Cortisol inhibits the Escherichia coli-induced endometrial inflammatory response through NF-κB and MAPK pathways in postpartum goats

Abstract Glucocorticoids have been widely used as anti-inflammatory therapies. The mechanisms of cortisol action in goat does with endometritis, however, have not been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of cortisol in modulation of effects of E. coli-induced endometritis in the does. Does (n = 24) were assigned to four groups (n = 6): control, E. coli, cortisol, and E. coli + cortisol groups. Does in the cortisol and E. coli + cortisol group were treated with cortisol from 3 days before E. coli inoculations occurred to 36 days post-partum. Does in the E. coli and inoculation groups were administered via intrauterine infusion E. coli O55 (109 CFU/mL) at 0 h. Physical indicators, macroscopic and microscopic changes in the endometrium, uterine secretion cytology and bacteriology were evaluated before (0 h) and at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after E. coli inoculation. The TLR4 and pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA transcripts were detected using qPCR. The activations of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways were detected using Western blot procedures. As a result, cortisol inhibited the inflammatory response of does by reducing the clinical symptoms, morphological endometrial damage, % PMN in uterine secretions, relative abundance of inflammatory gene mRNA transcripts in the endometrium of does. Cortisol inhibited NF-κB activity by reducing MyD88 and IκB phosphorylation. Treatment with cortisol suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, p38MAPK, and JNK. These results indicate the anti-inflammatory effect of cortisol in the endometrium of does may be regulated by NF-κB and MAPK pathways.