School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Japan.
Anim Sci J. 2019 Nov;90(11):1426-1431. doi: 10.1111/asj.13286. Epub 2019 Sep 4.
In this study, we measured plasma concentrations of progesterone, pregnenolone, estradiol, estrone, estrone sulfate, and cortisol and analyzed the correlations between these hormones during gestation in 13 Suffolk ewes, the main breed in Japan. Progesterone increased during gestation and decreased a few days before parturition; however, this pattern was different in samples with high progesterone concentrations (P4 spike samples). This P4 spike was associated with a high pregnenolone concentration. Apart from the P4 spike, the progesterone change was similar to that in other sheep breeds. Pregnenolone increased during gestation and decreased after parturition. A significant correlation between progesterone and pregnenolone was observed a few days before parturition. Estrone sulfate and estradiol concentrations increased during gestation, but estrone did not. They increased shortly before parturition, and then decreased immediately after parturition. At parturition, the correlation between estrone and estrone sulfate was significantly stronger. Moreover, a strong correlation between estrone sulfate and estradiol was observed after parturition. Cortisol did not change during gestation and increased shortly before parturition. The results showed steroid hormone dynamics in normal pregnant Suffolk ewes, which were mostly in line with those of other sheep breeds. It should be noted that high progesterone concentrations altered the typical patterns.
在这项研究中，我们测量了 13 只萨福克羊（日本主要绵羊品种）妊娠期间血浆中孕酮、孕烯醇酮、雌二醇、雌酮、雌酮硫酸酯和皮质醇的浓度，并分析了这些激素之间的相关性。孕酮在妊娠期间增加，并在分娩前几天减少；然而，在高孕酮浓度（孕酮峰样品）的样本中，这种模式有所不同。这种孕酮峰与高孕烯醇酮浓度有关。除了孕酮峰外，孕酮的变化与其他绵羊品种相似。孕烯醇酮在妊娠期间增加，并在分娩后减少。在分娩前几天，孕酮和孕烯醇酮之间存在显著相关性。雌酮硫酸酯和雌二醇浓度在妊娠期间增加，但雌酮没有增加。它们在分娩前几天增加，然后在分娩后立即减少。在分娩时，雌酮和雌酮硫酸酯之间的相关性显著增强。此外，雌酮硫酸酯和雌二醇之间在分娩后也存在很强的相关性。皮质醇在妊娠期间没有变化，并在分娩前几天增加。研究结果表明，正常妊娠萨福克羊的类固醇激素动态与其他绵羊品种基本一致。值得注意的是，高孕酮浓度改变了典型模式。
