Expression of Intermediate Filaments and Germ Cell Markers in the Developing Bovine Ovary: An Immunohistochemical and Laser-Assisted Microdissection Study.

In the present investigation, bovine ovary prenatal development was studied using immunohistochemistry and laser-assisted microdissection (LAM). A major aim of this study was to evaluate the protein expression pattern of intermediate filaments (IF) and distinguish S100 protein (S100 alpha and S100 beta protein) isoforms during prenatal follicle differentiation, subsequently correlating them with germ cell marker expression. A development-specific expression pattern of different keratins as well as vimentin was detected in the prenatal bovine ovary; K18-specific expression was found during all developmental stages (i.e. in surface epithelium, germ cell cord somatic cells, and follicle cells), and keratins 5, 7, 8, 14, and 19 and vimentin had a stage-specific expression pattern in the different cell populations of the prenatal ovaries. Additionally, our results represent new data on the expression pattern of germ cell markers during bovine ovary prenatal development. S100 alpha and beta protein was localized to oocyte cytoplasm of different follicle stages, and S100 alpha staining could be observed in granulosa cells. Furthermore, through isolation of characteristic ovary cell populations using LAM, specific confirmation of some genes of interest (KRT8, KRT18, S100 alpha, S100 beta, and OCT4, DDX4) could be obtained by RT-PCR in single cell groups of the developing bovine ovary.

Cellular expression and localization of estrogen receptor α and progesterone receptor mRNA in the bovine oviduct combining laser-assisted microdissection, quantitative PCR, and in situ hybridization.

The importance of using techniques that allow the study of pure populations of cells has been increasingly recognized. The authors used laser-assisted microdissection (LAM) in combination with quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) to assess the relative expression of mRNAs encoding estrogen receptor α (ERα) and progesterone receptor (PR) in the different compartments of the bovine oviduct (epithelium, stroma, smooth muscle coat) during the follicular and mid-luteal phases of the estrus cycle. The localization of receptor mRNA was further studied using non-radioactive in situ hybridization (NISH). A special focus was on whether formalin fixation and paraffin embedding influence the quality and quantity of mRNA obtained from microdissected material. Distinct cyclic changes of the mRNA in the bovine oviduct were observed with elevated levels of PR mRNA transcripts in the epithelium and smooth muscle coat during the follicular phase. The expression of PR mRNA did not vary significantly in the stroma of the bovine oviduct during follicular and mid-luteal phases. In conclusion, the authors found that LAM with qPCR can precisely locate and accurately quantify mRNA expression in specific cell populations from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded oviductal tissue.

Changes in the levels of progesterone receptor mRNA and protein in the bovine corpus luteum during the estrous cycle.

Progesterone (P4) is synthesized in the luteal cells of many species. The objective of the present study was to determine the expression pattern of P4 receptor (PR) mRNA and the distribution of PR protein in the bovine corpus luteum (CL) during the estrous cycle. The gene expression of PR in the bovine CL throughout the estrous cycle was determined by real-time PCR analysis, and the PR protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Messenger RNA of PR was clearly expressed in the CL throughout the estrous cycle. The level of PR mRNA in the CL was highest at the early stage of the estrous cycle and was higher at the mid and late stages than at the regressed stage (P<0.01). In regard to the distribution of PR, the protein was expressed in both small and large luteal cells and in vascular endothelial cells throughout the estrous cycle. These results suggest that P4 has a role in regulating luteal and endothelial cell function in the bovine CL, especially at the early luteal stage as an autocrine/paracrine regulator.

Embryo-induced transcriptome changes in bovine endometrium reveal species-specific and common molecular markers of uterine receptivity.

The endometrium plays a central role among the reproductive tissues in the context of early embryo-maternal communication and pregnancy. This study investigated transcriptome profiles of endometrium samples from day 18 pregnant vs non-pregnant heifers to get insight into the molecular mechanisms involved in conditioning the endometrium for embryo attachment and implantation. Using a combination of subtracted cDNA libraries and cDNA array hybridisation, 109 mRNAs with at least twofold higher abundance in endometrium of pregnant animals and 70 mRNAs with higher levels in the control group were identified. Among the mRNAs with higher abundance in pregnant animals, at least 41 are already described as induced by interferons. In addition, transcript levels of many new candidate genes involved in the regulation of transcription, cell adhesion, modulation of the maternal immune system and endometrial remodelling were found to be increased. The different expression level was confirmed with real-time PCR for nine genes. Localisation of mRNA expression in the endometrium was shown by in situ hybridisation for AGRN, LGALS3BP, LGALS9, USP18, PARP12 and BST2. A comparison with similar studies in humans, mice, and revealed species-specific and common molecular markers of uterine receptivity.

Monozygotic twin model reveals novel embryo-induced transcriptome changes of bovine endometrium in the preattachment period.

Initiation and maintenance of pregnancy are critically dependent on an intact embryo-maternal communication in the preimplantation period. To get new insights into molecular mechanisms underlying this complex dialog, a holistic transcriptome study of endometrium samples from Day 18 pregnant vs. nonpregnant twin cows was performed. This genetically defined model system facilitated the identification of specific conceptus-induced changes of the endometrium transcriptome. Using a combination of subtracted cDNA libraries and cDNA array hybridization, 87 different genes were identified as upregulated in pregnant animals. Almost one half of these genes are known to be stimulated by type I interferons. For the ISG15ylation system, which is assumed to play an important role in interferon tau (IFNT) signaling, mRNAs of four potential components (IFITM1, IFITM3, HSXIAPAF1, and DTX3L) were found at increased levels in addition to ISG15 and UBE1L. These results were further substantiated by colocalization of these mRNAs in the endometrium of pregnant animals shown by in situ hybridization. A functional classification of the identified genes revealed several different biological processes involved in the preparation of the endometrium for the attachment and implantation of the embryo. Specifically, elevated transcript levels were found for genes involved in modulation of the maternal immune system, genes relevant for cell adhesion, and for remodeling of the endometrium. This first systematic study of maternal transcriptome changes in response to the presence of an embryo on Day 18 of pregnancy in cattle is an important step toward deciphering the embryo-maternal dialog using a systems biology approach.

Analysis of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) gene transcription and protein distribution in the bovine testis.

Several fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are implicated in proliferation and differentiation of both somatic and germ cells during testicular development, as well as in spermatogenesis of adult testis. The expression of FGF2 was studied in the adult bovine testis using quantitative RT-PCR, RNA in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed consistent levels of FGF2 mRNA in parenchymal samples of the bovine testis. In situ hybridization localized FGF2 transcripts only in a constant fraction of Leydig and Sertoli cells as well as in modified Sertoli cells of the terminal segments. Immunohistochemistry revealed (a) no FGF2 protein in Sertoli cells (b) moderate cytoplasmic staining in Leydig cells and spermatogonia and (c) strong nuclear and faint cytoplasmic staining in myofibroblasts, in epithelial cells of straight tubules and rete testis and in blood vessels. These observations indicate a pleiotropic effect of FGF2 on the control of spermatogenesis in a paracrine and/or autocrine manner.