scholarly journals Endometrial recognition of pregnancy occurs in the grey short-tailed opossum ( Monodelphis domestica )

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1905) ◽  
pp. 20190691 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver W. Griffith ◽  
Arun R. Chavan ◽  
Mihaela Pavlicev ◽  
Stella Protopapas ◽  
Ryan Callahan ◽  
...  

In human pregnancy, recognition of an embryo within the uterus is essential to support the fetus through gestation. In most marsupials, such as the opossums, pregnancy is shorter than the oestrous cycle and the steroid hormone profile during pregnancy and oestrous cycle are indistinguishable. For these reasons, it was assumed that recognition of pregnancy, as a trait, evolved in the eutherian (placental) stem lineage and independently in wallabies and kangaroos. To investigate whether uterine recognition of pregnancy occurs in species with pregnancy shorter than the oestrous cycle, we examined reproduction in the short-tailed opossum ( Monodelphis domestica ), a marsupial with a plesiomorphic mode of pregnancy. We examined the morphological and gene expression changes in the uterus of females in the non-pregnant oestrous cycle and compared these to pregnancy. We found that the presence of an embryo did not alter some aspects of uterine development but increased glandular activity. Transcriptionally, we saw big differences between the uterus of pregnant and cycling animals. These differences included an upregulation of genes involved in transport, inflammation and metabolic-activity in response to the presence of a fetus. Furthermore, transcriptional differences reflected protein level differences in transporter abundance. Our results suggest that while the uterus exhibits programmed changes after ovulation, its transcriptional landscape during pregnancy responds to the presence of a fetus and upregulates genes that may be essential for fetal support. These results are consistent with endometrial recognition of pregnancy occurring in the opossum. While the effects on maternal physiology appear to differ, recognition of pregnancy has now been observed in eutherian mammals, as well as, Australian and American marsupials.

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 454
Author(s):  
Jaime Palomino ◽  
Javiera Flores ◽  
Georges Ramirez ◽  
Victor H. Parraguez ◽  
Monica De los Reyes

The gene expression in the canine oviduct, where oocyte maturation, fertilization, and early embryonic development occur, is still elusive. This study determined the oviductal expression of (PR), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF-9), and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP-15) during the canine oestrous cycle. Samples were collected from bitches at anoestrus (9), proestrus (7), oestrus (8), and dioestrus (11), after routine ovariohysterectomy and the ovarian surface structures and plasma progesterone concentration evaluated the physiological status of each donor. The oviductal cells were isolated and pooled. Total RNA was isolated, and gene expression was assessed by qPCR followed by analysis using the t-test and ANOVA. The PR mRNA increased (P < 0.05) from the anoestrus to dioestrus with the plasma progesterone concentration (r = 0.8). COX-2 mRNA expression was low in the anoestrus and proestrus, and negligible in the oestrus, while it was around 10-fold higher (P < 0.05) in the dioestrus. The GDF-9 mRNA was expressed during all phases of the oestrous cycle and was most abundant (P < 0.05) during oestrus phase. The BMP-15 mRNA decreased (P < 0.05) in the anoestrus and proestrus phases. Thus, the transcripts were differentially expressed in a stage-dependent manner, suggesting the importance of oestrous cycle regulation for successful reproduction in dogs.


1990 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 459-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Vesanen ◽  
V. Isomaa ◽  
N. J. Bolton ◽  
M. Alanko ◽  
R. Vihko

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 7144
Author(s):  
Muriel C. Bischof ◽  
Sonja Häckel ◽  
Andrea Oberli ◽  
Andreas S. Croft ◽  
Katharina A. C. Oswald ◽  
...  

Increasing evidence implicates intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration as a major contributor to low back pain. In addition to a series of pathogenic processes, degenerated IVDs become vascularized in contrast to healthy IVDs. In this context, angiopoietin (Ang) plays a crucial role and is involved in cytokine recruitment, and anabolic and catabolic reactions within the extracellular matrix (ECM). Over the last decade, a progenitor cell population has been described in the nucleus pulposus (NP) of the IVD to be positive for the Tie2 marker (also known as Ang-1 receptor). In this study, we investigated the influence of Ang-1 and Ang-2 on human NP cell (Tie2+, Tie2- or mixed) populations isolated from trauma patients during 7 days in normoxia (21% O2) or hypoxia (≤ 5% O2). At the end of the process, the proliferation and metabolic activity of the NP cells were analyzed. Additionally, the relative gene expression of NP-related markers was evaluated. NP cells showed a higher proliferation depending on the Ang treatment. Moreover, the study revealed higher NP cell metabolism when cultured in hypoxia. Additionally, the relative gene expression followed, with an increase linked to the oxygen level and Ang concentration. Our study comparing different NP cell populations may be the start of new approaches for the treatment of IVD degeneration.


Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (17) ◽  
pp. 2739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Korbinian Benz ◽  
Andreas Schöbel ◽  
Marisa Dietz ◽  
Peter Maurer ◽  
Jochen Jackowski

The aim of this in vitro pilot study was to analyse the adhesion behaviour of human osteoblasts and fibroblasts on polyether ether ketone (PEEK) when compared with titanium surfaces in an inflammatory environment under lipopolysaccharide (LPS) incubation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of primary human osteoblasts/fibroblasts on titanium/PEEK samples were created. The gene expression of the LPS-binding protein (LBP) and the LPS receptor (toll-like receptor 4; TLR4) was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Immunocytochemistry was used to obtain evidence for the distribution of LBP/TLR4 at the protein level of the extra-cellular-matrix-binding protein vinculin and the actin cytoskeleton. SEM images revealed that the osteoblasts and fibroblasts on the PEEK surfaces had adhesion characteristics comparable to those of titanium. The osteoblasts contracted under LPS incubation and a significantly increased LBP gene expression were detected. This was discernible at the protein level on all the materials. Whereas no increase of TLR4 was detected with regard to mRNA concentrations, a considerable increase in the antibody reaction was detected on all the materials. As is the case with titanium, the colonisation of human osteoblasts and fibroblasts on PEEK samples is possible under pro-inflammatory environmental conditions and the cellular inflammation behaviour towards PEEK is lower than that of titanium.


2000 ◽  
Vol 35 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 120-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
VNA Breeveld-Dwarkasing ◽  
GC van der Weijden ◽  
MAM Taverne ◽  
FMF van Dissel-Emiliani

Reproduction ◽  
2003 ◽  
pp. 621-627 ◽  
Author(s):  
RD Geisert ◽  
MD Ashworth ◽  

Attachment of the placenta to the uterus in pigs involves extracellular interaction between the expanding trophoblastic membrane and the thick glycocalyx present on the uterine epithelial microvilli. Formation of complexes between members of inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor family may function in the maintenance of the extracellular matrix. This study investigated the change in the inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chains (ITIH1, ITIH2, ITIH3 and ITIH4) during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy in pigs. Gene expression of ITIH1, ITIH2, ITIH3 and ITIH4 was detected in the endometrium of cyclic and pregnant gilts; however, gene expression of ITIH was not altered throughout the oestrous cycle or early pregnancy. Western blot analysis with an ITIH antiserum identified the possible linkage forms of ITIH with the serine protease inhibitor, bikunin. Pregnancy altered the release of the various inter-alpha-inhibitor forms from the endometrium during the period of trophoblastic attachment. The results from this study indicate that the inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor family plays an important role in maintenance of the uterine surface glycocalyx during placental attachment in pigs.


BMC Cancer ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Asunción Martín-Ruiz ◽  
Laura Peña ◽  
Alfredo González-Gil ◽  
Lucía Teresa Díez-Córdova ◽  
Sara Cáceres ◽  
...  

Endocrinology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 151 (7) ◽  
pp. 3214-3224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia Mavridou ◽  
Maria Venihaki ◽  
Olga Rassouli ◽  
Christos Tsatsanis ◽  
Dimitris Kardassis

Scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) facilitates the reverse transport of excess cholesterol from peripheral tissues to the liver via high-density lipoproteins. In steroidogenic tissues, SR-BI supplies cholesterol for steroid hormone production. We show here that the transcription of the human SR-BI gene is subject to feedback inhibition by glucocorticoid in adrenal and ovarian cells. SR-BI mRNA levels were increased in adrenals from corticosterone-insufficient Crh−/− mice, whereas corticosterone replacement by oral administration inhibited SR-BI gene expression in these mice. SR-BI mRNA levels were increased in adrenals from wild-type mice treated with metyrapone, a drug that blocks corticosterone synthesis. Experiments in adrenocortical H295R and ovarian SKOV-3 cells using cycloheximide and siRNA-mediated gene silencing revealed that glucocorticoid-mediated inhibition of SR-BI gene transcription requires de novo protein synthesis and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). No direct binding of GR to the SR-BI promoter could be demonstrated in vitro and in vivo, suggesting an indirect mechanism of repression of SR-BI gene transcription by GR in adrenal cells. Deletion analysis established that the region of the human SR-BI promoter between nucleotides −201 and −62 is sufficient to mediate repression by glucocorticoid. This region contains putative binding sites for transcriptional repressors that could play a role in SR-BI gene regulation in response to glucocorticoid. In summary, this is the first report showing that glucocorticoid suppress SR-BI expression suggesting that steroidogenic tissues maintain steroid hormone homeostasis by prohibiting SR-BI-mediated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol uptake when the endogenous levels of glucocorticoid are elevated.


Cartilage ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 194760352199490
Author(s):  
Christoph Bauer ◽  
Hakan Göçerler ◽  
Eugenia Niculescu-Morzsa ◽  
Vivek Jeyakumar ◽  
Christoph Stotter ◽  
...  

ObjectiveDuring osteoarthritis progression, cartilage degrades in a manner that influences its biomechanical and biotribological properties, while chondrocytes reduce the synthesis of extracellular matrix components and become apoptotic. This study investigates the effects of inflammation on cartilage under biomechanical stress using biotribological tests.MethodsBovine osteochondral grafts from five animals were punched out from the medial condyle and treated with or without pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β [IL-1β], tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α], IL-6) for 2 weeks. After incubation, biotribological tests were performed for 2 hours (alternating 10 minutes test and pause respectively at 39°C, 180 N, 1 Hz, and 2 mm stroke). Before and after testing, the cartilage surface was imaged with a 3-dimensional microscope. During testing, the coefficient of friction (COF) was measured, while gene expression analysis and investigation of metabolic activity of chondrocytes were carried out after testing. Histological sections of the tissue and wear debris from the test fluid were also analyzed.ResultsAfter biotribological tests, surface cracks were found in both treated and untreated osteochondral grafts. In treated grafts, the COF increased, and the proteoglycan content in the cartilage tissue decreased, leading to structural changes. Chondrocytes from treated grafts showed increased expression of genes encoding for degradative enzymes, while cartilage-specific gene expression and metabolic activity exhibited no significant differences between treated and untreated groups. No measurable difference in the wear debris in the test fluid was found.ConclusionsTreatment of osteochondral grafts with cytokines results in a significantly increased COF, while also leading to significant changes in cartilage proteoglycan content and cartilage matrix compression during biotribological tests.


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