Analyze Diet
Scientific reports2023; 13(1); 4616; doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-31540-9

Characterization of serum and tissue oxytocinase and tissue oxytocin in the pregnant and non-pregnant mare.

Abstract: Oxytocin is a hormone with functions in: reproduction, maternal bonding, milk ejection, and feeding/social behavior, and is reported to be present in a variety of tissues. Our goal is to characterize oxytocin and leucyl and cystinyl aminopeptidase (LNPEP/oxytocinase), a key regulator of oxytocin in mares. We measured serum and tissue LNPEP by ELISA from ovulation (D0) until D21-22 in non-pregnant (n = 5) and pregnant mares (n = 6); and in periparturient and postpartum mares (n = 18). Placenta (n = 7) and homogenized tissue of diestrus mares (n = 6) were evaluated using protein determinations and LNPEP ELISAs. Identification of LNPEP and OXT protein in tissues was also performed via western blot, immunohistochemistry and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Furthermore, in situ hybridization was performed for LNPEP and OXT on endometrium, myometrium, pituitary and corpus luteum (CL). Serum LNPEP concentration were similar. Placental LNPEP U/mg protein was highest in the body and pregnant horn. The highest to lowest LNPEP U/mg protein by tissue were: myometrium > follicle wall > endometrium > kidney > CL > liver. Oxytocin was identified in the equine pituitary, CL and placenta and is likely to act in autocrine or paracrine manner, while LNPEP may act systemically and locally to regulate the availability of OXT.
Publication Date: 2023-03-21 PubMed ID: 36944665PubMed Central: PMC10030782DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31540-9Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • N.I.H.
  • Extramural
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research paper studies the presence and function of oxytocin and a specific enzyme called leucyl and cystinyl aminopeptidase (LNPEP/oxytocinase) in pregnant and non-pregnant horses. Scientists set out to investigate how oxytocin, a hormone involved in reproduction and maternal bonding among other actions, and LNPEP are regulated in horse tissues.

Research Methodology

  • The research team conducted the study using serum and tissues from non-pregnant and pregnant horses.
  • In their experiment, they measured serum and tissue levels of LNPEP, an enzyme known to regulate oxytocin. This was done using an ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) from the day of ovulation (D0) until day 21-22.
  • They also looked at samples from horses in periparturition (around the time of birth) and postpartum (after birth).
  • Apart from serum, they evaluated LNPEP in placental tissues and tissues of horses in diestrus (a phase in the reproductive cycle) using protein determinations and ELISA.

Detection and Identification

  • The study also used western blot, a technique used to detect specific proteins in a sample, immunohistochemistry (a method to visually localize proteins in cells of a tissue section) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS, a technique used to identify and quantify molecules) to identify the presence of LNPEP and oxytocin in tissues.
  • In addition, they used in situ hybridization, a type of technique to visualize where certain genes are expressed in a tissue, for LNPEP and oxytocin.

Key Findings

  • They found that serum LNPEP concentration were similar in all groups. Meanwhile, placental LNPEP U/mg protein was highest in the body and the pregnant horn (part of the uterus).
  • The study highlighted the highest to lowest LNPEP U/mg protein by tissue were found in: myometrium, follicle wall, endometrium, kidney, corpus luteum, and liver, respectively.
  • Oxytocin was identified in the equine pituitary (a pea-sized gland at the base of the brain), corpus luteum (a temporary endocrine structure in female ovaries), and placenta. The study suggests that oxytocin is likely to act in autocrine or paracrine manner (i.e. it acts on either cells that release it or on nearby cells), while LNPEP may act both systemically and locally to regulate the availability of oxytocin.

Cite This Article

APA
Diel de Amorim M, Dong L, Byron M, Foster RA, Klein C, Saleh M, Saleh T, Card C. (2023). Characterization of serum and tissue oxytocinase and tissue oxytocin in the pregnant and non-pregnant mare. Sci Rep, 13(1), 4616. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-31540-9

Publication

ISSN: 2045-2322
NlmUniqueID: 101563288
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 1
Pages: 4616
PII: 4616

Researcher Affiliations

Diel de Amorim, Mariana
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Cornell University, 930 Campus Rd, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA. md649@cornell.edu.
Dong, Lynn
  • Immunopathology Research and Development Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, 930 Campus Rd, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
  • Translational Pathology, Bristol Myers Squibb, Route 206 and Provinceline Rd., Princeton, NJ, 08543, USA.
Byron, Michael
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Cornell University, 930 Campus Rd, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
Foster, Robert A
  • Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E., Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
Klein, Claudia
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Science, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada.
  • Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Hoeltystr.10, 31535, Neustadt-Mariense, Germany.
Saleh, Monique
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E., Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
Saleh, Tarek
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E., Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
Card, Claire
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada. claire.card@usask.ca.

MeSH Terms

  • Horses
  • Animals
  • Female
  • Pregnancy
  • Oxytocin / metabolism
  • Cystinyl Aminopeptidase / metabolism
  • Placenta / metabolism
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Grant Funding

  • S10 OD017992 / NIH HHS

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

References

This article includes 53 references
  1. Chatterjee O, Patil K, Sahu A, Gopalakrishnan L, Mol P, Advani J, Mukherjee S, Christopher R, Prasad TS. An overview of the oxytocin-oxytocin receptor signaling network.. J Cell Commun Signal 2016 Dec;10(4):355-360.
    doi: 10.1007/s12079-016-0353-7pmc: PMC5143325pubmed: 27624619google scholar: lookup
  2. Gimpl G, Fahrenholz F. The oxytocin receptor system: structure, function, and regulation.. Physiol Rev 2001 Apr;81(2):629-83.
    doi: 10.1152/physrev.2001.81.2.629pubmed: 11274341google scholar: lookup
  3. Sharp DC, Thatcher MJ, Salute ME, Fuchs AR. Relationship between endometrial oxytocin receptors and oxytocin-induced prostaglandin F2 alpha release during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy in pony mares.. J Reprod Fertil 1997 Jan;109(1):137-44.
    doi: 10.1530/jrf.0.1090137pubmed: 9068425google scholar: lookup
  4. Behrendt-Adam CY, Adams MH, Simpson KS, McDowell KJ. Oxytocin-neurophysin I mRNA abundance in equine uterine endometrium.. Domest Anim Endocrinol 1999 Apr;16(3):183-92.
    doi: 10.1016/S0739-7240(99)00008-9pubmed: 10343920google scholar: lookup
  5. Bae SE, Watson ED. A light microscopic and ultrastructural study on the presence and location of oxytocin in the equine endometrium.. Theriogenology 2003 Sep 15;60(5):909-21.
    doi: 10.1016/S0093-691X(02)01362-6pubmed: 12935868google scholar: lookup
  6. Watson ED, Buckingham J, Björkstén TS. Immunolocalisation of oxytocin in the equine ovary.. Equine Vet J 1999 Mar;31(2):174-5.
  7. Stout TA, Lamming GE, Allen WR. Oxytocin administration prolongs luteal function in cyclic mares.. J Reprod Fertil 1999 Jul;116(2):315-20.
    doi: 10.1530/jrf.0.1160315pubmed: 10615256google scholar: lookup
  8. Vanderwall DK, Rasmussen DM, Woods GL. Effect of repeated administration of oxytocin during diestrus on duration of function of corpora lutea in mares.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2007 Dec 15;231(12):1864-7.
    doi: 10.2460/javma.231.12.1864pubmed: 18081527google scholar: lookup
  9. Keith L, Ball BA, Scoggin K, Esteller-Vico A, Woodward EM, Troedsson MH, Squires EL. Diestrus administration of oxytocin prolongs luteal maintenance and reduces plasma PGFM concentrations and endometrial COX-2 expression in mares.. Theriogenology 2013 Mar 1;79(4):616-24.
  10. Nomura S, Ito T, Yamamoto E, Sumigama S, Iwase A, Okada M, Shibata K, Ando H, Ino K, Kikkawa F, Mizutani S. Gene regulation and physiological function of placental leucine aminopeptidase/oxytocinase during pregnancy.. Biochim Biophys Acta 2005 Aug 1;1751(1):19-25.
    doi: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2005.04.006pubmed: 15894523google scholar: lookup
  11. Nomura S, Tsujimoto M, Mizutani S. Chapter 84—Cystinyl Aminopeptidase/Oxytocinase. Handbook of Proteolytic Enzymes (Third Edition) pp 419–425 (2013).
  12. Keller SR, Scott HM, Mastick CC, Aebersold R, Lienhard GE. Cloning and characterization of a novel insulin-regulated membrane aminopeptidase from Glut4 vesicles.. J Biol Chem 1995 Oct 6;270(40):23612-8.
    doi: 10.1074/jbc.270.40.23612pubmed: 7559527google scholar: lookup
  13. Tsujimoto M, Hattori A. The oxytocinase subfamily of M1 aminopeptidases.. Biochim Biophys Acta 2005 Aug 1;1751(1):9-18.
    doi: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2004.09.011pubmed: 16054015google scholar: lookup
  14. Mastick CC, Aebersold R, Lienhard GE. Characterization of a major protein in GLUT4 vesicles. Concentration in the vesicles and insulin-stimulated translocation to the plasma membrane.. J Biol Chem 1994 Feb 25;269(8):6089-92.
    doi: 10.1016/S0021-9258(17)37573-7pubmed: 8119954google scholar: lookup
  15. Nakamura H, Itakuara A, Okamura M, Ito M, Iwase A, Nakanishi Y, Okada M, Nagasaka T, Mizutani S. Oxytocin stimulates the translocation of oxytocinase of human vascular endothelial cells via activation of oxytocin receptors.. Endocrinology 2000 Dec;141(12):4481-5.
    doi: 10.1210/endo.141.12.7832pubmed: 11108258google scholar: lookup
  16. Kobayashi H, Nomura S, Mitsui T, Ito T, Kuno N, Ohno Y, Kadomatsu K, Muramatsu T, Nagasaka T, Mizutani S. Tissue distribution of placental leucine aminopeptidase/oxytocinase during mouse pregnancy.. J Histochem Cytochem 2004 Jan;52(1):113-21.
    doi: 10.1177/002215540405200111pubmed: 14688222google scholar: lookup
  17. Laustsen PG, Rasmussen TE, Petersen K, Pedraza-Diaz S, Moestrup SK, Gliemann J, Sottrup-Jensen L, Kristensen T. The complete amino acid sequence of human placental oxytocinase.. Biochim Biophys Acta 1997 May 2;1352(1):1-7.
    doi: 10.1016/S0167-4781(97)00036-5pubmed: 9177475google scholar: lookup
  18. Yamahara N, Nomura S, Suzuki T, Itakura A, Ito M, Okamoto T, Tsujimoto M, Nakazato H, Mizutani S. Placental leucine aminopeptidase/oxytocinase in maternal serum and placenta during normal pregnancy.. Life Sci 2000 Mar 3;66(15):1401-10.
    doi: 10.1016/S0024-3205(00)00451-3pubmed: 11210715google scholar: lookup
  19. Nagasaka T, Nomura S, Okamura M, Tsujimoto M, Nakazato H, Oiso Y, Nakashima N, Mizutani S. Immunohistochemical localization of placental leucine aminopeptidase/oxytocinase in normal human placental, fetal and adult tissues.. Reprod Fertil Dev 1997;9(8):747-53.
    doi: 10.1071/R97055pubmed: 9733056google scholar: lookup
  20. Ito N, Nomura S, Iwase A, Ito T, Ino K, Nagasaka T, Tsujimoto M, Kobayashi M, Mizutani S. Ultrastructural localization of aminopeptidase A/angiotensinase and placental leucine aminopeptidase/oxytocinase in chorionic villi of human placenta.. Early Hum Dev 2003 Feb;71(1):29-37.
    doi: 10.1016/S0378-3782(02)00112-3pubmed: 12614948google scholar: lookup
  21. Mizutani S, Yoshino M, Oya M. A comparison of oxytocinase and L-methionine-insensitive leucine aminopeptidase during normal pregnancy.. Clin Biochem 1976 Aug;9(4):228.
    doi: 10.1016/S0009-9120(76)80064-1pubmed: 954188google scholar: lookup
  22. Mizutani S, Okano K, Hasegawa E, Sakura H, Oya M, Yamada M. Human placental leucine aminopeptidase (P-LAP) as a hypotensive agent.. Experientia 1982 Jul 15;38(7):821-2.
    doi: 10.1007/BF01972292pubmed: 7049720google scholar: lookup
  23. Mizutani S, Sumi S, Oka K, Yamada R, Kurauchi O, Taira H, Narita O, Tomoda Y. In vitro degradation of oxytocin by pregnancy serum, placental subcellular fractions and purified placental aminopeptidases.. Exp Clin Endocrinol 1985 Dec;86(3):310-6.
    doi: 10.1055/s-0029-1210503pubmed: 3912200google scholar: lookup
  24. Iwase A, Nomura S, Mizutani S. Characterization of a secretase activity for placental leucine aminopeptidase.. Arch Biochem Biophys 2001 Sep 1;393(1):163-9.
    doi: 10.1006/abbi.2001.2489pubmed: 11516173google scholar: lookup
  25. Armstrong DL, McGowen MR, Weckle A, Pantham P, Caravas J, Agnew D, Benirschke K, Savage-Rumbaugh S, Nevo E, Kim CJ, Wagner GP, Romero R, Wildman DE. The core transcriptome of mammalian placentas and the divergence of expression with placental shape.. Placenta 2017 Sep;57:71-78.
  26. Hestand MS, Kalbfleisch TS, Coleman SJ, Zeng Z, Liu J, Orlando L, MacLeod JN. Annotation of the Protein Coding Regions of the Equine Genome.. PLoS One 2015;10(6):e0124375.
  27. Dini P, Daels P, Loux SC, Esteller-Vico A, Carossino M, Scoggin KE, Ball BA. Kinetics of the chromosome 14 microRNA cluster ortholog and its potential role during placental development in the pregnant mare.. BMC Genomics 2018 Dec 20;19(1):954.
    doi: 10.1186/s12864-018-5341-2pmc: PMC6302407pubmed: 30572819google scholar: lookup
  28. Pham V, Burns P, Albiston AL, Yeatman HR, Ng L, Diwakarla S, Chai SY. Reproduction and maternal behavior in insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP) knockout mice.. Peptides 2009 Oct;30(10):1861-5.
  29. Matsumoto H, Mori T. Changes in cystine aminopeptidase (oxytocinase) activity in mouse serum, placenta, uterus and liver during pregnancy or after steroid hormone treatments.. Zoolog Sci 1998 Feb;15(1):111-5.
    doi: 10.2108/zsj.15.111pubmed: 9615623google scholar: lookup
  30. Zavy MT, Bazer FW, Sharp DC, Wilcox CJ. Uterine luminal proteins in the cycling mare.. Biol Reprod 1979 May;20(4):689-98.
    doi: 10.1095/biolreprod20.4.689pubmed: 110370google scholar: lookup
  31. Ikenaga H, Ono K, Tomoda I. Elution profiles and molecular weights of placental cystine aminopeptidase in animals.. J Vet Med Sci 1994 Dec;56(6):1139-42.
    doi: 10.1292/jvms.56.1139pubmed: 7696406google scholar: lookup
  32. Ikenaga H, Mizuta Y, Ono K, Sawazaki T, Suzuki N, Tomoda I. Placental and plasma cystine aminopeptidase in pregnant animals.. J Vet Med Sci 1993 Jun;55(3):479-80.
    doi: 10.1292/jvms.55.479pubmed: 8357926google scholar: lookup
  33. Mustafa T, Chai SY, May CN, Mendelsohn FA, Albiston AL. Oxytocinase/insulin-regulated aminopeptidase is distributed throughout the sheep, female reproductive tract and is regulated by oestrogen in the uterus.. Regul Pept 2004 Oct 15;122(2):85-9.
    doi: 10.1016/j.regpep.2004.05.004pubmed: 15380925google scholar: lookup
  34. Toda S, Ando H, Nagasaka T, Tsukahara S, Nomura M, Kotani Y, Nomura S, Kikkawa F, Tsujimoto M, Mizutani S. Existence of placental leucine aminopeptidase/oxytocinase/insulin-regulated membrane aminopeptidase in human endometrial epithelial cells.. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2002 Mar;87(3):1384-9.
    doi: 10.1210/jcem.87.3.8306pubmed: 11889213google scholar: lookup
  35. Kotani Y, Iwase A, Ando H, Mizutani S. Oxytocin-induced prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis is regulated by progesterone via oxytocinase in Ishikawa cells.. Horm Metab Res 2005 Jan;37(1):4-9.
    doi: 10.1055/s-2005-861022pubmed: 15702431google scholar: lookup
  36. Ikenaga H. Changes of plasma cystine aminopeptidase activities in pregnant mares. Jpn. J. Equine Sci. 1993;4:69–71.
    doi: 10.1294/jes1990.4.69google scholar: lookup
  37. Wilkins PA. Monitoring the pregnant mare in the ICU. Clin. Tech. Equine Pract. 2003;2:212–219.
  38. Diel de Amorim M, Bramer SA, Rajamanickam GD, Klein C, Card C. Serum progesterone and oxytocinase, and endometrial and luteal gene expression in pregnant, nonpregnant, oxytocin, carbetocin and meclofenamic acid treated mares.. Theriogenology 2023 Mar 1;198:47-60.
  39. Piotrowska-Tomala KK, Jonczyk AW, Szóstek-Mioduchowska AZ, Żebrowska E, Ferreira-Dias G, Skarzynski DJ. The Effects of Prostaglandin E(2) Treatment on the Secretory Function of Mare Corpus Luteum Depends on the Site of Application: An in vivo Study.. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:753796.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.753796pmc: PMC8885592pubmed: 35242830google scholar: lookup
  40. Vanderwall DK, Rasmussen DM, Carnahan KG, Davis TL. Effect of administration of oxytocin during diestrus on corpus luteum function and endometrial oxytocin receptor concentration in cycling mares. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2012;32:536–541.
  41. Diel de Amorim M, Bramer SA, Rajamanickam GD, Klein C, Card C. Endometrial and luteal gene expression of putative gene regulators of the equine maternal recognition of pregnancy.. Anim Reprod Sci 2022 Oct;245:107064.
  42. Loux SC, Dini P, El-Sheikh Ali H, Kalbfleisch T, Ball BA. Characterization of the placental transcriptome through mid to late gestation in the mare.. PLoS One 2019;14(11):e0224497.
  43. Nakanishi Y, Nomura S, Okada M, Ito T, Katsumata Y, Kikkawa F, Hattori A, Tsujimoto M, Mizutani S. Immunoaffinity purification and characterization of native placental leucine aminopeptidase/oxytocinase from human placenta.. Placenta 2000 Sep;21(7):628-34.
    doi: 10.1053/plac.2000.0564pubmed: 10985965google scholar: lookup
  44. MacLean EL, Wilson SR, Martin WL, Davis JM, Nazarloo HP, Carter CS. Challenges for measuring oxytocin: The blind men and the elephant?. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019 Sep;107:225-231.
  45. Rodgers RJ, O'Shea JD, Findlay JK, Flint AP, Sheldrick EL. Large luteal cells the source of luteal oxytocin in the sheep.. Endocrinology 1983 Dec;113(6):2302-4.
    doi: 10.1210/endo-113-6-2302pubmed: 6641635google scholar: lookup
  46. Kinsey CG, Bussolati G, Bosco M, Kimura T, Pizzorno MC, Chernin MI, Cassoni P, Novak JF. Constitutive and ligand-induced nuclear localization of oxytocin receptor.. J Cell Mol Med 2007 Jan-Feb;11(1):96-110.
  47. McCracken JA, Custer EE, Lamsa JC. Luteolysis: a neuroendocrine-mediated event.. Physiol Rev 1999 Apr;79(2):263-323.
    pubmed: 10221982doi: 10.1152/physrev.1999.79.2.263google scholar: lookup
  48. Diel de Amorim M, Montanholi Y, Morrison M, Lopez Rodriguez M, Card C. Comparison of Foaling Prediction Technologies in Periparturient Standardbred Mares.. J Equine Vet Sci 2019 Jun;77:86-92.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2019.02.015pubmed: 31133324google scholar: lookup
  49. Yang Y, Thannhauser TW, Li L, Zhang S. Development of an integrated approach for evaluation of 2-D gel image analysis: impact of multiple proteins in single spots on comparative proteomics in conventional 2-D gel/MALDI workflow.. Electrophoresis 2007 Jun;28(12):2080-94.
    doi: 10.1002/elps.200600524pubmed: 17486657google scholar: lookup
  50. Thomas CJ, Cleland TP, Zhang S, Gundberg CM, Vashishth D. Identification and characterization of glycation adducts on osteocalcin.. Anal Biochem 2017 May 15;525:46-53.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ab.2017.02.011pmc: PMC5490980pubmed: 28237256google scholar: lookup
  51. Yang Y, Anderson E, Zhang S. Evaluation of six sample preparation procedures for qualitative and quantitative proteomics analysis of milk fat globule membrane.. Electrophoresis 2018 Sep;39(18):2332-2339.
    doi: 10.1002/elps.201800042pmc: PMC6146045pubmed: 29644703google scholar: lookup
  52. Diel de Amorim M, Klein C, Foster R, Dong L, Lopez-Rodriguez MF, Card C. Expression of Oxytocin/Neurophysin I and Oxytocinase in the Equine Conceptus from Day 8 to Day 21 Post-Ovulation.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Mar 22;12(7).
    pmc: PMC8996865pubmed: 35405789doi: 10.3390/ani12070799google scholar: lookup
  53. Perez-Riverol Y, Bai J, Bandla C, García-Seisdedos D, Hewapathirana S, Kamatchinathan S, Kundu DJ, Prakash A, Frericks-Zipper A, Eisenacher M, Walzer M, Wang S, Brazma A, Vizcaíno JA. The PRIDE database resources in 2022: a hub for mass spectrometry-based proteomics evidences.. Nucleic Acids Res 2022 Jan 7;50(D1):D543-D552.
    doi: 10.1093/nar/gkab1038pmc: PMC8728295pubmed: 34723319google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Newcombe JR, Cuervo-Arango J, Wilsher S. The Timing of the Maternal Recognition of Pregnancy Is Specific to Individual Mares. Animals (Basel) 2023 May 22;13(10).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13101718pubmed: 37238148google scholar: lookup