Roles of Leukotrienes in Bovine Corpus Luteum Regression: An in Vivo Microdialysis Study

Abstract A microdialysis system (MDS) was surgically implanted into the corpora lutea (CL) of 12 normally cycling Holstein heifers. Heifers were either allowed to undergo spontaneous luteolysis (Spontaneous, n = 6) or received an intramuscular injection of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) on Day 12 of the estrous cycle (Induced, n = 6). The MDS was implanted on Day 11 in the Induced heifers and on Day 17 in Spontaneous heifers. CL were perfused with Ringer's solution at a flow rate of 3 ml/hr beginning immediately after surgery. Dialysate samples were collected hourly for 3-4 days. Samples were assayed for progesterone (P4), oxytocin (OT), PGF, and leukotrienes B (LTB) and C (LTC). Dialysate OT was undetected in all but one Spontaneous and one Induced heifer. Lipoxygenase products of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism (LTB and LTC) in the dialysate were found to be closely associated with luteal regression. In Spontaneous heifers, the mean interval from the first hormone peak to the onset of P, decline was similar for PGF, LTB, and LTC, with the first peak occurring at 12.8 ± 8.1, 22.0 ± 6.1, and 11.0 ± 8.9 hr before the onset of P4 decline, respectively. The peak LTC value was greater (P < 0.05) than peak LTB or PGF. The 12-hr sampling interval with the highest LTC peak frequency was highly correlated (r = 1.0; P< 0.01) with the onset of P4 decline, but the highest LTB and PGF peak frequencies were not associated with the onset of P4 decline. Indeed, the mean numbers of PGF and LTB hormone peaks were higher (P < 0.05) after the onset of P4 decline than before. Administration of PGF2α on Day 12 of the estrous cycle stimulated a decline in P4secretion and an increase in the secretion of PGF, LTB, and LTC from the CL. In Induced animals, the peak level of PGF was greater (P < 0.05) than peak LTB. These results suggest that the AA metabolites LTB and, especially, LTC play important roles during normal regression of the bovine CL.