Polyunsaturated fatty acids and bovine interferon-τ modify phorbol ester-induced secretion of prostaglandin F2α and expression of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-2 and phospholipase-A2 in bovine endometrial cells

Embryonic mortality in cattle may occur because of inadequate inhibition of uterine secretion of prostaglandin (PG) F-2alpha mediated by bovine interferon-tau (bIFN-tau). The objectives of the present study were to determine whether polyunsaturated fatty acids inhibit secretion of PGF(2alpha). from bovine endometrial cells induced by stimulating protein kinase C with phorbol 12,13 dibutyrate (PDBu) and to investigate possible mechanisms of action. Confluent cells were exposed for 24 h to 100 muM of linoleic, arachidonic (AA; C20:4, n-6), linolenic (LNA; C18:3, n-3), eicosapentaenoic (EPA; C20:5, n-3), or docosahexaenoic (DHA; C22:6, n-3) acid. After incubation, cells were washed and stimulated with PDBu. The EPA, DHA, and LNA attenuated secretion of PGF(2alpha) in response to PDBu. The EPA and DHA were more potent inhibitors than LNA. The EPA inhibited secretion of PGF(2alpha) at 6.25 muM. Secretion of PGF(2alpha) in response to PDBu decreased with increasing incubation time with EPA. Both bIFN-tau and EPA inhibited secretion of PGF(2alpha), and their inhibitory effects were additive. The bIFN-tau, but not EPA, reduced the abundance of PG endoperoxide synthase-2 (PGHS-2) mRNA. Incubation with 100 muM EPA, DHA, or AA for 24 h followed by treatment with PDBu did not affect concentrations of PGHS-2 and phospholipase A, proteins. The EPA and DHA inhibit secretion of PGF(2alpha) through a mechanism different from that of bIFN-tau. The effect of EPA on PGF(2alpha) secretion may be caused by competition with AA for PGHS-2 activity or reduction of PGHS-2 activity. The use of EPA and DHA to inhibit uterine secretion of PGF(2alpha) and to improve embryonic survival in cattle warrants further investigation.