Evaluation of genes involved in prostaglandin action in equine endometrium during estrous cycle and early pregnancy

Abstract

The aim was to evaluate expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of prostaglandins (PTG), Prostaglandin H Synthase-1 (PTGS1) and PTGS2, PGF synthase (PTGFS), and PGE synthase (PTGES), PGF receptor (PTGFR), PGE receptors (PTGER2 and PTGER4), prostaglandin transporter (SLCO2A1) and hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase-15 (HPGD). Endometrial biopsies were obtained from mares on day of ovulation (d0, n = 4), late diestrus (LD, n = 4), early luteolysis (EL, n = 4) and after luteolysis (AL, n = 4) during the cycle. Stages of the cycle were confirmed by plasma progesterone concentrations measured daily and ultrasound examinations. Biopsies were also taken on days 14 (P14; n = 4), 15 (P15, n = 4), 18 (P18, n = 4) and 22 (P22; n = 4) of pregnancy. Relative mRNA expressions were quantified using real-time RT-PCR. A mixed model was fitted on the normalized data and least significant difference test ( α = 0.05) was employed. Expression of PTGS1 mRNA was low throughout the estrous cycle and early days of pregnancy, but upregulated on P18 and P22. PTGS2 expression was increased on EL, but it was suppressed by pregnancy on P15, P18, and P22. PTGFS expression was upregulated in both cyclic and pregnant mares compared to d0 and its level was the highest on LD. PTGFR expression was transiently increased on LD and EL and was suppressed during early pregnancy. Both PTGES and PTGER2 expressions were increased on LD, EL, and early pregnancy, but were decreased after the luteolysis in cyclic mares as they remained high on P18 and P22. PTGER4 expression did not change throughout the cycle and early pregnancy. Levels of HPGD and SLCO2A1 were significantly increased only on P22. In conclusion, PTGS2 expression increases around the time of luteolysis and concurrent upregulation of PTGFS and PTGES indicates that equine endometrium has increased capability of PTG production around the time of luteolysis. However, pregnancy reduces PTGS2 expression, but maintains the high levels of PTGES during early pregnancy along with PTGER2 while PTGFR expression was suppressed. These findings suggest that possible luteotrophic action of PGE 2 is required in early equine pregnancy. PTGS1 is only upregulated later in the early pregnancy suggesting that it is not involved in luteolysis, but could be the main PTGS enzyme at this time during early pregnancy. An increase in HPGD and SLCO2A1 levels on P22 indicates a tight regulation of PTG action by pregnancy.