Initiierung und endokrine Kontrolle der Geburt bei Haussäugetieren – Teil 1

Zusammenfassung

Der endokrinen Kontrolle der Geburt liegt ein intensiver Signalaustausch zwischen Fetus, Plazenta und Mutter zugrunde. Abgesehen vom Schaf ist unser Wissen über die dabei zugrunde liegenden Prozesse immer noch sehr lückenhaft. Bisherige Beobachtungen lassen jedoch erhebliche Speziesunterschiede erkennen. Für die Aufrechterhaltung der Gravidität ist Progesteron (P4) der entscheidende übergeordnete Regelfaktor, wobei bei einigen Spezies wie dem Pferd Funktionen des P4 zumindest teilweise durch andere Gestagene erfüllt werden. Allgemein wird ein präpartaler P4-Entzug als Voraussetzung für einen physiologischen Geburtseintritt angesehen. Bei Spezies mit ausschließlich (Hund) oder überwiegend lutealem P4 (z. B. Rind, Ziege, Schwein) am Graviditätsende ist eine Luteolyse das entscheidende Ereignis. Beim Schaf, bei dem am Graviditätsende P4 plazentaren Ursprungs ist, beruht der präpartale P4-Abfall auf einer Umstellung im plazentaren Steroidstoffwechsel. Der Mechanismus des präpartalen Gestagenentzugs bei der Stute ist noch weitgehend unklar. Beim Schaf geht die Initiierung der Geburt von einer Ausreifung der fetalen Hypothalamus-Hypophysen-Nebennierenrinden (HPA)-Achse aus, die zu einem steilen präpartalen Anstieg der fetalen Cortisolkonzentrationen führt, welcher den Zusammenbruch der plazentaren P4-Produktion stimuliert. Beim Rind triggert fetales Cortisol vermutlich über die Stimulation der plazentaren Prostaglandinsekretion die Luteolyse. Auch bei einigen anderen Haussäugetierspezies gibt es deutliche Hinweise darauf, dass die Initiierung der Geburt von einer Ausreifung der fetalen HPA-Achse ausgeht. Die funktionellen Zusammenhänge zwischen fetalem Cortisol und dem präpartalen P4-Entzug sind jedoch bei Nichtwiederkäuerspezies weitgehend unbekannt.

Abstract

Endocrine regulation of parturition is based on an intense exchange of signals between the fetus, placenta and mother. Apart from sheep, our knowledge of the endocrine control of parturition is still very incomplete. However, current observations suggest significant differences between the species. For the maintenance of pregnancy, progesterone (P4) is the crucial superordinate regulatory factor, although in some species, such as the horse, functions of P4 are at least partially fulfilled by other progestogens. In general, prepartum P4 withdrawal is considered a prerequisite for the onset of physiological birth. In species with exclusive (dog) or predominant (e. g., cattle, goat, pig) luteal P4 at the end of gestation, luteolysis is the crucial event. In sheep, where P4 is of placental origin prior to parturition, the prepartum P4 decline is due to a switch in placental steroid metabolism. The mechanism of prepartum progestogen withdrawal in the mare is still largely unclear. In sheep, initiation of parturition proceeds from maturation of the fetal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which leads to a steep prepartum rise in fetal cortisol concentrations stimulating the collapse of placental P4 production. In cattle, fetal cortisol probably triggers luteolysis via stimulation of placental prostaglandin secretion. In several other domestic mammalian species, there is also evidence that the initiation of parturition proceeds from maturation of the fetal HPA axis. However, the functional relationships between fetal cortisol and prepartum P4 withdrawal are largely unknown in nonruminant species.

Schlüsselwörter

Progesteronentzug - Ovar - Plazenta - Hypothalamus-Hypophysen-Nebennierenrindenachse - Prostaglandine - Cortisol

Key words

Progesterone withdrawal - ovary - placenta - hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis - prostaglandins - cortisol

Publication History

Received: 13 April 2023

Accepted: 21 June 2023

Article published online:
11 October 2023

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