Local effect of progesterone infusion into the porcine ovarian artery on androgen and estrogen secretion during the middle luteal phase

SUMMARYThe present study was undertaken to elucidate whether an increased, but physiological, amount of progesterone (P4) supplied to the porcine corpus luteum (CL) affects luteal secretion of androgens and estrogens in freely moving gilts. On day 9 of the estrous cycle, the jugular veins as well as both ovarian arteries and both ovarian veins of gilts were cannulated. Progesterone was infused into the right ovarian arteries of experimental gilts (n=5) on days 10, 11 and 12 of the estrous cycle at a rate adequate to physiological retrograde transfer found during the middle luteal phase of the cycle. The left ovarian arteries of the experimental gilts were infused with saline. Both ovarian arteries of the control gilts (n=5) were infused with saline. The P4 infusion rate was 0.62 μg/min (10 day), 2×0.62 μg/min (11 day) and 3×0.62 μg/min (12 day). Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein and both ovarian veins of the experimental and control gilts on days 10-12 of the estrous cycle before and after P4 or saline infusion. The mean plasma androstenedione (A4) level in the ovarian vein ipsilateral to the P4-infused ovary was higher (p<0.01) on days 10-12 of the estrous cycle than those found in the contralateral ovarian vein of the experimental gilts as well as the control gilts. The ovarian venous level of testosterone (T) in the ovarian vein ipsilateral to the P4-infused ovary on days 10-12 of the estrous cycle was not significantly different (p>0.05) from those found in the contralateral ovarian vein of the experimental gilts and ovarian vein of the control gilts. However, on day 12, a decrease in T concentration was demonstrated in the ovarian vein ipsilateral to the P4-infused ovary in comparison to those of the contralateral and control ovarian veins. The mean plasma 17β-estradiol (E2) level in the ovarian vein ipsilateral to the P4-infused ovary was lower on days 10-12 than those found in the contralateral ovarian vein of the experimental gilts and in the ovarian vein of the control gilts (p<0.001). The results of the present paper indicate that local elevation of P4 concentration in blood supplying the ovary during the middle luteal phase of the porcine estrous cycle affected local secretion of androgens and estrogens. The effect of P4 on the secretion of androgens and estrogens suggested the existence of a short regulatory loop of a positive feedback for A4 secretion and a negative feedback for E2 secretion.