Supplemental progesterone during early pregnancy exerts divergent responses on embryonic characteristics in sows and gilts

Author(s):Show less -

Muro, B. B. D. ^[1] ; Carnevale, R. F. ^[1] ; Leal, D. F. ^[1] ; Torres, M. A. ^[1] ; Mendonca, M. V. ^[1] ; Nakasone, D. H. ^[1] ; Martinez, C. H. G. ^[1] ; Ravagnani, G. M. ^[1] ; Monteiro, M. S. ^[1] ; Poor, A. P. ^[1] ; Martins, S. M. M. K. ^[1] ; Viau, P. ^[1] ; Oliveira, C. A. ^[1] ; Pulz, L. H. ^[2] ; Strefezzi, R. F. ^[2] ; Almond, G. W. ^[3] ; de Andrade, A. F. C. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Vet Med & Anim Sci, Dept Anim Reprod, BR-05508270 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Anim Sci & Food Engn, Dept Vet Med, BR-13635900 Pirassununga - Brazil

^[3] North Carolina State Univ, Dept Populat Hlth & Pathobiol, Coll Vet Med, Raleigh, NC 27606 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ANIMAL; v. 14, n. 6, p. 1234-1240, JUN 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Progesterone (P4) plays a key role in pregnancy establishment and maintenance; during early pregnancy, P4 stimulates the production and release of uterine secretions necessary for conceptus growth prior to implantation; therefore, exogenous P4 supplementation may improve embryo development. This study evaluated the effects of supplementation during early pregnancy with long-acting injectable progesterone or altrenogest on embryonic characteristics of sows and gilts. Thus, a total of 32 sows and 16 gilts were used. On day 6 of pregnancy sows and gilts were allocated to one of the following groups: non-supplemented; supplemented with 20 mg of altrenogest, orally, from days 6 to 12 of pregnancy; supplemented with 2.15 mg/kg of long-acting injectable progesterone on day 6 of pregnancy. Animals were killed on day 28 of pregnancy, and ovulation rate, embryo survival, embryo weight, crown-to-rump length, uterine glandular epithelium and endometrial vascularization were assessed. Treatments had no effect on pregnancy rate, embryo survival or endometrial vascular density (P > 0.05). Non-supplemented gilts presented larger and heavier embryos compared to gilts from supplemented groups (P < 0.05). Sows in the altrenogest group presented larger and heavier embryos compared to non-supplemented sows and sows supplemented with long-acting injectable progesterone. In conclusion, supplementation of sows and gilts with progestagen from day 6 of pregnancy can be used as a means to improve embryo survival without deleterious effects. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/00290-0 - Effects of altrenogest on the uterine environment and embryonic development in early gestation of pigs
• Grantee: Bruno Bracco Donatelli Muro
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master