Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a simple phospholipid-derived mediator implicated in diverse biological actions, acts through the specific G-protein coupled receptors, LPA receptor (LPAR) 1～5. Our previous study showed that LPAR3 is expressed in the uterine endometrium in a cell type- and stage-specific manner and LPA via LPAR3 increases PTGS2 expression in the uterine endometrium during the period of implantation. Although LPAR3 is considered to be predominant LPA receptor in the uterine endometrium, other LPA receptors might play a role to mediate LPA functions in the uterine endometrium during pregnancy. Among LPARs, we investigated expression of LPAR1 during the estrous cycle and pregnancy in this study. Uterine endometrial tissue samples were collected from day (D) 12 and D15 of the estrous cycle and from D12, D15, D30, D60, D90 and D114 of pregnancy. Northern blot analysis determined that LPAR1 mRNA was constitutively expressed in the uterine endometrial tissues during the estrous cycle and pregnancy of all stages. Analysis by immunoblotting revealed that LPAR1 proteins were present in the porcine uterine endometrium during the estrous cycle and pregnancy. Immunohistochemical experiments demonstrated that LPAR1 protein was localized to endometrial epithelium and stromal cell, specifically to nuclei of these cell types. Results in this study show that LPAR1 is constitutively expressed in the uterine endometrium during the estrous cycle and pregnancy. These results suggest that LPA via LPAR1 may play a role in the uterine endometrial function throughout pregnancy in pigs.

Ultrasonographic examination was performed to observe the ultrasonographic image of Korean native cows' normal uterus in condition of in vitro and in vivo. The experiment was done 28 slaughtered cows' uterus using immersed in water in vitro, and 41 healthy breeding cows taken rectal ultrasonography in vivo. Ultrasonographic examination of uterine was taken on the reference of cross section of intercornual ligaments' cranial. Each uterus on the experiments was compared by estrous cycle and ultrasonographic frequency. The uterine structure using ultrasonography was 5 layers of uterine horn in vivo as well as in vitro. Uterine horn was observed to be distinguished from inside to outside as endometrium to inner echogenic layer, circular muscle layer to slightly echogenic elliptical layer, stratum vasculare to central echogenic layer, longitudinal muscle layer to slightly echogenic arched layer, and perimetrium to outer echogenic layer, respectively. According to the observation of uterus related to estrous cycle and ultrasonographic examination, uterine endometrium in vitro was constantly founded irrespective of estrous cycle and ultrasonographic frequency. On the low frequency, endometrium and circular muscle layer in estrus were prone to distinguished than in diestrus. On the high frequency, endometrium and circular muscle layer were always distinguished regardless of estrous cycle. In vivo, uterine endometrium and circular muscle layer were observed regardless of estrus and ultrasonographic frequency. On the low frequency, stratum vasculare and longitudinal muscle layer were not likely to be distinguished in diestrus, but estrus. On the high frequency, stratum vasculare and longitudinal muscle layer were observed regardless of estrous cycle. Also, every uterine structure was easily distinguished on high frequency than low frequency owing to precision of distinction in layers. The difference of results followed by the experiments conditions between in vitro and in vivo was that uterine endometrium and circular muscle layer in diestrus in vitro were difficult to be distinguished and uterine lumen was observed during whole estrous cycle. In vivo, It was founded that the distinction of stratum vasculare and logitudinal muscle layer in diestrus was complicated and uterine lumen was observed during only estrus. In view of the result so far achieved, normal uterine structure divided in 5 layers on ultrasonography was accorded with microscopic organization, uterine structure was likely to be observed during estrus than diestrus, high frequency checkup than low frequency, and uterine endometrium, circular muscle, stratum vasculare was easily observed regardless of estrous cycle and ultrasonographic frequency.

Serial ultrasonography was performed to measure the normal appearance of uterine during estrous cycle and to determine whether the unterine appearance was related to the sex hormone, progesterone and estrogen. The uterine appearances, shape, diameter and echogenicity were daily monitored with ultrasonography in 9 Miniature Schnauzer dogs undergoing II estrous cycles. During proestrus and estrous, the uterus became hypoechoic but developed hyperechoic luminal echo. In the longitudinal view, the shape of the uterus occasionally changed from rectangular to coiled or serpentine, compared to other stages of the cycle. The diameter of the uterus during proestrus and estrous was larger (range: 0.600.86 mm) than other stages (range: 0.480.62 mm) of the cycle. The rising estrogen concentrations (range: 14.5116.86 pg/ml) in plasma during proestrus correlated with changes in the uterus (p<0.05). Progesterone concentrations were 0.080.15 ng/ml at the onset of proestrus, but rose 1.061.26 ng/ml at the end of proestrus. There was no relation to progesterone concentration from onset of estrus (p>0.05). There was dramatical changes in normal uterus and sex hormone during estrous cycle. Especially, the appearance, shape and diameter of uterus were related to plasma estrogen concentration during proestrus, correlated with other stages of the cycle.

본 연구는 젖소에 있어서 Lipopolysaccharide의 처리가 착유우의 면역 반응에 미치는 영향을 구명하기 위하여 처리구 5두 및 대조구 3두를 공시하여 LPS 처리후 시간의 경과에 따른 PMNL의 비율, PMNL의 생존율 및 탐식 PMNL의 비율 등을 분석하였다. PMNL의 비율에 있어서, 처리전(0시간째)에는 대조구 및 처리구가 각각 41.0% 및 47.2%였으나 24시간째에는 41.7% 및 72.1%, 48시간째에는 41.0% 및 81.6%, 72시간째에는 44.3% 및 79.0%로 24시간째, 48시간째 및 72시간째에 공히 처리구가 대조구에 비하여 유의적(p<0.01)으로 높은 경향을 나타내었다. 대조구와 처리구의 PMNL의 생존율은 처리시간에 따른 차이가 없었다. 탐식 PMNL의 비율에 있어서, 처리전(0시간째) 및 처리 후 24시간째에는 대조구와 처리구간에 유의적인 차이를 나타내지 않았으나 48시간째에는 각각 1.1% 및 7.7%로 처리구가 대조구에 비하여 유의적(p<0.05)으로 높은 경향을 나타내다가 72시간째에는 유의적인 차이를 나타내지 않았다.