Role of interferon-α in arachidonic acid metabolism by the rat uteri from spayed animals: Effect of 17β-estradiol

• Published in: Prostaglandins, leukotrienes and essential fatty acids leukotrienes and essential fatty acids, 1995-10, Vol.53 (4), p.267-271
• Main Authors: Motta, A.B., Franchi, A.M., Gimeno, M.F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid; Animals; Arachidonic Acids - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Estradiol - pharmacology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hormone metabolism and regulation; Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids - biosynthesis; Interferon-alpha - administration & dosage; Interferon-alpha - pharmacology; Interferon-alpha - physiology; Mammalian female genital system; Ovariectomy; Prostaglandins - biosynthesis; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Thromboxanes - biosynthesis; Uterus - drug effects; Uterus - metabolism; Vertebrates: reproduction
• ISSN: 0952-3278; 1532-2823
• DOI: 10.1016/0952-3278(95)90126-4

Interferon-like trophoblastic proteins modulate prostaglandin (PG) synthesis from endometrium in early ovine and bovine pregnancy. We attempted to explore the effect of interferon (IFN)-α in the isolated rat uterus from ovariectomized animals on the metabolism of labelled arachidonic acid (AA). The experiments were performed with uterine preparations isolated from spayed rats treated or untreated with 17β-estradiol prior to sacrifice. The pre-incubation of uterine tissue isolated from ovariectomized rats with three different doses (4, 150 and 300 IU/ml) of IFN-α decreased the radioconversion of [ 14C]AA into 6-keto PGF 1α, PGF 2α and PGE 2, whereas the formation of thromboxane B 2 (TXB 2) decreased after treatment with 4 IU/ml of INF-α but was augmented with 150 and 300 IU/ml. The three doses used diminished the synthesis of 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE) and increased the production of 12-HETE. We also studied the synthesis of uterine products of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase in uterine tissue from ovariectomized rats injected with 17β-estradiol and preincubated with IFN-α. We found that the three doses of IFN-α diminished the production of 6-keto-PGF 1α, PGE 2, PGF 2α and TXB 2 as well as 5-HETE and 12-HETE. These findings show that IFN-α modifies the basal synthesis of PGs from uterine tissue. Ovine and bovine trophoblastic protein prevents luteolysis by inhibiting the synthesis of PGF 2α. On the other hand, IFN-α shows 70% homology with ovine trophoblastic protein and binds to the same receptor. The results of the present study suggest that IFN-α may also act in the rat as a luteotrophic agent.