Fetal and maternal endocrine changes approaching parturition in the goat: lack of evidence for prostaglandins E2 and F2(alpha) as signals for luteolysis

We investigated the temporal relationship of fetal cortisol secretion to circulating concentrations of fetal ACTH1-39 and its highmolecular weight precursors in goats. We also measured the concentrations of progesterone, estradiol-17(beta) estrone sulfate, prostaglandin (PG) E, PGF2(alpha), and PGF2(alpha) metabolite (PGFM) in maternal arterial plasma over the last month of gestation. Prostaglandin concentrations were also measured in utero-ovarian venous plasma. There was a positive association between ACTH139 in fetal plasma and the prepartum surge in fetal cortisol that commenced 8 days before labor. The fetal cortisol surge was followed by a simultaneous decrease in maternal progesterone and an increase in plasma estrogens commencing 3-4 days before labor. No change in basal prostaglandin concentration occurred before this time. There was a positive veno-arterial difference of PGE and PGF2(alpha) across the uterine vascular bed, confirming the uteroplacental unit as a major source of these eicosanoids in the plasma of the pregnant doe. We conclude that the fetal signal for parturition precedes luteolysis by some 5 days and find no evidence of changes in the basal concentrations of PGE and PGF2(alpha) in maternal plasma at the time of luteolysis.