Effect of estradiol and progesterone on oviductal LH-receptors and LH-dependent relaxation of the porcine oviduct

• Published in: Theriogenology 2000-02, Vol.53 (3), p.659-672
• Main Authors: Gawronska, B., Stepien, A., Ziecik, A.J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Blotting, Western; estradiol; Estradiol - pharmacology; Fallopian Tubes - chemistry; Fallopian Tubes - drug effects; Fallopian Tubes - physiology; Female; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Luteinizing Hormone - pharmacology; Muscle Relaxation - drug effects; Muscle, Smooth - drug effects; Muscle, Smooth - physiology; Ovariectomy; oviduct; pig; progesterone; Progesterone - pharmacology; Receptors, LH - analysis; Receptors, LH - drug effects; Receptors, LH - physiology; Swine - physiology
• ISSN: 0093-691X; 1879-3231
• DOI: 10.1016/S0093-691X(99)00265-4

We have previously shown that the porcine oviduct possesses immunoreactive and functional LH receptors and that LH causes relaxation of the oviduct, especially during the periovulatory stage of estrous cycle. The current studies were undertaken to investigate the effects of estradiol and progesterone on LH receptor protein and LH-stimulated motility of the oviduct in steroid-primed ovariectomized gilts. Twenty-one cross-bred gilts were ovariectomized at 6 mo of age. Four weeks later gilts received daily intramuscular injection of either 2 mL corn oil (control n=4), estradiol benzoate (EB) 1.5 mg (n=6), progesterone 50 mg (n=5), or 1.5 mg EB plus 50 mg progesterone (n=6) for 4 consecutive days. The gilts were slaughtered on Day 5 after the first injection of steroids or vehicle. Rings of isthmus and ampulla were collected from each oviduct and placed in a tissue chamber perfused with Kreb's solution for 60 min. The mechanical activity was recorded for 30 min after LH treatment. Immunoreactivity of LHR in the Fallopian tube sections were detected in the epithelium of the tubal mucosa, smooth muscle cells and the blood vessel endothelium. Western blotting showed that porcine oviducts contain 75, 48 and 45 kDa immunoreactive LH receptor proteins, like the corpus luteum (CL). The lowest receptor expression was found in controls and in gilts treated with estradiol or progesterone. Combined treatment with estradiol and progesterone resulted in a significant increase of LH receptor protein concentrations when compared with control animals. In vitro LH treatment affected oviduct contractility of combined estradiol and progesterone treated gilts but not the oviduct of the remaining groups. It also caused a decrease in amplitude, frequency and areas under the curve (AUC) of ampulla (P