Jugular levels of 13, 14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F and progesterone around luteolysis and early pregnancy in the ewe

Abstract

Six non-pregnant ewes at day 12 of the estrous cycle each had a day-12 embryo transferred into the uterine horn ipsilateral to the corpus luteum, and 4 non-pregnant ewes at day 13 each had a day-13 embryo similarly transferred. Four control ewes, 2 at day 12 and 2 at day 13 received sheep serum into the uterine horn ipsilateral to the corpus luteum. Jugular blood samples were taken at 2-hourly intervals for 3 days post-surgery, then twice-daily for a further 4 days, and the plasma radioimmunoassayed for progesterone and 13, 14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F. All control ewes exhibited estrus within the expected time range and pulsatile peaks of 13, 14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F occurred coincident with declining progesterone levels. With one exception, the recipient owes had prolonged cycles and those ewes found pregnant at necropsy, 30 days after transfer, showed no progesterone decline and no pulsatile peaks of prostaglandin during days 12 to 16 after estrus. These observations suggest that the presence of the embryo at a critical stage after mating suppresses the release of uterine prostaglandin F2alpha.