Embryonic steroids and the establishment of pregnancy in pigs

In the pig, establishment of pregnancy begins about 11-12 days after the start of oestrus. The ability of pig conceptuses to synthesize and release oestrogens during this period, as well as the ability of exogenous oestrogens to induce pseudo-pregnancy when administered from Day 11-15 of the oestrous cycle, provide evidence for an involvement of oestrogen in the maternal recognition of pregnancy in the sow. Oestrogen derived from the conceptus or from administration to cyclic gilts stimulates uterine secretion of calcium and specific polypeptides on Day 11-12. The specific roles for the uterine secretory response to oestrogen in the maintenance of pregnancy are unknown. However, it has been proposed that oestrogen prevents luteolysis in the sow through reorientation of endometrial prostaglandin release, i.e. into the uterine lumen rather than into the uterine vasculature. Oestrogen may interact with prolactin and/or conceptus secretory proteins to shift the direction of prostaglandin movement. Although conceptus oestrogen synthesis triggers a number of uterine secretory events on Day 11, a second sustained phase of oestrogen stimulation from Day 14 to 18 appears to be necessary for luteal maintenance beyond Day 25. Pig conceptuses synthesize and release large amounts of oestrogens between Days 14 and 18 of pregnancy. Conceptus oestrogens are clearly involved with the establishment of pregnancy. However, the conceptus also secretes a number of biologically active substances such as catechol oestrogens, prostaglandins and polypeptides which could interact with oestrogen to prevent luteolysis. The roles of these factors in control of vascular permeability, blood flow, placental attachment and immunological protection certainly indicate that, in addition to oestrogens, other factors are involved in the establishment of pregnancy in pigs.