Role of prostaglandins in development of porcine blastocysts

Rapid elongation of porcine blastocysts between Days 11 to 12 of pregnancy coincides with an increase in uterine luminal content of prostaglandins. The present study evaluated the effect of two prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors (indomethacin and flunixin meglumine) on elongation of porcine blastocysts from spherical to filamentous forms between Day 11 to 12 of pregnancy. Gilts were hemi-hysterectomized on Day 11 of prenancy. The excised uterine horn was flushed with 0.9% saline and diameter of blastocysts recovered were measured. Immediately following surgery, pregnant gilts were assigned to receive either: 1) vehicle every 4 h, 2) flunixin meglumine (banamine) every 4 h, or 3) indomethacin every 12 h. The remaining uterine horn was removed and flushed after the time of blastocyst elongation estimated for each gilt on basis of blastocyst development in the first horn. Uterine flushings were analyzed for total calcium, protein, acid phosphatase activity, estrone, estradiol-17β and prostaglandin F. Pretreatment blastocyst diameter was similar for all groups and ranged from 1 mm to 20 mm. Treatment of gilts with either banamine or indomethacin effectively inhibited (P<0.001) the increase in uterine luminal content of PGF. Total calcium, estrone and estradiol-17β were not influenced by treatment. Total uterine luminal protein and acid phosphatase activity were reduced (P<0.05) in banamine treated gilts compared to those receiving vehicle or indomethacin treatments. Although total PGF recovered in uterine flushings was reduced during the period of blastocyst elongation, treatment with PGF synthetase inhibitors failed to block rapid elongation of blastocysts from the spherical to filamentous forms.