To increase our understanding of the endocrine changes associated with parturition in dogs, plasma concentrations of progesterone (P4), 15-ketodihydroprostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGFM), estradiol-17-beta (E2beta), cortisol, ACTH, prolactin (PRL), LH, and FSH were measured in six spontaneously whelping bitches and in six bitches in which parturition was induced with the progesterone-receptor blocker...

In order to study rapid changes in 15-ketodihydro-PGF2 alpha, cortisol and progesterone in the period preceding parturition in cattle, pre-term parturition was induced in 4 late pregnant heifers. Parturitions were induced by 2 intramuscular injections of 20 mg dexamethasone with a 24-h interval. The first injection was made on days 254, 258, 264 and 265 in gestation, respectively. Twenty-four h...

It is well documented that blood neutrophils from parturient dairy cows do not perform as well as neutrophils from nonparturient cows in laboratory assays of adhesion, migration, or phagocytosis-induced respiratory burst. However, little is known about the possible molecular basis for parturition-induced changes in neutrophils. cDNA microarray analysis was used in the current study to explore p...

Compromise of elastic fiber integrity in connective tissues of the pelvic floor is most likely acquired through aging, childbirth-associated injury, and genetic susceptibility. Mouse models of pelvic organ prolapse demonstrate systemic deficiencies in proteins that affect elastogenesis. Prolapse, however, does not occur until several months after birth and is thereby acquired with age or after ...

BACKGROUND Preterm birth accounting approximate 10% of pregnancies in women is a tremendous social, clinical and economic burden. However, its underlying causes remain largely unknown. Emerging evidence suggests that endocannabinoid signaling via cannabinoid receptor CB1 play critical roles in multiple early pregnancy events in both animals and humans. Since our previous studies demonstrated th...

During parturition, uterine-derived prostaglandins (PG) play an outstanding role regarding the functional elimination of the corpus luteum and the promotion of uterine contraction. The rate-limiting enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), highly regulated in a cell-type and localization specific manner throughout pregnancy, is involved in uterine prostanoid production. Prostaglandins exert their effec...

Maternal effects are the influence of maternal phenotype and maternally-provided environment on (i.e., expression traits) offspring. Frequently, manifest both before after parturition. Pre-parturition primarily direct allocation energy to offspring that is in utero . Post-parturition can include (e.g., nursing defending offspring) indirect selection habitat relatively safe or has high nutrition...