Modulation of the Uterine Response to Infectious Bacteria in Postpartum Ewes

• Published in: American journal of reproductive immunology (1989) 2002-01, Vol.47 (1), p.57-63
• Main Authors: SEALS, RICHARD C., WULSTER-RADCLIFFE, MEGHAN C., LEWIS, GREGORY S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Actinomycetaceae; Actinomycetales Infections - etiology; Actinomycetales Infections - immunology; Actinomycetales Infections - veterinary; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Dinoprostone - pharmacology; Escherichia coli Infections - etiology; Escherichia coli Infections - immunology; Escherichia coli Infections - veterinary; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hormone metabolism and regulation; Immunosuppression; In Vitro Techniques; Lymphocyte Activation - drug effects; Mammalian female genital system; Postpartum Period - drug effects; Postpartum Period - immunology; progesterone; Progesterone - pharmacology; prostaglandins; Puerperal Infection - etiology; Puerperal Infection - immunology; Puerperal Infection - veterinary; Sheep; Sheep Diseases - etiology; Sheep Diseases - immunology; uterine infection; Uterus - drug effects; Uterus - immunology; Vertebrates: reproduction
• ISSN: 1046-7408; 8755-8920; 1600-0897
• DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0897.2002.1o062.x

PROBLEM: Exogenous progesterone and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) can down‐regulate uterine immune functions and render the uterus susceptible to bacterial infection. METHOD OF STUDY: Ewes were sham‐ovariectomized (SHAM) or ovariectomized (OVEX) 9 days after parturition (day 0), and their uteri were inoculated with Arcanobacterium pyogenes and Escherichia coli on day 15. Vena caval blood was collected on day 14 and days 16–19, and uteri were collected on day 20. Ewes began receiving either canola oil (OIL) or progesterone in oil (PROG) on day 10. Lymphocytes from each blood sample were assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial array of in vitro treatments; 10–7 M PGE2 and 10–7 M indomethacin (INDO) were main effects. [3H]Thymidine incorporation (expressed in picomoles) was used to quantify proliferation. RESULTS: Progesterone was greater (P=0.001) in PROG than in OIL ewes (3.6 versus 0.7 ng/mL), and only PROG ewes developed infections. Lymphocyte proliferation was least (P=0.02) in PROG‐OVEX ewes (4.1 versus 5.4, 5.7, and 5.8 pmol for OIL‐SHAM, PROG‐SHAM, and OIL‐OVEX, respectively). Concanavalin A (Con‐A)‐stimulated proliferation was less (P