Distribution of sialoglycoconjugates in the oviductal isthmus of the horse during anoestrus, oestrus and pregnancy: a lectin histochemistry study.
Abstract: The distribution of sialic acid residues as well as other glycosidic sugars has been investigated in the horse oviductal isthmus during anoestrus, oestrus and pregnancy by means of lectin and pre-lectin methods. Ciliated cells and non-ciliated (secretory) cells exhibited different lectin binding profiles that were found to change during the investigated stages. Ciliated cells did not show any reactivity in the basal cytoplasm, while the supra-nuclear cytoplasm displayed a few of oligosaccharides with terminal and internal alphamannose (Man) and/or alphaglucose (Glc) during oestrus and pregnancy and a moderate presence of oligosaccharides terminating in alphafucose (Fuc) during oestrus; cilia exhibited a more complex glycoconjugate pattern for the presence of oligosaccharides terminating in N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc), GalNAcalpha1,3 GalNAcalpha1,3galactose(Gal)beta1,4Galbeta1,4N-acetylglucosamine(GlcNAc), Fuc, sialic acid (Neu5Ac)-aGalNAc belonging or not to the GalNAca1,3GalNAca1,3 Galb1,4 Galb1, 4GlcNAc sequence, and. alphaGalNAc and Neu5Aca 2,6Gal/GalNAc increased during oestrus. Cilia displayed terminal Galbeta1,3 GalNAc in pregnancy, terminal alphaGal in anoestrus and pregnancy and terminal or internal D-GlcNAc during anoestrus and pregnancy, respectively. The whole cytoplasm of non-ciliated cells showed oligosaccharides terminating with alphaGalNAc, Neu5Aca2,6Gal/GalNAc, Neu5Ac GalNAca 1,3GalNAcalpha1,3Galbeta1,4Galbeta1,4GlcNAc during the investigated stages, as well as GlcNAc in anoestrus and pregnancy. The supra-nuclear zone of non-ciliated cells exhibited oligosaccharides with terminal Galbeta1,4GlcNAc and internal Man during oestrus and pregnancy as well as terminal alphaGal and Fuc in oestrus and Neu5Ac-Galbeta1,3GalNAc in pregnancy. The luminal surface of non-ciliated cells showed glycans terminating with alphaGalNAc and/or Neu5Ac GalNAcalpha1,3 GalNAcalpha1,3Galbeta1,4Galbeta1,4GlcNAc in all specimens, oligosaccharides with terminal Galbeta1,4GlcNAc and internal Man during oestrus and pregnancy, Neu5Ac alpha2,6Gal/GalNAc in anoestrus and oestrus, and glycans terminating with Galbeta1,3GalNAc, Neu5A acalpha2,3 Galbeta1, 4GlcNac, Neu5ac-Galbeta1,3GalNAc, Neu5Ac-Galbeta1,4 GlcNAc in pregnancy. These findings show the presence of sialoglycoconjugates in the oviductal isthmus of the mare as well as the existence of great modifications in the glycoconjugates linked to different physiological conditions.
Publication Date: 2005-02-19 PubMed ID: 15718207DOI: 10.4081/914Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research focuses on the varying distributions of complex sugar molecules – sialoglycoconjugates – within a specific region of a horse’s reproductive system, known as the oviductal isthmus, during different reproductive stages. The authors found that the expression of these sugar molecules differed at stages of non-reproduction, active reproduction, and pregnancy.
Research Methodology
- The scientists studied the distribution of these complex sugars, or sialoglycoconjugates, through a technique called lectin histochemistry. This is a procedure that uses proteins (lectins) that can bind to specific sugars to visualize where these sugars are located within tissues.
- They focused on the horse’s oviductal isthmus, a part of the female reproductive tract, across three different physiological states: anoestrus (when the animal is not sexually receptive), oestrus (the period when the animals are sexually receptive or ‘in heat’) and pregnancy.
Study Findings
- The researchers found that the presence and distribution of these sugars varied across the three states. They focused on several types of sugars, including sialic acid residues and glycosidic sugars.
- The authors note differences in the sugar expressions between ciliated cells (cells with hair-like structures that help move eggs through the reproductive tract) and non-ciliated or secretory cells (cells involved in providing a suitable environment for the egg and forming a barrier).
- During the oestrus and pregnancy stages, the team detected different patterns of sugar residue appearances on the ciliated cells compared to non-ciliated cells. However, they both exhibited changes in sugar residues from anoestrus to oestrus and pregnancy.
Implications
- These findings suggest that the expression of sugar molecules on cells within the reproductive tract of horses changes according to the reproductive state of the animal.
- This likely has implications for cell-cell interactions, signal detection, and possibly the successful movement, fertilization, and implantation of eggs.
- This study contributes to our understanding of reproductive biology, particularly in horses, and may provide important insights for improving reproductive success in this species.
Cite This Article
APA
Desantis S, Acone F, Corriero A, Deflorio M, Zubani D, Ventriglia G, Palmieri G, De Metrio G.
(2005).
Distribution of sialoglycoconjugates in the oviductal isthmus of the horse during anoestrus, oestrus and pregnancy: a lectin histochemistry study.
Eur J Histochem, 48(4), 403-412.
https://doi.org/10.4081/914 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Dept. of Animal Health and Well-being, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Italy.
MeSH Terms
- Anestrus
- Animals
- Estrus
- Fallopian Tubes / chemistry
- Female
- Glycoconjugates / analysis
- Glycoconjugates / metabolism
- Horses / metabolism
- Lectins / chemistry
- Lectins / metabolism
- N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / analysis
- N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / metabolism
- Pregnancy / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Desantis S, Albrizio M, Lacitignola L, Laricchiuta P, Cinone M. Modification of Morphology and Glycan Pattern of the Oviductal Epithelium of Baboon Papio hamadryas during the Menstrual Cycle.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Oct 14;12(20).
- Jung JG, Lim W, Park TS, Kim JN, Han BK, Song G, Han JY. Structural and histological characterization of oviductal magnum and lectin-binding patterns in Gallus domesticus.. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2011 May 8;9:62.
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