The role of glucocorticoid in the regulation of prostaglandin biosynthesis in non-pregnant bovine endometrium

To determine whether glucocorticoids (GCs) play a role in regulating uterine function in cow, the present study examined the expression of mRNA encoding GC receptor (GC-R) α, 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11-HSD) type 1 and type 2, and the activity of 11-HSD1 in bovine endometrial tissue throughout the estrous cycle. We also studied the effects of cortisol on basal, oxytocin (OT)- and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα)-stimulated prostaglandin (PG) production. A quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that GC-Rα mRNA was expressed more strongly in the mid-luteal stage (days 8-12) than in the other stages. In contrast to GC-Rα mRNA expression, 11-HSD1 mRNA expression was greater in the follicular stage than in the other stages, whereas 11-HSD2 mRNA expression was lowest in the follicular stage. The activity of 11-HSD1 was greater in the follicular stage and estrus than in the other stages and was lowest in the mid-luteal stage. Cortisone was dose-dependently converted to cortisol in the cultured endometrial tissue. Although cortisol did not affect either the basal or OT-stimulated production of PGs in the cultured epithelial cells, the production of PGs stimulated by TNFα in the stromal cells was suppressed by cortisol (P<0.05). Cortisol suppressed basal prostaglandin (PG)F2α without affecting basal PGE2 production in the stromal cells. The overall results suggest that the level of cortisol is locally regulated in bovine endometrium throughout the estrous cycle by 11-HSD1, and that cortisol could act as a luteoprotective factor by selectively suppressing luteolytic PGF2α production in bovine endometrium.