Abstract

Pregnancy is the main event in the life of a female mammal to reproduce its progeny and maintain the integrity of the species. It is a very coordinated process involving reproductive organs and changes in the tissue concentration of various hormones, cytokines, enzymes and growth factors, of which hormones are most important. Pregnancy mainly involved two hormones, namely progesterone and estrogen. Other hormones involved in this process are prostaglandin, cortisone, relaxin and oxytocin, which are mainly important for parturition. Pregnancy involves two major events establishment and maintenance. Establishment provides maternal recognition of presence of conceptus for subsequent preparations. This is achieved by ovine interferon tou, bovine interferon tou, estrogen and interferon in sheep, cattle, pig and horse respectively. Hormonal control for maintenance of pregnancy involves prevention of uterine contraction by progesterone block in farm animals. The source of progesterone and control of its production differs between species and stage of pregnancy. Cow, sow and goat are 2 4/27/2012

The period of fetal development beginning with fertilization and ending with parturition.
Leonardo da Vinci, "The Foetus in Utero," 4/27/2012 1489
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Two major events of pregnancy are:

Maternal recognition of pregnancy Maintenance of pregnancy
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It is a process of providing signal to the mother, to prevent the destruction of the CL.

Pregnancy recognition factors bINF-T Bovine interferon-T oINF-T Ovine interferon-T

E2

Estradiol

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hCG Human chorionic gonadotropins 5

For maintenance of pregnancy progesterone level should be continuously maintained. The source of progesterone and control of its production differ between species and stages of pregnancy.

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Estrogen

The main role of estrogen in early gestation is to prime tissues for progesterone action. Part of this function is exerted in the uterus by enhancing epithelial cell multiplication and hypertrophy of the uterine smooth muscle. It also facilitates the deposition of glycogen in the uterine muscle and increases vascularisation of the uterus. Later in gestation, it increases uterine metabolism to cope with the increasing growth requirements of the foetus.
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Progesterone
Progesterone stimulates development of endometrial
glands and the production of histotroph or uterine milk.

Close to parturition progesterone stimulates lobuloalveolar growth in the mammary gland.

Finally, progesterone produces modifications in the behaviour of the pregnant animal that are conducive for pregnancy maintenance.

The other essential action of progesterone is to maintain uterine quiescence which permits the attachment and maintenance of pregnancy.
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Follicle stimulating hormone

Luteinizing hormone During early pregnancy, LH is required as a luteotropin to maintain the CL functioning properly.

Only in mares initially supports the development of follicles for secondary corpus luteum ( CL) , this is also known as eCG in this case.

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Relaxin

Oxytocin
Triggers PGF2. production of

Low in early pregnancy

Unknown origin Suspected placenta

Produced by regressing CL and placenta at the end of pregnancy for relaxation of pelvic ligaments.

Stimulates smooth muscle contractility. A luteolytic role, through stimulation of uterine has been determined in the cow and ewe. In pregnant, synthesis is blocked by conceptus. In late pregnancy, synthesis increases and involves in parturition and milk let down.

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"ovine interferon tau (oIFN-t) provides signal for maternal recognition of pregnancy. The oIFN-t acts on the endometrium of the uterus to prevent the synthesis of PGF2a. Thus by preventing synthesis of the luteolytic agent, PGF2a, the CL is protected and maintained.
Corpus luteum of ewe

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The CL and anterior pituitary LH needed to cause secretion of progesterone are essential for the first 55 days of ovine pregnancy.

Thereafter the placenta produces sufficient progesterone for maintenance of pregnancy until the end of the 146 day gestation when the placenta converts its produced progesterone to estrogen.
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Maternal recognition occurs in between day 16 and 19. Bovine interferon tau is responsible for this. The CL and ovarian progesterone are essential for pregnancy maintenance throughout the 280 day bovine gestation.

Corpus cattle

luteum 13

of

Estrogen produced by conceptus at day 11 and 12 leads to maternal recognition of pregnancy. This estrogen doesnt appear to inhibit uterine production of PGF2a, but cause it to be sequestered in uterine lumen resulting in unavailability to cause luteolysis ( endocrine exocrine model of maternal recognition of pregnancy).
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Progesterone from the CL and CL maintenance are essential for maintenance of pregnancy in this species throughout the 114 day gestation.
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It is likely that conceptus derived proteins like interferon tau at day 11 onwards is responsible for maternal recognition of pregnancy.

The conceptus migrates within the uterine lumen from one horn o the other 10 13 times per day between day 10 and 16 of pregnancy, likely in an effort to inhibit or modify endometrial PGF2a production.
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Primary corpus luteum pregnancy till 35 days.

maintains

Then, endometrial cups will produce equine chorionic gonadotropin, which induces secondary corpus luteum formation. This maintains pregnancy till 150 days.
After day 150 onwards progesterone hormone is synthesized by placenta. Mare will remain pregnant when the ovaries are removed after day 70.
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Fig: Hormonal profile of equine pregnancy

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Maternal recognition and maintenance are two major physiological processes of pregnancy.

Interferons, estrogen etc. are responsible for maternal recognition by inhibiting PGF2a

release or altering its releasing pattern.

Progesterone maintains pregnancy. Source of progesterone ,however, varies according to species and even with stages of pregnancy. 19
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Sow, cow, goat etc. are dependent on CL for pregnancy whereas, ewe and mare are placenta dependent for progesterone release.

Any fluctuation in hormonal profile may lead to abnormality of pregnancy like abortion.

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Anonymous. Equine Pregnancy. Retrieved on 2011-6-25 from http://www.vetmed.lsu.edu/eiltslotus/theriogenology-5361/equine pregnancy.htm Bate, L. A. Pregnancy and Parturition. Retrieved from http://people.upei.ca/bate/html/pregnancyandparturition.html Hafez and Hafez. 2005. Reproduction in Farm Animals. Seventh edition. Johnson, M.H., and Barry Everitt. Essential Reproduction. Blackwell Publications, 1999. Retrieved on 2011-5-23. Kiyoshi Okuda. Basics of Reproductive Bioscience and Biotechnology - Hormones for regulating ovarian function and its application in animal breeding. Okayama University. Laboratory of REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY. McKinnon, A.O. and J. L. Voss. 1993. Equine Reproduction. LEA and FEBIGER publication, Philadelphia, London. Nasar A. and A. Rahman. Hormonal Changes in the Uterus During Pregnancy-Lessons from the Ewe: A Review. Journal of Agriculture & Rural Development Roberts S.J. 2004. Veterinary Obstetrics and Genital Diseases. Second edition. CBS publishers and distributers. Senger, P.L.. Pathways to Pregnancy and Parturition. Pullman: Current Conceptions, Inc., 2003. Spencer TE, Burghardt RC, Johnson GA and Bazer FW. 2004. Conceptus signals for establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Retrieved on 2011-6-25 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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You have mentioned on your abstract about progesterone block, what does it mean ?

Well, progesterone is the hormone responsible for maintenance of pregnancy by blocking the uterine motility and other associated factors responsible for loss of conceptus, and this is known as progesterone block.
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You mentioned, ovariectomy after 70 days maintains pregnancy in mare, does it happen in other species as well and is their any indication for this ovariectomy in mare ?

Yep, in all species which are placental dependent for progesterone synthesis during pregnancy, ovariectomy can be done without hampering development of fetus. But this should be done after placenta fully takes over the function of progesterone synthesis. Regarding indication of ovariectomy during pregnancy in mare, I was just mean to say they are placental dependent and I know no any such indications except for general indications like during ovarian pathologies.
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In hormonal profile graph unlike in others estrogen level is high in pig in early days , why and what is its physiological role?

Actually, its interesting. Unlike in others species, in pig estrogen helps in maternal recognition and this early rise if for this purpose. Estrogen in pig, modifies the releasing mechanism of prostaglandin. In other species prostaglandin is released in uterine vessels so that they can act on CL but in pig estrogen leads their release into the uterine lumen so than they are instead excreted in urine and the CL is established. For this various ion channels and second messenger systems are involved.
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