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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Livestock Bio-Systems » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #99618
Title: PORCINE PLACENTAL 11BETA-HYDROXYSTEROID DEHYDROGENASE (11BETA-HSD) DURING EARLY GESTATION

Author
item Klemcke, Harold
item SAMPATH-KUMAR, R - UNIV WESTERN ONTARIO
item YANG, G - UNIV WESTERN ONTARIO
item Vallet, Jeff
item Christenson, Ronald

Submitted to: Biology of Reproduction Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/23/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Optimal fetal cortisol levels may be important to fetal development. 11beta-HSD helps regulate cortisol levels via interconversion of cortisol to inactive cortisone. Hence, effects of gestational age, breed, and uterine environment on mRNA and activity of two isoforms, 11beta-HSD1 and 11beta-HSD2, were examined. Placentae were obtained from intact (INT) and unilaterally hysterectomized-ovariectomized (UHO) white crossbred and intact Meishan (ME) gilts on days (d) 24, 30, and 40 of gestation (n = 5-6 gilts/treatment/day). Enzyme mRNA was measured using Northern analyses, and activities were determined by radiometric assays. 11beta-HSD1 mRNA was absent on d 24, did not differ among treatments on d 30-40, but increased 35% (p < 0.01) between d 30 and d 40 in all treatments. 11beta-HSD2 mRNA was present each day. In UHO on d 30, it was 56% lower (p < 0.02) than other days and was 45% lower (p = 0.04) than in INT and ME. Low 11beta-HSD1 activity (n = 3/treatment/day) existed on d 24 (1 +/- 13 pmol/10 min/mg protein) but increased by d 30-40 (28 +/- 13). 11beta-HSD2 did not differ among treatments but increased (p < 0.01) between d 24 (17 +/- 9 pmol/10 min/mg protein) and d 40 (74 +/- 11). The predominance of 11beta-HSD2 suggests a net conversion of cortisol to cortisone that alleges a necessity for low cortisol. A crowded uterine environment (UHO) was associated with reduced 11beta-HSD2 mRNA at d 30 that may relate to decreased fetal survival in UHO.