Studies on a local effect of boar seminal plasma on ovulation time in gilts.

Previous studies showed that intrauterine infusion of seminal plasma at the onset of oestrus could advance ovulation in pigs, possibly to enhance the chances of fertilization by optimizing the chronological events of fertilization. This effect has been attributed to a local unilateral mechanism whereby infusion into a single uterine horn advances ovulation in the adjacent ovary. The present study was designed to elucidate possible mechanisms of local signal transduction. In a series of five experiments using 43 gilts, the ovarian response was investigated after infusion of seminal plasma at different sites of the female reproductive tract. The time of ovulation was detected sonographically at 4- or 2-h intervals. Single uterine horn infusion of 100 ml seminal plasma advanced ovulation on the ipsilateral ovary by 9.3 h (mean) compared with the contralateral ovary. Dissection of the ipsilateral isthmus abolished the unilateral seminal plasma effect. Unilateral infusion of 50 microliters or 1 ml seminal plasma or 50 microliters of the concentrated 1-10 kDa fraction in the lower isthmus was ineffective. Application of 5 ml seminal plasma into the tip of a ligated uterine horn lead to 3.6 h (mean) earlier ovulation on the adjacent ovary. In contrast, the infusion of 5 ml NaCl showed no effect. Application of 5 ml seminal plasma in the middle of the uterine horn between two ligatures was ineffective. It is concluded that, for the transduction of the local signal involved in the advancement of ovulation, contact of seminal plasma with the epithelium of the utero-tubal junction is essential.

Identification of target cells by immunohistochemical detection of covalently rearranged estradiol in rehydrated paraffin sections.

Estradiol is released from the binding niche of the receptor and covalently arrested in the molecular vicinity by the Mannich reaction during target fixation in acetic acid/formaldehyde. The exposed steroid is freely accessible for appropriate antibodies. It can be visualized in sections by the second antibody/enzyme technique in high resolution and without enhancements.

LH profile and advancement of ovulation after transcervical infusion of seminal plasma at different stages of oestrus in gilts.

The influence of a transcervical infusion of seminal plasma on preovulatory LH profiles and the advancement of ovulation after seminal plasma infusion for different times during oestrus were investigated using the single uterine horn infusion technique (Mariensee model), in combination with transcutaneous sonographic monitoring of the ovaries. Preparative surgery in 23 German Landrace gilts comprised the detachment of the left uterine horn from the corpus, leaving the caudal end open to the peritoneal cavity but sealing the corpus wound. In six gilts fitted with a permanent jugular vein catheter the patent horns were administered a transcervical infusion of seminal plasma (n = 5 cycles) or PBS (n = 4 cycles) immediately after the detection of oestrus by a teaser boar. In addition, 17 non-catheterized gilts received infusions of seminal plasma either 0 h (n = 3 gilts), 16 h (n = 7 gilts) or 24 h (n = 7 gilts) after the detection of oestrus. Seminal plasma infusion at the onset of oestrus provoked ovulation in the ipsilateral ovary of the treated horn 8.5 +/- 0.9 h earlier than in the contralateral (control) ovary. Seminal plasma did not influence the LH profile compared with PBS (P > 0.05), but shortened the interval between the LH peak and ipsilateral ovulation to 23.4 +/- 4.0 h compared with 31.8 +/- 3.4 h in the contralateral ovulation (P < or = 0.01). Infusion 16 h after the onset of oestrus reduced the effect to 4.6 +/- 3.8 h with a wide range of 0-8 h (P < 0.01). The effect was more pronounced in gilts with long intervals between the onset of oestrus and contralateral ovulation compared with earlier ovulation on the control ovary. Seminal plasma infusion less than 16 h before contralateral ovulation and 24 h after the detection of oestrus had no effect. It is concluded that transcervical infusion of seminal plasma early in oestrus synchronizes the variable intervals between the onset of oestrus and ovulation in sows by a locally active mechanism.

Electron spectroscopic imaging of antigens by reaction with boronated antibodies.

Two small homogeneous markers for electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI) containing eight dodecaborane cages linked to a poly-alpha, epsilon-L-lysine dendrimer were synthesized; one of these was made water soluble by the attachment of a polyether. The markers were coupled to the sulfhydryl group of (monovalent) antibody fragments (Fab') by a homobifunctional cross-linker. While the coupling ratios of the poorly water-soluble compound did not exceed 20%, the polyether-containing variant reacted quantitatively. Its suitability for immunolabelling was tested in a study of the mechanism of the transcellular transport of an administered heterologous protein (bovine serum albumin, BSA) through ileal enterocytes of newborn piglets by endocytotic vesicles in comparison to conventional immunogold reagents. The post-embedding technique was employed. The boronated Fab' gave rise to considerably higher tagging frequencies than seen with immunogold, as could be expected from its form- and size-related physical advantages and the dense packing of BSA in the vesicles. The new probe, carrying the antigen-combining cleft at one end and the boron clusters at the opposite end of the oval-shaped conjugate, add to the potential of ESI-based immunocytochemistry.

Effect of ovariectomy on bone histology and plasma parameters of bone metabolism in nulliparous and multiparous sows.

To investigate the suitability of the pig as animal model for postmenopausal osteoporosis, effects of ovariectomy (OVX) on bone metabolism and histology were studied in two groups of sows (9 months, nulliparous or 35 months, multiparous). A standard diet of about 1.5% calcium (Ca) was fed till sacrifice at either 12 or 20 months post OVX when mineral content and histology were studied in representative bone specimens of proximal tibia, iliac crest and lumbar vertebrae. At 4, 8, 12, and 18 months post OVX, total and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (APt, APb) calcidiol, calcitriol and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were measured in plasma. In young sows OVX did not significantly affect plasma variables except for calcitriol, which was higher at 4 months post OVX. No significant differences between OVX or control animals were observed in the variables of bone chemical and histological analyses, neither 12 nor 20 months post OVX. In multiparous sows OVX significantly increased PTH plasma concentrations at 8 months post OVX and plasma calcitriol, APt and APb at 12 months post OVX. All effects were moderate and transient. OVX did not significantly affect the variables of bone chemical and histological analyses neither 12 nor 20 months post OVX. Although undoubtedly the clinical-chemical changes observed were not accompanied by any histomorphometric signs of osteopenia/osteoporosis, it must be left to future experiments as to whether this resulted from the ample calcium supply provided. This possibility is supported by recent observations showing that porcine osteopenia could be induced by OVX in animals maintained on only 0.75% dietary calcium but not on higher (0.9%) Ca regimens.

Completion of the amino acid sequence of the C-terminal half of the porcine estradiol receptor by Edman degradation: reconfirmation of the absence of O-linked sugars and phosphates.

The peptide A569-Y582 of the porcine estradiol receptor containing the missing sequence T570-M581 (1) was isolated and sequenced. The 4 seryl- and 2 threonyl-PTH amino acids were recovered in normal yields, excluding their posttranslational modification and reconfirming the absence of O-glycosylation and O-phosphorylation in H267-I595.

Advanced ovulation in gilts by the intrauterine application of a low molecular mass pronase-sensitive fraction of boar seminal plasma.

The shortening of the time interval between the onset of oestrus and ovulation in sows by the transcervical administration of seminal plasma was investigated in 23 German Landrace gilts, using the technique of single horn infusions (Mariensee model) in combination with the transcutaneous sonographic monitoring of ovaries. Preparative surgery comprised the detachment of the left uterine horn from the corpus, leaving the caudal end open to the peritoneal cavity but sealing the corpus wound. The left ovary was loosely tied to the ventral abdominal wall for better sonographic distinction. The animals were used in two to four consecutive cycles. After detection of oestrus by the teaser boar, the patent (right) horns were filled by transcervical infusion of 100 ml of a variety of test solutions. Ovulation was probed by transcutaneous sonography at intervals of 4 h thereafter. Native seminal plasma provoked ovulation in the ipsilateral ovary of the treated horn 10.7 h earlier than in the contralateral ovary. This effect was reduced to 7.3 h after charcoal treatment of seminal plasma; addition of 10 micrograms oestradiol restored the effect in full, while 10 micrograms of oestradiol in PBS shortened the time interval to only 3.3 h versus the control ovary. Little effect was seen with oestrone sulfate, none with prostaglandins in PBS or with PBS alone. The preliminary characterization of the nonsteroidal component of seminal plasma advancing ipsilateral ovulation after transcervical infusion suggests a proteinaceous nature. The activity resides in the 1-10 kDa fraction separated by ultrafiltration and is lost after treatment with pronase.

The organelles containing porcine 17 beta-estradiol dehydrogenase are peroxisomes.

Porcine 17 beta-estradiol dehydrogenase was recently purified and cloned. It catalyzes the NAD(+)-dependent oxidation of estradiol to estrone 360-fold more efficiently than the reverse reaction with NADPH. Immunogold electron microscopy localizes 17 beta-estradiol dehydrogenase in organelles of 120 to 500 nm with moderate electron-dense matrices bounded by single membranes. Antibodies against the peroxisomal markers catalase and acyl-CoA oxidase recognize the same organelles in double-labeling studies. This is the first report on the participation of peroxisomes in the metabolism of estradiol.

Molecular cloning of a novel widely expressed human 80 kDa 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase IV.

Reactions of oestrogens and androgens at position C-17 are catalysed by 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (17 beta-HSDs). Cloning of the cDNA of a novel human 17 beta-HSD IV and expression of its mRNA are described. A probe derived from the recently discovered porcine 17 beta-oestradiol dehydrogenase (17 beta-EDH) was used to isolate a 2.6 kb human cDNA encoding a continuous protein of 736 amino acids of high (84%) similarity to the porcine 17 beta-EDH. The calculated molecular mass of the human enzyme is 79,595 Da. Other sequence similarities shared by the two enzymes are: an N-terminal sequence which is similar to that of members of the short-chain alcohol dehydrogenase family; amino acids 343-607 which are similar to the C-terminal domains of a trifunctional Candida tropicalis enzyme and the FOX2 gene product of Saccharomyces cerevisiae; amino acids 596-736 which are similar to human sterol carrier protein 2. The previously cloned human 17 beta-HSD I, II and III are less than 25% identical with 17 beta-HSD IV. mRNA for HSD IV is a single species of 3.0 kb, present in many tissues with highest concentrations in liver, heart, prostate and testes. When over-expressed in mammalian cells, the human 17 beta-HSD IV enzyme displays a specific unidirectional oxidative 17 beta-HSD activity.

Surface mapping of the ligand-filled C-terminal half of the porcine estradiol receptor by restricted proteolysis.

The ligand-filled 32-kDa fragment of the porcine estradiol receptor extending from His267 to the C-terminal Ile595 was purified to homogeneity by adsorption to mAb 13H2. The native protein was exposed at 4 degrees C to a panel of proteases: thermolysin, subtilisin, pronase, elastase, ficin, bromelain, endopeptidase Lys-C, both in the dimer and the monomer state, and chymotrypsin at pH 8.2 only. The digests were analysed by SDS/PAGE/Western blotting for Coomassie staining and immunostaining. Peptides were sequenced from blots. The majority of cleavage sites in upper domain E (8 out of 11) amassed in the Leu296-Leu310 stretch. Cleavage at Leu319 was seen with subtilisin and at Tyr328 with chymotrypsin. Susceptability to enzymic proteolysis was also pronounced in Thr465-Glu470 at the center of domain E. Three peptides, 13 kDa with thermolysin, beginning at Leu337, 6 kDa and, in low yield, 5 kDa with endopeptidase Lys-C beginning at Asp473 resp. Cys417 were only obtained from the monomer substrate. The various digests featured either 27-23-kDa peptides or mixtures of 17-13-kDa and 12-7-kDa peptides separable by SDS/PAGE. All peptides with N-termini between Leu297 and Ser329 reacted with mAb 13H2. The digests showed high peaks of bound estradiol in the dimer position of 32-kDa fragment controls on density gradient centrifugation at pH 7.4. However, the property of proton-driven dissociation was only preserved in the pronase, elastase and chymotrypsin digests with peptides extending beyond the His547-ArgLeuHis550 motif. The preservation of the estradiol-binding niche in the tightly complexed peptides of domain E was also demonstrated by refilling after steroid removal. The sites exposed to proteolytic enzymes and the epitope for 13H2 attachment are in good agreement with surface probability plots.

Alterations in the subcellular distribution of 17 beta-estradiol dehydrogenase in porcine endometrial cells over the course of the estrous cycle.

The uteri of German landrace gilts slaughtered at different days of the cycle were processed for immunocytochemistry and biochemical analyses. Plasma was collected for hormone assays. The monoclonal antibody F1 against the structure-bound 17 beta-estradiol dehydrogenase of porcine endometrial epithelium was applied to rehydrated paraffin sections either as a direct, peroxidase-linked probe or in combination with a fluorescing secondary antibody. The oxidation of estradiol was measured in homogenates of tissue powdered in liquid nitrogen. Immunoreactivity was restricted to endometrial epithelium. In the glandular epithelium, faint dots of fluorescence became visible at day 4, which apparently coalesced to spherical structures of 2-4 microns diameter at the cell basis between days 11 through 17 before disappearing by day 18. A similar distribution was observed for the oxidation products of diaminobenzidine beginning with a faint uniform staining and followed by the appearance of intensely stained basal bodies persisting until day 17. Essentially the same time course was seen in the luminal epithelium but with a different distribution. Immunoreactive material amassed in the apical region of the cells, but the conspicuous aggregations were absent. Time course and intensities of the immunological responses are matched by the enzymatic activity measured in parallel. Both correlate with the plasma progesterone levels, suggesting an induction of the enzyme by the hormone. An involvement of the cytoskeleton in the sequence of subcellular distribution patterns is discussed.

The C-terminal half of the porcine estradiol receptor contains no post-translational modification: determination of the primary structure.

The C-terminal part of ligand filled porcine estradiol receptor extending from H267 to I595 was isolated by adsorption to the monoclonal antibody 13H2, subjected to cleavage by CNBr, o-iodosobenzoic acid and endopeptidase Lys-C as well as other proteases, both in the native and the denatured state. The overlapping peptides produced were separated by reverse phase HPLC and sequenced by Edman degradation, lacking T570-M581 in domain F. We found no evidence of post-translational modification; the native fragment is not glycosylated and the tyrosyl residues in domain E (aa 328, 331, 459, 526, 537) and F (aa 582, 583) are not phosphorylated. In addition, all serine and threonine PTH derivatives were obtained in normal yields. The amino acid sequence of the fragment corresponds in full with that derived from the cDNA. The complete cDNA-derived sequence codes for a polypeptide of 595 amino acids with a calculated mass of 66,357 Da. The high degree of homology between species in domains C and E is shared by the porcine receptor.

Molecular cloning and amino acid sequence of the porcine 17 beta-estradiol dehydrogenase.

We describe the cloning and sequencing of porcine 17 beta-estradiol dehydrogenase. The enzyme performs oxidation 360-fold more efficiently than reduction, both measured under optimal conditions. It is localized in specialized vesicles of epithelial cells. The cDNA clones were isolated from a lambda UNI ZAP XR library of porcine kidney and polymerase-chain-reaction-amplified from templates of uterus epithelium. In both tissues, the same enzyme is coded by a transcript of 2.9 kb. It contains a 69-b 5'-noncoding region, an open reading frame of 2211 b and a 3'-noncoding region of 624 b. The open reading frame of 737 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass 79,973 Da was confirmed by amino acid sequencing of peptides. The 80-kDa translation product is processed to the N-terminal 32-kDa enzyme, part of which is then covalently linked to actin. The estradiol dehydrogenase/actin complex and the 80-kDa translation product comigrate in SDS/PAGE.

The ligand-binding site of the estradiol receptor resides in a non-covalent complex of two consecutive peptides of 17 and 7 kDa.

A non-covalent complex of a 17 and a 7 kDa peptide was isolated from a Lys-C digest of the C-terminal 32 kDa half of the estradiol receptor by immunoadsorption. The 17 kDa part extends from K303 to K467, the 7 kDa part from S468 to K529 (or K531). The components are held together by hydrophobic interactions and can be separated by SDS/PAGE. They react on Western blots with MAB 13H2 (17 kDa) and MAB H222 (7 kDa), respectively. The native complex binds estradiol with high affinity and is recognized both by MAB 13H2 and H222, indicating that both peptides contribute to the ligand-binding niche.

Characterization of estrone hydroxylase activities in porcine endometrial cells.

The oxidation of estradiol to estrone in porcine endometrial cells is succeeded by hydroxylation at either 6 alpha- or 7 alpha-. The products are devoid of receptor affinity. Their formation is inhibited by cytochrome P450 blockers like ketoconazol but not by chloroquine and analogues. The hydroxylation at 6 alpha- proceeds with KM = 1.9 x 10(-7) M, that at 7 alpha- with KM = 3.6 x 10(-7) M. The respective values for the cytochrome P450-reductase cosubstrate NADPH are 1.7 x 10(-5) M and 1.9 x 10(-5) M. The kinetic parameters of the enzymes are compatible with a metabolic sequence: estradiol-->estrone--> 6 alpha/17 alpha-estrone.

Linkage of 17 beta-oestradiol dehydrogenase to actin by epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl)-lysine in porcine endometrial cells.

We report on the discovery of interactions of porcine endometrial 17 beta-oestradiol dehydrogenase with actin. The 17 beta-oestradiol dehydrogenase of porcine uteri is an essentially unidirectional enzyme compounded in specialized organelles. The enzyme activity in Brij 35 extracts of the particulate fraction of epithelial cells sedimenting between 1800 and 11,000 g(av). was collected by immunoadsorption and eluted at low pH. The eluate contained three proteins of 32, 45 and 80 kDa as shown by SDS/PAGE and silver staining. They were identified by amino acid sequencing and immunotyping as oestradiol dehydrogenase (32 kDa), actin (45 kDa) and a covalent dehydrogenase-actin complex (80 kDa). Disulphides, aldimines, periodate-degradable bonds and hydrophobic interactions were excluded as linkages in the 80 kDa protein. The epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl)-lysine nature of the covalent cross-link was recognized by narrow-bore h.p.l.c. analysis of enzymic digests of electro-eluted 80 kDa material. An involvement of the actin anchor in positioning of the oestradiol dehydrogenase-containing organelles according to metabolic requirements is discussed.

The 17 beta-oestradiol dehydrogenase of pig endometrial cells is localized in specialized vesicles.

Two monoclonal antibodies against the 17 beta-oestradiol dehydrogenase of pig endometrial cells have been used in localization studies with immunogold electron microscopy. The antibodies attach both to a fraction of dehydrogenase-rich cytoplasmic vesicles isolated from homogenates and to vesicles of similar appearance in cells. The vesicles are filled with electron-dense material. Their tagging intensity indicates a high degree of specialization. Endometrial cells from mature animals contain a host of dehydrogenase vesicles, and cells from prepubertal animals only a few. Functional aspects of the novel organelle are discussed.

Purification and properties of oestradiol 17 beta-dehydrogenase extracted from cytoplasmic vesicles of porcine endometrial cells.

Porcine endometrial oestradiol-17 beta dehydrogenase was solubilized from the particulate fraction of homogenates sedimenting between 1200 g and 10,000 g by treatment with 0.4% Brij 35 in neutral buffers. The extracts were processed by successive passage through DEAE-Sepharose, Amberlyte XAD-2 and Blue-Sepharose, and the enzyme was collected from the washed affinity matrix at 0.8 M of a 0-2 M-KCl gradient. A genuine oestrone reductase was eluted at 1.9 M-KCl. The dehydrogenase pool was resolved by butyl-Sepharose chromatography into a major (80%) peak (EDHM) eluted at 0.8 M-(NH4)2SO4 and a very hydrophobic fraction (VHF) recovered at 0.1 M. EDHM was further purified by filtration through Sephadex G-200 and cation-exchange chromatography on Mono S. Sephacryl 300 was used for VHF followed by Mono S. Enrichments from the homogenate amounted to 1074-fold for EDHM and 632-fold for VHF. A single silver-stained band at 32 kDa is seen on SDS/PAGE of EDHM, and VHF contains additional bands at 45 and 80 kDa. Polyclonal antibodies (G436) raised against EDHM and the monoclonal antibody F1 raised against VHF recognize the single 32 kDa band in EDHM and both the 32 kDa and 80 kDa bands in composite VHF. The 45 kDa band of VHF reacts with neither. Monoclonal antibody W1 raised against EDHM only recognizes the 32 kDa peptide of EDHM and VHF. The specific activity for oestradiol oxidation amounts to 4081 mu-units/mg for EDHM and to 2402 mu-units/mg for VHF. Both possess a minimal (1/260) endogenous reductase activity and are devoid of 3 beta, 3 alpha- and 20 alpha-dehydrogenases. We consider EDHM to be authentic oestradiol-17 beta dehydrogenase of porcine endometrium. The composite VHF could reflect the situation of the enzyme in vivo or result from aggregations occurring during processing.