In vitro Release of Ovarian Progesterone is Decreased During the Oestrous Cycle and Pregnancy of Swine with Obesity/Leptin Resistance

Abstract

Previous studies indicate that reproductive prolificacy of obese swine breeds is markedly influenced by embryo losses in early pregnancy. In such period, adequate secretion of progesterone (P4) by the ovary is essential for pregnancy success. This study analyses the luteal functionality during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy of Iberian sows and Large White x Landrace females, in terms of P4 secretion after in vitro culture of luteal tissue stimulated or not with luteinizing hormone (LH). The secretion of progesterone (expressed in ng/mg of luteal tissue or ng/mgLT) of the corpora lutea of obese Iberian swine was always hampered when compared to lean genotypes, either during early oestrous cycle (110.7 ± 37.8 vs 259.7 ± 10.2 ng/mgLT; p < 0.0001), late oestrous cycle (49.0 ± 3.5 vs 75.92 ± 7.14 ng/mgLT; p < 0.0001) or early pregnancy (38.4 ± 2.1 vs 70.7 ± 5.3 ng/mgLT; p < 0.0001). The differences in basal P4 secretion remained after stimulation with LH. Finally, P4 secretion during early pregnancy of Iberian sows decreased with age and, hence, with obesity features (46.6 ± 4.2 vs 65.5 ± 4.8 ng/mgLT; p < 0.001). In conclusion, the results of the present study provide convincing evidence of a reduced luteal function during oestrous cycle and early pregnancy of sows with obesity/leptin resistance like Iberian sows, which may contribute to the low reproductive efficiency reported in this breed.

Sex and Breed-Dependent Organ Development and Metabolic Responses in Foetuses from Lean and Obese/Leptin Resistant Swine

“…The inconsistencies among these studies may be explained by the results of a subsequent trial which highlighted differences in ovulatory patterns between different Iberian dam-lines and their critical importance when studying prolificacy in the Iberian breed [12]. The data of the present trial also evidence a lower progesterone secretion in the Iberian than in the lean sows, supporting previous findings obtained when comparing Iberian and lean crosses [46]. Overall, the results of the current study emphasize previous information suggesting that the main factor determining prolificacy in both Iberian and lean crossbred swine is embryo/foetal viability [10], [12], [23], [50].…”

“…The technique for in vitro culture of luteal tissue was adapted from procedures previously described [46]. Briefly, each corpus luteum was sliced into small strips (each one weighing around 40 mg) and washed several times in sterile saline solution.…”

Effect of Frozen Embryo Transfer and Progestin-primed Ovary Stimulation on IVF outcomes in women with high body mass index

“…Especially for the PCOS patients who are in a progesterone deficiency state, the Utrogesten or Medroxyprogesterone Acetate with hMG protocols could significantly improve the pregnant outcomes, such as the biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy rate and implantation rate 24 , 25 . The high BMI women (BMI ≥ 25) also have the lower progesterone level 37 , 38 like the PCOS women, so the hMG + MPA (4 or 10 mg/d) protocol may just reverse this deficiency of progesterone and significantly improve pregnancy and live birth outcomes than the conventional short group. Moreover, the hMG + MPA (10 mg/d) group had better clinical pregnancy and live birth outcomes than the hMG + MPA (4 mg/d) group in the high BMI women group, not the normal BMI women group.…”

Proteomic Analysis of Fetal Ovary Reveals That Ovarian Developmental Potential Is Greater in Meishan Pigs than in Yorkshire Pigs

“…The current study provides novel findings that the concentration of Hsp70 elevated in the lean breed of Yorkshire compared with obesity Meishan pig. One main difference between these different phenomena is probably that Meishan pigs show an alteration that is also known as leptin resistance, due to the existence of polymorphic leptin receptors [ 43 ]. Further evidence supporting the function of Hsp70 is the observation that Hsp70 is positively correlated to leptin [ 44 ], indicating that there are multiple mechanisms of Hsp70 regulation in the ovary in Meishan and Yorkshire pigs Therefore, our study provides a new insight into the role of Hsp70 in obese Meishan ovary tissue homeostasis and probably contributes to the low reproductive efficiency reported in obese people.…”