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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Equine Sci / Expression of activin receptors in the equine uteroplacental...
Journal of equine science2018; 29(2); 33-37; doi: 10.1294/jes.29.33

Expression of activin receptors in the equine uteroplacental tissue: an immunohistochemical analysis.

Abstract: Activin is secreted from equine uterine glands and plays important roles in establishment and maintenance of pregnancy in mares. This study aimed to localize activin receptors (ActRs) IA/B and IIA/B using immunohistochemistry in the uteroplacental tissues of seven pregnant Thoroughbred mares. At the time of tissue collection, the mares were at the following days of pregnancy: 88, 120, 161, 269, 290, 313, and 335 days. We fixed the uteroplacental tissues in 4% paraformaldehyde and obtained serial sections that were subsequently stained for analysis. All four isoforms of ActR were expressed in the uteroplacental tissues, including the endometrial epithelium, uterine glands, trophoblasts, and myometrium, throughout pregnancy. Our results suggested the potential role of activin in the uteroplacental tissues.
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Publication Date: 2018-07-06 PubMed ID: 29991920PubMed Central: PMC6033615DOI: 10.1294/jes.29.33Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

The research article deals with a study aimed at localizing activin receptors (ActRs) in the uteroplacental tissues of pregnant Thoroughbred mares to understand better the role of activin in maintaining pregnancy.

Objective and Methodology

  • The study focusses on determining the presence and location of Activin receptors (ActRs) in the equine uteroplacental tissues.
  • Seven pregnant Thoroughbred mares were the subjects of the study and their uteroplacental tissues were analyzed at various stages of pregnancy: 88, 120, 161, 269, 290, 313, and 335 days.
  • The uteroplacental tissues of these mares were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and serial sections were obtained for subsequent staining and analysis via immunohistochemistry.

Findings

  • The study found that all four isoforms of ActR were expressed in the uteroplacental tissues, including the endometrial epithelium, uterine glands, trophoblasts, and myometrium, throughout pregnancy.
  • Activin is secreted from equine uterine glands and plays a crucial role in establishing and maintaining pregnancy in mares. The receptors for activin are hence assumed to be present in the uteroplacental tissues that will facilitate the effect of activin.

Implications

  • The detection and localization of ActRs in the uteroplacental tissues suggest that they likely have a potential role in the horse’s reproductive system, especially the success and maintenance of pregnancy.
  • This is beneficial for further studies into horse reproduction and can therefore aid the equine industry by boosting horse breeding efforts. A clear understanding of ActRs is also important for the overall understanding of pregnancy mechanisms in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Kimura Y, Sasaki M, Watanabe K, Dhakal P, Sato F, Taya K, Nambo Y. (2018). Expression of activin receptors in the equine uteroplacental tissue: an immunohistochemical analysis. J Equine Sci, 29(2), 33-37. https://doi.org/10.1294/jes.29.33

Publication

Journal of equine science
ISSN: 1340-3516
NlmUniqueID: 9503751
Country: Japan
Language: English
Volume: 29
Issue: 2
Pages: 33-37

Researcher Affiliations

Kimura, Yuki
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
  • United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
Sasaki, Motoki
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
  • United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
Watanabe, Kenichi
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
  • Research Center for Global Agromedicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
Dhakal, Pramod
  • United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.
  • Present address: Animal Science Research Center, Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, U.S.A.
Sato, Fumio
  • United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
  • Equine Science Division, Hidaka Training and Research Center, Japan Racing Association, Hokkaido 057-0171, Japan.
Taya, Kazuyoshi
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.
Nambo, Yasuo
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
  • United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
  • Research Center for Global Agromedicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Klein C, Bruce P, Hammermueller J, Hayes T, Lillie B, Betteridge K. Transcriptional profiling of equine endometrium before, during and after capsule disintegration during normal pregnancy and after oxytocin-induced luteostasis in non-pregnant mares.. PLoS One 2021;16(10):e0257161.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257161pubmed: 34614002google scholar: lookup
  2. Dhakal P, Tsunoda N, Nambo Y, Taniyama H, Nagaoka K, Watanabe G, Taya K. Circulating activin A during equine gestation and immunolocalization of its receptors system in utero-placental tissues and fetal gonads.. J Equine Sci 2021 Jun;32(2):39-48.
    doi: 10.1294/jes.32.39pubmed: 34220270google scholar: lookup
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