant ewes. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 11(4), 989-996. https://doi.org/10.5424/sjar/2013114-3912
Section
Animal breeding, genetics and reproduction