Effect of estrone treatment from day 30 to 45 of pregnancy on endometrial protein secretion and uterine capacity.

Secretion of proteins by the endometrium of pigs during pregnancy is reported to be influenced by progesterone and estrogen. The effect of estrone treatment from d 30 to 45 of pregnancy on endometrial protein secretion and uterine capacity was tested in unilaterally hysterectomized-ovariectomized (UHO) gilts. Ten intact and 16 UHO crossbred gilts were mated and assigned to the following treatments: 1) intact controls, n = 10; 2) UHO, n = 8; and 3) UHO + estrone (E; two 150-mg implants, 60-d release, implanted on d 30 of gestation), n = 8. Gilts were killed on d 45 of pregnancy. A sample of allantoic fluid was collected from each conceptus. Blood and endometrial tissue samples were collected to evaluate estrone concentrations, and placental and endometrial tissues were incubated to evaluate protein secretion. Estrone treatment increased (P < .01) plasma and endometrial tissue estrone concentrations. Unilateral hysterectomy-ovariectomy decreased (P < .01) fetal survival. No effect of estrone was detected on the number of live fetuses, protein secretion by endometrial tissue in culture, or allantoic fluid protein, acid phosphatase, retinol binding protein, or retinol. Estrone treatment decreased uterine weight (P = .05) and allantoic fluid fructose concentrations (P < .05). After correction for allantoic fluid volume, allantoic fluid protein, retinol, and acid phosphatase activity were decreased (P < .05) in UHO-treated pigs. The UHO treatment did not affect allantoic fluid fructose concentrations. These results indicate that 1) estrone treatment from d 30 to 45 of pregnancy and at the dosage used did not alter endometrial protein secretion or fetal survival, and 2) UHO decreased the amount of endometrial proteins available to conceptuses.