Antiprogesterone, RU 486, facilitates parturition in cattle

Involvement of progesterone and estrogen receptors in the ram sperm acrosome reaction

The steroid hormones 17-β estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) can regulate capacitation, hyperactive motility, and the acrosome reaction (AR) during the sperm transit through the female tract. Moreover, exogenous P4 and E2 can induce the AR in ovine spermatozoa, and progesterone receptor (PR) and estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ) are present in these cells. Thus, to investigate whether the effects both steroid hormones in ram sperm capacitation and AR are receptor-mediated, we incubated them with receptor agonists (tanaproget 1 μM and 5 μM for PR or resveratrol 5 μM and 10 μM for ER) or antagonists (mifepristone 4 μM and 40 μM for PR or tamoxifen 5 μM and 10 μM for ER) in capacitating conditions. The addition of receptor modulators did not affect sperm viability or total motility, although changes in progressive motility were detected. The incubation with both receptor agonists increased the percentage of acrosome-reacted spermatozoa, evaluated by chlortetracycline staining, when compared with the capacitated nontreated sample (Cap-C, P < 0.001). Moreover, the ER agonist resveratrol 10 μM provoked a greater AR than E2 (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the incubation with the receptor antagonists prevented the induction of the AR by P4 or E2, as the antagonists-treated spermatozoa presented a similar CTC pattern to that of Cap-C. In conclusion, these results confirm that P4 and E2 can induce the AR in ram spermatozoa and that this effect is receptor-mediated.

Use of the progesterone (P4) receptor antagonist aglepristone to characterize the role of P4 withdrawal for parturition and placental release in cows

In late pregnant cows, progesterone (P4) is mainly of luteal origin. However, the trophoblast may provide high local P4concentrations in the uterus. To test for the importance of a complete P4withdrawal for parturition-related processes and placental release, the P4receptor (PGR) blocker aglepristone (Ap) was administered to three cows on days 270 and 271 of pregnancy. A complete opening of the cervix was observed 46.5±7.3 h after the start of treatment. However, expulsion of the calves was impaired obviously because of insufficient myometrial activity, and placental membranes were retained for at least 10 days. Measurement of P4concentrations indicated that PGR blockage induced luteolysis. To investigate the role of P4withdrawal for the prepartal tissue remodeling of the placentomes, the caruncular epithelium was evaluated by morphometry, and the percentage of trophoblast giant cells (TGCs) relative to the total number of trophoblast cells were assessed. Caruncular epithelium in Ap-treated cows (D272+Ap) was immature (30.5±3.3%) and not different from untreated controls (elected cesarean section (CS) on day 272; D272-CS; 31.5±1.4%), whereas it was significantly reduced at normal term (D280.5±1.3; 21.0±6.1%;P=0.011). Correspondingly, the percentage of TGCs were 20.1±1.4 in D272+Ap, 22.1±4.8 in D272-CS, and 9.8±3.9 at term (P=0.001). No effect was detected on placental estrogen synthesis. The results showed that in late pregnant cows, P4withdrawal only induces a limited spectrum of the processes related to normal parturition and is not a crucial factor for the prepartal tissue remodeling in placentomes and the timely release of the placenta.

Prostaglandins and reproduction in female farm animals

Prostaglandins impact on ovarian, uterine, placental, and pituitary function to regulate reproduction in female livestock. They play important roles in ovulation, luteal function, maternal recognition of pregnancy, implantation, maintenance of gestation, microbial-induced abortion, parturition, postpartum uterine and ovarian infections, and resumption of postpartum ovarian cyclicity. Prostaglandins have both positive and negative effects on reproduction; they are used to synchronize oestrus, terminate pseudopregnancy in mares, induce parturition, and treat retained placenta, luteinized cysts, pyometra, and chronic endometritis. Improved therapeutic uses for prostaglandins will be developed when we understand better their involvement in implantation, maintenance of luteal function, and establishment and maintenance of pregnancy.

Ultrasonographic appearance of the conceptus, fetal heart rate and profiles of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAG) and prostaglandin F2α-metabolite (PGF2α-metabolite) after induction of fetal death with aglepristone during early gestation in cattle

A higher incidence of fetal losses, especially after the use of artificial reproduction techniques, asks for more intensive monitoring of bovine pregnancies. In this study, a model for fetal death (FD) was created by administering the antiprogesterone aglepristone twice, at Day 47 and 48 of gestation (n=5). Control heifers received the solvent (n=5). The temporal relationships between changes in ultrasonographic appearance of fetal fluids and membranes, fetal heart rate (FHR) and peripheral plasma levels of pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (PAG) and PGF2alpha-metabolite as determined by radioimmunoassay associated with FD were monitored at eight hour intervals around treatment. For the analysis of plasma levels the period under study was divided into five epochs (T1: before injection of aglepristone/solvent; T2: from first to second injection; T3: from second injection to FD; T4: from diagnosis of FD to 56 h later; T5: from 56 h to 104 h after diagnosis of FD). Control heifers produced healthy calves at term, but in treated heifers, FD occurred on average at 58 (range 48-80) h after first injection of aglepristone. Fetal death was always preceded by a visible reduction of the amount of allantoic fluid and by segregation of the allantochorionic membrane from the endometrium. FHR remained rather constant in both groups, but a (non-significant) drop in FHR around 8h before FD was diagnosed in four of five treated animals. All fetuses were expulsed after FD. Levels of PAG remained constant or even slightly increased in controls, but decreased in treated animals from T2 onward: levels during T4 and T5 significantly differed from those during T1 and from values in controls during T4 and T5 (P<0.01). PGF2alpha-metabolite levels did not change in the controls, but in the treated group they were significantly higher during T3 when compared to T1 (P<0.05). After this increase, a sharp decrease in PGF2alpha-metabolite level occurred, reaching a significantly lower level at T5 when compared to control animals (P=0.01). It is concluded, that FD induced by aglepristone is preceded by ultrasonographic visible changes in fetal membranes and fluids and a rise in PGF2alpha-metabolite and is followed by a drop in PAG and PGF2alpha-metabolite.

Use of mifepristone to ripen the cervix and induce labor in term pregnancies

OBJECTIVE

This study was undertaken to determine the efficacy of mifepristone for ripening the cervix and inducing labor in term pregnancies.

STUDY DESIGN

In a double-blind placebo-controlled dose-finding study, 346 women received 50, 100, 200, 400, or 600 mg of mifepristone or placebo. The main endpoint for efficacy was the number of patients in whom labor occurred between 12 and 45 and 54 hours after treatment or who had a Bishop score 6 or greater. Maternal and fetal tolerability was also studied.

RESULTS

No significant efficacy was observed whatever the dose of mifepristone. Mifepristone was well tolerated by the mother and fetus.

CONCLUSION

Mifepristone, at doses up to 600 mg, does not induce labor within 54 hours in patients with unfavourable cervical status.

The cow in endocrine focus before and after calving

During the period 1 month before and 1 month after parturition in the cow, several events take place. The dam has to be prepared for the impending parturition and the uterus and ovaries must return to a certain stage to be prepared for a new pregnancy. Most of these processes are due to or reflected in endocrine changes. A special interest is of course the status of the foetus --"foetal well being". The processes could either be considered as normal in a clinical perspective or as impaired (dystocia, small calves, stillbirth, retained foetal membranes, etc.). The main question for this presentation is if normal and impaired performance could be mirrored in endocrine parameters. Many studies have been performed to follow endocrine changes during the periparturient period in the cow. The following parameters have been shown to be the most important and seem to be the most suitable for an endocrine supervision: Endocrine parameter: progesterone; parameter of: corpus luteum, maternal adrenals, placenta. Endocrine parameter: prostaglandin (PG) metabolite; parameter of: placenta, uterus, inflammation. Endocrine parameter: cortisol; parameter of: regulator of prostaglandin synthesis, stress. Endocrine parameter: free oestrogens; parameter of: placenta, ovaries. Endocrine parameter: oestrone sulphate; parameter of: placenta, calf weight. Endocrine parameter: pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAG); parameter of: placenta.

Between prepartum luteolysis and onset of expulsion

In the cow the foetal endocrine signals that initiate the calving process result in prepartum luteolysis. Withdrawal of progesterone (P4) action is a prerequisite for a normal calving. The rather abrupt declining influence of P4 is followed by a cascade of physiological processes in the myometrium and cervix. This contribution will focus on some of these events. Like in many other species, the myometrium in cows is not completely inactivated during pregnancy. So-called contractures have been registered during the final weeks of gestation and their EMG-characteristics in cows show a low frequency (on average: 13.6 per day) and long duration (on average 12.1 min). They are not evenly spread over the day because they occur less frequently when the cows are disturbed for feeding or cleaning their stables. Contractures affect several foetal functions. In the cow these contractures disappear during a period of about 8-9h when maternal plasma P4 levels are rapidly declining before calving. There is experimental evidence that this temporary inhibition is associated with prepartal luteal regression. The cause of this inhibition is still unknown. Because nitrous oxide inhibits smooth muscle cells and evidence in laboratory animals indicates that expression of the inducible form of nitrous oxide (iNOS) is downregulated in myometrium, but upregulated in the cervix around the onset of parturition, we started to investigate the role of this enzyme in bovine tissues around calving. By means of a RT-PCR technique, we obtained a first indication that iNOS is hardly expressed in the myometrium during calving, while expression was clearly detected at day 4 after calving. Analysis of prepartum en periparturient biopsies from myometrium and cervix with quantitative PCR is still underway. In six pregnant cows, provided with uterine EMG-electrodes and with ultrasonic crystals implanted on the caudal cervical rim to measure cervical dilatation, calving was induced with an injection of prostaglandin (PG) F2alpha. While maternal plasma P4 levels had significantly declined within 8h after PG treatment, the myometrium escaped from temporary inhibition with the development of a parturient contractility pattern on average at 13.5h after injection. However, it was only at 28 h after PG treatment that the first sustained increase of the opening of the vaginal ostium of the cervix was measured.

Receptor blockers - general aspects with respect to their use in domestic animal reproduction

Receptor blockers compete with the respective agonist for binding to a given receptor without inducing complete signal transduction. In recent years, major interest has focused on sex-steroid hormone receptor blockers (antagonists). Indications have been obtained that inadequate changes in receptor conformation and subsequent failure of transcriptional activation are major events preventing hormonal activity. However, various subtypes and variants of receptors and receptor mutations have also been identified. Expression of antihormonal effects may vary depending on the type of receptor the blocker is bound to. Hence, receptor blockers may also have an inherent agonistic activity. Aglepristone is the first antiprogestin registered for veterinary use with the indication "interruption or prevention of pregnancy"; similarly, these types of compounds were successfully used for induction of parturition in the dog and cat and for conservative treatment of pyometra in the dog. Moreover, application of antiprogestins has clearly demonstrated the role of progesterone as a major factor controlling overt pseudopregnancy in dogs. With respect to farm animals, parturition was induced in cows without an increased incidence of retained fetal membranes. Other than antiprogestins, antioestrogens and antiandrogens are still in a more experimental phase. In particular for use in humans, high-affinity blockers binding to the oxytocin/vasopressin receptor are in development; they exert distinct tocolytic activities. Also, the release of GnRH can be inhibited by respective antagonists; however, their use in reproduction is still hampered by the high dose requirement and the side effects observed.

Immunolocalization of progesterone receptors in bovine placentomes throughout mid and late gestation and at parturition

The corpus luteum is the main source of progesterone (P(4)) responsible for maintenance of gestation in cattle. So far it has not been possible to assign any biological role to placental P(4), which contributes only marginally and temporarily to peripheral maternal blood levels. In order to identify possible P(4) target cells within the placenta, placentomes from 150-, 220-, 240-, and 270-day-pregnant cows and from parturient cows (3 animals per group) were screened immunohistochemically for expression of the progesterone receptor (PR). During gestation, PR-positive staining was found exclusively in the nuclei of caruncular stromal cells (CSC; maternal part of the placentome) and of caruncular vascular pericytes. In placentomes from parturient cows, occasional positive nuclear staining was also observed in the walls of small caruncular arteries. The percentage of PR-positive CSC increased slightly from 51.8 +/- 2.6% on Day 150 to 56.2 +/- 5.6% at Day 270 (p < 0.05) and was 58.9 +/- 1.8% at parturition. These results suggest that in pregnant cattle, CSC are under the control of P(4) of placental rather than luteal origin. Thus, whereas luteal P(4) may regulate "coarse" systemic progestational functions in the maternal compartment in the classical hormonal manner, placental P(4) may act as a paracrine factor involved in the local regulation of caruncular growth, differentiation, and functions.

Differential effects of dexamethasone and RU 486, an antigestagen and antiglucocorticoid, on progesterone and relaxin secretion in hysterectomized pigs with aging corpora lutea

Pregnancy lasts about 114 days in pigs. Porcine corpora lutea produce not only progesterone but also relaxin (RLX), a peptide hormone that plays a critical role in suppressing uterine motility during pregnancy and in remodelling connective tissues in preparation for imminent parturition. Progesterone concentrations in peripheral blood remain elevated (approximately equal to 25 ng ml-1) for the major part of pregnancy and decrease just before parturition. The decrease in progesterone coincides with the peak prepartum RLX release. Glucocorticoid or antiglucocorticosteroid steroid, RU 486, administration during late pregnancy can induce parturition in the pig. Peak release of RLX and a coincident decrease of progesterone in the circulating blood can also occur in the complete absence of fetuses and uterus in the pig. The effects of glucocorticoid or antiglucocorticoidsteroid administration to such hysterectomized pigs on the secretion of RLX and progesterone were examined in this experiment. Unmated Yorkshire gilts were hysterectomized on days 6-8 (estrus = day 0) and given dexamethasone (total of 30 mg day-1; 2 times i.m. at 0800 and 1600 h) from days 110-118; control animals received vehicle injection during this period. RU 486 (4 mg kg1 body weight) was orally administered once daily (days 111-115) at 0800 h; placebo-treated controls were given the same amount of feed without the drug at this time. RLX concentrations in blood were markedly suppressed (P < 0.01) during dexamethasone treatment (3 +/- 0.9 ng ml-1; mean +/- S.E.) whereas a peak release of RLX (17 +/- 2.8 ng ml-1) occurred in the control group on day 113. In contrast, progesterone concentrations (14 +/- 2.5 ng ml-1) were unaffected by dexamethasone treatment compared with the controls (15 +/- 2.0 ng ml-1; P > 0.82). Upon withdrawal of dexamethasone on day 118, RLX plasma concentrations began to increase and peaked at 14 +/- 2.1 ng ml-1 (P < 0.01) on day 120. In contrast, the antiglucocorticosteroid given to hysterectomized pigs bearing aging corpora lutea caused a marked elevation in circulating levels of progesterone and delayed RLX release until after the end of drug treatment on day 115. Average weights of corpora lutea collected at day 12 were similar between treated and control groups (427 +/- 7 vs. 433 +/- 6 mg; P > 0.68). Results indicate that a synthetic glucocorticoid, dexamethasone, suppresses RLX secretion without causing luteolysis and such suppression is reversible; progesterone secretion remained unaffected. In contrast, the antiglucocorticoid, RU 486, raised progesterone plasma concentration and delayed RLX peak release but did not suppress it during treatment. This experiment provides further evidence that relaxin and progesterone secretion from aging corpora lutea of pigs are regulated through separate mechanisms, and adrenal glucocorticoids may be involved in such a regulation process.

Course of pregnancy, steroid hormone levels and maturation process of placentomes after oestrone infusion in cows near term

The present study was designed to examine the effect of systemic oestrone infusion on the course of late pregnancy and parturition, steroid hormone concentrations and maturation of placentomes in cows. Twelve pluriparous pregnant cows with known breeding dates were used in this experiment. Starting on day 267 of pregnancy six cows (experimental group) received 20 mg oestrone daily (in four doses) infused into the vena jugularis until parturition. Six other cows infused with vehicle served as control. Concentrations of oestrone (E1), oestrone sulphate (E1S) and progesterone (P4) were measured by RIA, and after parturition placentomes were examined histologically. In experimental and control animals parturition occurred on days 276,9 +/- 1.8 and 277,2 +/- 1.1 of gestation, respectively. The concentrations of E1 in the treated group were higher (8-12 ng/ml) than those in control animals (1-3 ng/ml), while the levels of E1S (8-14 ng/ml) were similar for both groups. The concentrations of P4 in experimental and control cows were typical for late pregnancy (4-6 ng/ml), with a sharp drop of this hormone 1-2 days before calving. The histological pictures of placentomes obtained from both groups of animals were similar and maturation of the placenta was observed. These results suggest that the prepartal increase of oestrone in maternal plasma does not play a major role in the regulation of parturition and placental maturation.

Interactions between oestradiol and the progesterone antagonist RU-486 in establishing and maintaining female rats' sexual responsiveness: central versus peripheral effects

Progesterone is well known to contribute specifically to the emergence of the female rats' sexual behaviour by the establishment of 'proceptivity'. Analysis of the mechanism of progesterone action benefits from the availability of highly effective anti-progestagenic compounds. However, results obtained during the study of female rats' sexual behaviour, including such compounds into the experimental protocol, appear equivocal. The present experiments were designed to further examine the possible effects of the antiprogestagenic compound RU-486 (Mifepristone) on the female rats' sexual responsiveness as elicited through exposure of the animals to oestradiol alone. The experimental design aimed to distinguish between receptivity (defined as response to sexually active males) and proceptivity (defined as female-initiated sexual behaviour). Mifepristone advanced the onset of receptivity after the injection of oestradiol benzoate (OB). Upon further investigation a steady level of receptivity was reached during prolonged treatment with OB and this level appeared unaltered through concurrent treatment with Mifepristone. OB alone was insufficient to induce full proceptivity as revealed by observations of sexual behaviour with tethered males. Such defined proceptivity was significantly further inhibited by Mifepristone. It thus appears that, dependent upon the time and type of female sexual behavioural analysis, Mifepristone either enhances, inhibits, or does not affect sexual responsiveness. After the observation period, autopsy revealed the presence of copulatory plugs and infections in the uterus of OB + Mifepristone-treated rats. This unexpected finding could result from effects of the compound on the uterine cervical musculature. Uterine infections might result in painful, aversive, intra-abdominal sensations, especially during intravaginal penile intromissions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)