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Published on: December 5, 2015
Maternal progesterone: Impacts on conceptus development and conceptus-maternal interactions
Lillian X Ehresmann1, Rafael R Domingues1
1Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Reproduction (Cambridge, England)
|August 14, 2026
Summary
Supplemental progesterone aims to improve early pregnancy success in cattle by enhancing conceptus development and signaling. However, its consistent effectiveness requires further investigation into specific maternal-conceptus interactions.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Animal Science
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Progesterone is crucial for maternal uterine function and receptivity during early pregnancy.
- The conceptus signals its presence, modulating maternal responses for successful implantation and placentation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of supplemental progesterone on conceptus development and signaling.
- To understand how progesterone supplementation influences maternal-conceptus interactions for pregnancy establishment in cattle.
Main Methods:
- Evaluating conceptus- and pregnancy-specific biomarkers such as interferon tau, interferon-stimulated genes, and pregnancy-associated glycoproteins.
- Assessing these biomarkers in vivo to gain insight into temporal conceptus-maternal interactions.
Main Results:
- Supplemental progesterone has not consistently improved pregnancy rates per service in cattle.
- The precise effects of progesterone supplementation on conceptus development and signaling require further elucidation.
Conclusions:
- Further research is needed to understand the inconsistent outcomes of progesterone supplementation in cattle pregnancy.
- Temporal assessment of conceptus-specific biomarkers can provide critical insights into progesterone's role in early pregnancy.
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