Evaluating the electrical impedance and mucus-related gene expression of uterine endometrial tissues in mares.
Abstract: We investigated the electrical impedance of the reproductive tracts (vagina and uterine endometrial tissues) and the expression of mucus-related genes to identify the stage of the estrous cycle in mares. We first examined vaginal impedance in native Hokkaido mares during their estrous cycle and found no significant differences. However, impedance levels tended to decrease towards ovulation. Furthermore, we investigated the estrous cycle by measuring the electrical impedance of the uterine endometrial tissues obtained from carcasses of mares. We found that impedance levels in the endometrial tissues decreased in the regressed phase of the corpus luteum (CL). Expression of mucus-related genes (ATP1A1, CFTR, AQP3, and AQP5) varied at different stages of the estrous cycle. Among them, AQP3 expression was consistent with previous reports. We concluded that electrical impedance in the uterine endometrial tissues of mares could be potentially used to verify the presence of active CL in horses for experimental purposes. However, further studies are needed to determine the reference value and to identify the day of the estrous cycle in mares.
Publication Date: 2018-01-07 PubMed ID: 29311525PubMed Central: PMC5902908DOI: 10.1262/jrd.2017-128Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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This research explored electrical impedance in the reproductive tracts of mares and the expression of mucus-related genes to determine stages of the estrous cycle, which could potentially be used to confirm the presence of active corpus luteum in horses for research purposes.
Study Overview and Methods
- The overall goal of this research was to determine if electrical impedance of the vagina and uterine endometrial tissues, as well as the expression of mucus-related genes, could identify the stage of the estrous cycle in horses.
Evaluating Electrical Impedance in Reproductive Tracts
- Initially, researchers examined the electrical impedance in the vagina of native Hokkaido mares during their estrous cycles. They found no significant differences in vagina impedance throughout the cycle, however, the impedance tended to reduce as ovulation neared.
Electrical Impedance in Uterine Endometrium and Corpus Luteum Phase
- They continued their investigation by measuring the electrical impedance in the uterine endometrial tissues obtained from mare carcasses, aimed at evaluating changes during the estrous cycle.
- This analysis revealed a decrease in impedance levels in the endometrial tissues during the regressed phase of the corpus luteum (CL) – the part of the ovary involved in the endocrine function in the latter part of the menstrual cycle.
Expression of Mucus-Related Genes and Estrous Cycle Phases
- The gene expression of mucus-related gene ATP1A1, CFTR, AQP3, and AQP5 was also examined. Expression levels varied at different stages within the estrous cycle.
- Particularly, AQP3 gene expression was in line with previous findings in similar studies.
Conclusions and Implications
- The researchers concluded that electrical impedance in the uterine endometrial tissues could potentially serve as an indicator to confirm the presence of active CL within horses for research.
- However, they noted that further research is required to fully understand these findings, including studies to identify the reference value and the precise day of the estrous cycle in mares.
Cite This Article
APA
Kikuchi K, Kozai K, Hojo T, Sakatani M, Okuda K, Bai H, Kawahara M, Takahashi M.
(2018).
Evaluating the electrical impedance and mucus-related gene expression of uterine endometrial tissues in mares.
J Reprod Dev, 64(2), 193-197.
https://doi.org/10.1262/jrd.2017-128 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Reproduction, Department of Animal Science, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido 060-8589, Japan.
- Laboratory of Animal Reproductive Physiology, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan.
- Present: Institute for Reproductive Health and Regenerative Medicine, Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.
- Livestock and Grassland Research Division, Kyushu Okinawa Agricultural Research Center, NARO, Kumamoto 861-1192, Japan.
- Livestock and Grassland Research Division, Kyushu Okinawa Agricultural Research Center, NARO, Kumamoto 861-1192, Japan.
- Laboratory of Animal Reproductive Physiology, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan.
- Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Reproduction, Department of Animal Science, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido 060-8589, Japan.
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Reproduction, Department of Animal Science, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido 060-8589, Japan.
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Reproduction, Department of Animal Science, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido 060-8589, Japan.
MeSH Terms
- Abattoirs
- Animals
- Animals, Inbred Strains
- Aquaporin 3 / genetics
- Aquaporin 3 / metabolism
- Aquaporin 5 / genetics
- Aquaporin 5 / metabolism
- Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / genetics
- Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / metabolism
- Electric Impedance
- Endometrium / chemistry
- Endometrium / metabolism
- Estrus Detection
- Feasibility Studies
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
- Horses
- Japan
- Luteinization / metabolism
- Luteolysis / metabolism
- Mucous Membrane / chemistry
- Mucous Membrane / metabolism
- Mucus / chemistry
- Mucus / metabolism
- Organ Specificity
- Seasons
- Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / genetics
- Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / metabolism
- Vagina / chemistry
- Vagina / metabolism
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