RNA-seq of estrogen (E2) induced changes of mRNA expression in early pregnant porcine endometrium

Maternal exposure to estrogens can induce long-term adverse effects in the offspring. This may be mediated through alterations in the endometrium affecting embryo-maternal communication as early as the preimplantational phase. Thus, we analyzed the effects of gestational estradiol-17ß (E2) exposure on the endometrium. Two distinct low doses and a high dose (0.05, 10 and 1000 µg E2/kg body weight daily, respectively) were orally applied to sows from insemination until sampling at day 10 of pregnancy and compared to carrier-treated controls. RNA-sequencing revealed a dose-dependent increase of 14, 17 and 28 differentially expressed genes (DEG), respectively. Overall, the maternal E2 treatment perturbed gene expression of the endometrium, potentially altering the uterine histotroph.