Metalloproteases and their inhibitors in the postpartum endometrial remodeling in dairy cows: their relationship with days to conception after parturition

Abstract

In dairy herds, it is expected that cows will be cycling and the uterus will be ready for a new conception before the fourth week postpartum. However, an alteration in the endometrial remodeling can delay conception, increasing the parturition-to-conception interval, and consequently decreasing the reproductive performance. The endometrial matrix has a relevant participation in the processes of postpartum uterine remodeling. In this sense, the matrix metalloprotease (MMP) system and its inhibitors (TIMPs) are directly involved in the proteolytic degradation of the matrix and their action is related to the concentration of steroid hormones. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protein expression of MMP2, MMP14, MMP9, and their inhibitors, TIMP1 and TIMP2, in the luminal epithelium, glandular epithelium and stroma of endometrial biopsies from dairy cows, at 60 days in milk. Together, the results obtained provide evidence about the expression of MMP2, MMP14 and MMP9, and their inhibitors, TIMP1 and TIMP2, in the postpartum uterus of dairy cows, and about how the balance in their expression could be associated with the achievement of pregnancy. The high protein expression of MMP2, MMP14 and TIMP1 in dairy cows with short parturition-to-conception interval could be important for uterine remodeling and early conception in dairy cows. In addition, the imbalance observed in the MMP9/TIMP1 ratio could be generating an excess of gelatinase activity in the endometrium, causing a delayed conception.