Blood levels of cortisol and glucocorticoid receptors in liver and placenta of goats at different stages of gestation

Abstract

In order to analyze the temporal relationship between cortisol levels and glucocorticoid receptors (GR) in placenta and the possible influence in noninfectious abortion in goats, changes in GR in livers of the foetuses and mothers livers and in pla­centa together with foetal and maternal cortisol levels under stress conditions in non-pregnant (n = 5) and pregnant goats (n = 24) were recorded. The pregnant goats were five on days 40-50 of gestation (40-50 d), six on days 51-75, four on days 76-100, three on days 101-125, and six in more than 125 days of gestation. GR values in the placenta and maternal serum cortisol levels, measured by competitive binding methods, decreased from 10.4 ± 2.7 and 174.3 ± 59.1, in the group 40-50 d to 6.1 ± 2.3 fmol/mg of protein and 79.1 ± 66.1 nmol/l in the 76-100 d group, respectively. Values then increased, reach­ing the highest values (P ≤ 0.05) detected in this study (18.3 ± 2.7 and 659.6 ± 76.3) in the 101-125 d group followed by a decrease of 11.6 ± 2.1 fmol/mg protein and 231.6 ± 54.0 nmol/l in the +125 d group. Progesterone was bound competitively to placental GR. However, its binding values decreased in the 101-125 d group. Reciprocal profiles were found in maternal and fetal liver GR. These data suggest that goats have innate mechanisms for abortion that occurs in case of life-threat­ening conditions saving mother’s life and giving opportunity for new pregnancies, allowing thus the survival of this species.