Changes in oestrogen receptor protein, mRNA expression and localization in the endometrium of cyclic and pregnant gilts

Abstract

Conceptus secretion of oestrogen on Day 11 of gestation is involved with establishment of pregnancy in the pig. Changes in oestrogen receptor (ER) protein, mRNA and cellular localization in the endometrium were evaluated during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy of the gilt. In nonpregnant gilts, concentration of nuclear ER in the endometrium increased from Days 0 to 12 followed by a decline on Day 15 of the oestrous cycle. In pregnant gilts, changes in endometrial nuclear ER during Days 10, 12, 15 and 18 were similar to that in cyclic pigs. Analysis of endometrial ER mRNA expression did not detect any difference between cyclic and pregnant pigs between Days 10 and 15 postoestrus. Expression of ER mRNA in endometrium of cyclic and pregnant gilts was greatest on Day 10 followed by a decline on Day 15. Endometrial ER mRNA increased on Day 18 of the oestrous cycle, but remained low during pregnancy. Immunocytochemical localization of ER in the endometria of cyclic and pregnant gilts indicated that there was intense staining for ER in stromal cells and moderate to strong staining in surface and glandular epithelial cells during oestrus (Day 0) and Day 18 of the oestrous cycle. However, stromal ER staining was absent from Days 5 to 15 of the oestrous cycle and continued to be suppressed on Day 18 of pregnancy. Immunocytochemical staining of ER in the surface and glandular epithelium was readily detectable from Days 0 to 12 of the oestrous cycle and during pregnancy. Intensity of staining for ER declined in surface epithelial cells on Day 15 in both cyclic and pregnant pigs whereas positive staining for ER in glandular epithelium was absent. Staining for ER on uterine surface epithelial cells increased during pro-estrus (Day 18) of cyclic gilts but remained similar to Day 15 in pregnant gilts. Changes in endometrial ER protein, mRNA and localization in surface epithelium are consistent with a physiological role for conceptus oestrogen secretion in uterine function and maternal recognition of pregnancy in the pig.

Attenuation of Estrogenic Effects by Dihydrotestosterone in the Pig Uterus Is Associated with Downregulation of the Estrogen Receptors1

“…In the present experiment, ER␣ was detected in the myometrium, endometrial stroma, and the glandular and luminal epithelia, similar to previous descriptions in intact (nonovariectomized) gilts [37] and sows [38]. The AR is primarily present in endometrial epithelia, and in lesser amounts in myometrium and endometrial stroma of the pig uterus [18].…”

Implantation and Establishment of Pregnancy in the Pig

“…Following downregulation of PGR from the endometrial LE and GE, estrogen receptor (ESR1) in uterine LE and GE is upregulated (Geisert et al 1993 ) which provides the pathway for the cell-specifi c responses to conceptus estrogens released on day 12. However, the maternal uterine environment is sensitive to the precise timing of conceptus estrogen stimulation (Geisert et al 2004 ).…”

Pregnancy Recognition and Implantation of the Conceptus in the Mare

“…Subcellular staining patterns of ESR1 can depend on the primary antibody used for localization studies; for instance, a particular antibody can show a preference for cytoplasmic staining versus nuclear staining and vice versa (Schuler et al 2002 ;Sierralta and Thole 1996 ). It should be noted that during early pregnancy in the pig, luminal and glandular epithelial cells maintain ESR1 expression, albeit with immunoreactivity confi ned to nuclei and not the cytoplasm (Geisert et al 1993 ;Knapczyk-Stwora et al 2011 ). Similar to the equine conceptus, porcine conceptuses secrete signifi cant amounts of estrogen during the time of MRP (Perry et al 1973 ), which raises the likelihood of continued ESR1 expression by epithelial cells to be a unique feature to species in which conceptuses secrete large quantities of estrogen.…”