Manipulation of the periovulatory sex steroidal milieu affects endometrial but not luteal gene expression in early diestrus Nelore cows F.S. Mesquita a, * , 1 , G. Pugliesi a , S.C. Scolari a , M.R. França a , R.S. Ramos a , M. Oliveira a , P.C. Papa e , F.F. Bressan b , F.V. Meirelles b , L.A. Silva b , G.P. Nogueira c , C.M.B. Membrive d , M. Binelli a a Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Pirassununga, São Paulo, Brazil b Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de São Paulo, Pirassununga, São Paulo, Brazil c Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Estadual Paulista “Julio de Mesquita Filho”, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil d Campus Experimental de Dracena, Universidade Estadual Paulista “Julio de Mesquita Filho”, Dracena, São Paulo, Brazil e Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil article info Article history: Received 24 August 2013 Received in revised form 5 December 2013 Accepted 19 December 2013 Keywords: Progesterone Estradiol Uterus Corpus luteum Ovulatory follicle abstract In beef cattle, the ability to conceive has been associated positively with size of the pre- ovulatory follicle (POF). Proestrus estradiol and subsequent progesterone concentrations can regulate the endometrium to affect receptivity and fertility. The aim of the present study was to verify the effect of the size of the POF on luteal and endometrial gene expression during subsequent early diestrus in beef cattle. Eighty-three multiparous, nonlactating, presynchronized Nelore cows received a progesterone-releasing device and estradiol benzoate on Day–10 (D10). Animals received cloprostenol (large follicle-large CL group; LF-LCL; N ¼ 42) or not (small follicle-small CL group; SF-SCL; N ¼ 41) on D 10. Progesterone devices were withdrawn and cloprostenol administered 42 to 60 hours (LF-LCL) or 30 to 36 hours (SF-SCL) before GnRH treatment (D0). Tissues were collected at slaughter on D7. The LF-LCL group had larger (P < 0.0001) POF (13.24  0.33 mm vs. 10.76  0.29 mm), greater (P < 0.0007) estradiol concentrations on D0 (2.94  0.28 pg/mL vs. 1.27  0.20 pg/mL), and greater (P < 0.01) progesterone concentrations on D7 (3.71  0.25 ng/mL vs. 2.62  0.26 ng/mL) compared with the SF-SCL group. Luteal gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A, kinase insert domain receptor, fms-related tyrosine kinase 1, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, cytochrome P450, family 11, subfamily A, polypeptide 1, and hydroxy-delta-5-steroid dehydrogenase, 3 beta- and steroid delta- isomerase 7 was similar between groups. Endometrial gene expression of oxytocin re- ceptor and peptidase inhibitor 3, skin-derived was reduced, and estrogen receptor alpha 2, aldo-keto reductase family 1, member C4, and lipoprotein lipase expression was increased in LF-LCL versus SF-SCL. Results support the hypothesis that the size of the POF alters the periovulatory endocrine milieu (i.e., proestrus estradiol and diestrus progesterone con- centrations) and acts on the uterus to alter endometrial gene expression. It is proposed that the uterine environment and receptivity might also be modulated. Additionally, it is suggested that increased progesterone secretion of cows ovulating larger follicles is likely due to increased CL size rather than increased luteal expression of steroidogenic genes. Ó 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. * Corresponding author. Tel.: þ55 055 9909 2037; fax: þ55 055 3421 8441. E-mail address: fernandomesquita@unipampa.edu.br (F.S. Mesquita). 1 Present address: Curso de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Theriogenology journal homepage: www.theriojournal.com 0093-691X/$ – see front matter Ó 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2013.12.022 Theriogenology 81 (2014) 861–869