Intra-cervical application of Misoprostol at estrus alters the content of cervical hyaluronan and the mRNA expression of follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) and cyclooxygenase-2 in the ewe.

The complex anatomy the of ovine cervix limits the success of transcervical artificial insemination in sheep, but Misoprostol (a PGE(1) analogue) relaxes the cervix and facilitates transcervical artificial insemination. However, the mechanism by which Misoprostol causes cervical relaxation is not known. This study examined if intra-cervical Misoprostol altered the hyaluronan content and the mRNA expression of COX-2, LHR, or FSHR in the cervix of the estrus ewe. Estrus was synchronized in cyclic ewes with progestagen pessaries and 48 h after sponge removal ewes were treated intra-cervically with 0 (controls), 200, or 400 microg Misoprostol. Hyaluronan content was determined by ELISA and mRNA expression of LHR, FSHR, and COX-2 was analyzed by in situ hybridization using digoxigenin-11-uridine-5'-triphosphate labeled riboprobes. The hyaluronan content of the cervix was significantly higher in sheep that received 200 (P<0.05) or 400 (P<0.05) microg Misoprostol compared to controls. Moreover, it was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the vaginal region compared to mid and uterine regions. Misoprostol increased (P<0.05) the mRNA expression of LHR and COX-2 but not FSHR. The expression for all three genes was highest in the vaginal region and lowest in uterine region. The luminal epithelium and circular smooth muscle layers had higher (P<0.05) expression for LHR, FSHR, and COX-2 mRNAs, and the sub-epithelial stroma had the lowest (P<0.05). We propose that the intra-cervical application of Misoprostol induces the mRNA expression of LHR, FSHR, and COX-2 through a positive feedback loop. The data suggest that softening of the cervix by Misoprostol is caused by an increase in the hyaluronan content of the cervix.