Expression of Enzymes Associated with Prostaglandin Synthesis in Equine Conceptuses.
Abstract: In the horse, mobility of the conceptus is required for maternal recognition of pregnancy depending on secretion of prostaglandins by the conceptus. The aim of this study was to determine the expression and localization of key enzymes of the different pathways leading to synthesis of prostaglandin E2 and F2α in the equine conceptus during the mobility phase. Enzyme expression was analyzed via quantitative RT-PCR in total RNA samples of equine conceptuses collected on days 10 (n = 5), 12 (n = 12), 14 (n = 5) and 16 (n = 7) from healthy mares. Relative abundance of cyclooxygenase ()-2 mRNA was higher ( < 0.05) than of -1 irrespective of conceptus age and for phospholipase A2 on day 16 in comparison to all other days ( < 0.01). Abundance of mRNA of cytosolic and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase () and of carbonyl reductase () 1 was not influenced by conceptus age. Immunohistochemically, COX-1, COX-2, as well as cytosolic and microsomal PGES were present in both the ectodermal and endodermal layer of the yolk sac wall. CBR-1 was restricted to periembryonic disc area. The localisation of the key enzymes explains the mechanism of embryo mobility. In vitro incubation of primary trophoblast cell cultures with oxytocin had no effect on key enzyme synthesis.
Publication Date: 2021-04-20 PubMed ID: 33924239PubMed Central: PMC8074782DOI: 10.3390/ani11041180Google 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
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 explores the role of certain enzymes in synthesizing prostaglandins, which are essential for pregnancy in horses. These prostaglandins might be the main factor behind mobilization of an embryo in the mare’s uterus.
Study Purpose
- The primary objective of the study was to understand the expressions and locations of important enzymes involved in the production of prostaglandin E2 and F2α in the equine conceptus during the mobility phase. These prostaglandins might be responsible for the conceptus mobility necessary for maternal recognition of pregnancy in horses.
Methods Used
- The expression of these enzymes was evaluated using quantitative RT-PCR in total RNA samples of equine conceptuses. These were gathered on the 10th, 12th, 14th, and 16th days from healthy mares.
Key Findings
- The researchers found that the relative abundance of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 mRNA is more elevated than that of COX-1 regardless of the conceptus age. Furthermore, phospholipase A2 had a higher expression on day 16 compared to other days.
- The abundance of mRNA of cytosolic and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase (PGES) and carbonyl reductase (CBR) 1 were not influenced by the age of the conceptus.
- The findings suggest COX-1, COX-2, and cytosolic and microsomal PGES enzymes to be present in both the ectodermal and endodermal layers of the yolk sac wall. CBR-1 was restricted to the periembryonic disc area. These localizations help to explain embryo mobility.
- Also, the study revealed that the in-vitro incubation of primary trophoblast cell cultures with oxytocin had no effect on the synthesis of important enzymes.
Implication of Findings
- From these findings, it can be concluded that prostaglandins, produced by the enzymes COX-2, COX-1, cytosolic and microsomal PGES, play a vital role in embryo mobility, a key factor in maternal recognition of pregnancy in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Budik S, Walter I, Leitner MC, Ertl R, Aurich C.
(2021).
Expression of Enzymes Associated with Prostaglandin Synthesis in Equine Conceptuses.
Animals (Basel), 11(4), 1180.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11041180 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Platform for Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer, Department for Small Animals and Horses, Vetmeduni Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Vetmeduni Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
- VetCore Facility for Research, Vetmeduni Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
- Platform for Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer, Department for Small Animals and Horses, Vetmeduni Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
- VetCore Facility for Research, Vetmeduni Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
- Platform for Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer, Department for Small Animals and Horses, Vetmeduni Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflict of interests.
References
This article includes 33 references
- Aurich C, Budik S. Early pregnancy in the horse revisited - does exception prove the rule?. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2015;6:50.
- Stout TA, Allen WR. Role of prostaglandins in intrauterine migration of the equine conceptus.. Reproduction 2001 May;121(5):771-5.
- Weber JA, Woods GL, Freeman DA, Vanderwall DK. Prostaglandin E2 secretion by day-6 to day-9 equine embryos.. Prostaglandins 1992 Jan;43(1):55-9.
- Gastal MO, Gastal EL, Torres CA, Ginther OJ. Effect of PGE2 on uterine contractility and tone in mares.. Theriogenology 1998 Nov;50(7):989-99.
- Watson ED, Sertich PL. Prostaglandin production by horse embryos and the effect of co-culture of embryos with endometrium from pregnant mares.. J Reprod Fertil 1989 Sep;87(1):331-6.
- Park JY, Pillinger MH, Abramson SB. Prostaglandin E2 synthesis and secretion: the role of PGE2 synthases.. Clin Immunol 2006 Jun;119(3):229-40.
- Ricciotti E, FitzGerald GA. Prostaglandins and inflammation.. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2011 May;31(5):986-1000.
- Shitashige M, Morita I, Murota S. Different substrate utilization between prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthase-1 and -2 in NIH3T3 fibroblasts.. Biochim Biophys Acta 1998 Jan 5;1389(1):57-66.
- Morita I. Distinct functions of COX-1 and COX-2.. Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat 2002 Aug;68-69:165-75.
- Spencer AG, Woods JW, Arakawa T, Singer II, Smith WL. Subcellular localization of prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthases-1 and -2 by immunoelectron microscopy.. J Biol Chem 1998 Apr 17;273(16):9886-93.
- Lim H, Paria BC, Das SK, Dinchuk JE, Langenbach R, Trzaskos JM, Dey SK. Multiple female reproductive failures in cyclooxygenase 2-deficient mice.. Cell 1997 Oct 17;91(2):197-208.
- Thorén S, Jakobsson PJ. Coordinate up- and down-regulation of glutathione-dependent prostaglandin E synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in A549 cells. Inhibition by NS-398 and leukotriene C4.. Eur J Biochem 2000 Nov;267(21):6428-34.
- Kozai K, Tokuyama S, Szóstek AZ, Toishi Y, Tsunoda N, Taya K, Sakatani M, Takahashi M, Nambo Y, Skarzynski DJ, Yamamoto Y, Kimura K, Okuda K. Evidence for a PGF2α auto-amplification system in the endometrium in mares.. Reproduction 2016 May;151(5):517-26.
- Gokuldas PP, Singh SK, Tamuli MK, Naskar S, Vashi Y, Thomas R, Barman K, Pegu SR, Chethan SG, Agarwal SK. Dietary supplementation of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid alters endometrial expression of genes involved in prostaglandin biosynthetic pathway in breeding sows (Sus scrofa).. Theriogenology 2018 Apr 1;110:201-208.
- Budik S, Palm F, Walter I, Helmreich M, Aurich C. Increasing expression of oxytocin and vasopressin receptors in the equine conceptus between Days 10 and 16 of pregnancy.. Reprod Fertil Dev 2012;24(5):641-8.
- Womble DD. GCG: The Wisconsin Package of sequence analysis programs.. Methods Mol Biol 2000;132:3-22.
- Herrera-Luna CV, Scarlet D, Walter I, Aurich C. Effect of stallion age on the expression of LH and FSH receptors and aromatase P450 in equine male reproductive tissues.. Reprod Fertil Dev 2016 Oct;28(12):2016-2026.
- Xie F, Xiao P, Chen D, Xu L, Zhang B. miRDeepFinder: a miRNA analysis tool for deep sequencing of plant small RNAs.. Plant Mol Biol 2012 Jan 31;.
- Livak KJ, Schmittgen TD. Analysis of relative gene expression data using real-time quantitative PCR and the 2(-Delta Delta C(T)) Method.. Methods 2001 Dec;25(4):402-8.
- Blikslager AT, Yin C, Cochran AM, Wooten JG, Pettigrew A, Belknap JK. Cyclooxygenase expression in the early stages of equine laminitis: a cytologic study.. J Vet Intern Med 2006 Sep-Oct;20(5):1191-6.
- Galvão A, Skarzynski D, Ferreira-Dias G. Nodal Promotes Functional Luteolysis via Down-Regulation of Progesterone and Prostaglandins E2 and Promotion of PGF2α Synthetic Pathways in Mare Corpus Luteum.. Endocrinology 2016 Feb;157(2):858-71.
- Nguyen TH, Lambert P, Minhas RS, McEvoy C, Deadman K, Wright P, Prankerd RJ, Mogatle S, McIntosh MP. Temperature stability of oxytocin ampoules labelled for storage at 2°C-8°C and below 25°C: an observational assessment under controlled accelerated and temperature cycling conditions.. BMJ Open 2019 Jul 26;9(7):e029083.
- Hara S. Prostaglandin terminal synthases as novel therapeutic targets.. Proc Jpn Acad Ser B Phys Biol Sci 2017;93(9):703-723.
- Murakami M, Naraba H, Tanioka T, Semmyo N, Nakatani Y, Kojima F, Ikeda T, Fueki M, Ueno A, Oh S, Kudo I. Regulation of prostaglandin E2 biosynthesis by inducible membrane-associated prostaglandin E2 synthase that acts in concert with cyclooxygenase-2.. J Biol Chem 2000 Oct 20;275(42):32783-92.
- Naraba H, Yokoyama C, Tago N, Murakami M, Kudo I, Fueki M, Oh-Ishi S, Tanabe T. Transcriptional regulation of the membrane-associated prostaglandin E2 synthase gene. Essential role of the transcription factor Egr-1.. J Biol Chem 2002 Aug 9;277(32):28601-8.
- Klohonatz KM, Coleman SJ, Islas-Trejo AD, Medrano JF, Hess AM, Kalbfleisch T, Thomas MG, Bouma GJ, Bruemmer JE. Coding RNA Sequencing of Equine Endometrium during Maternal Recognition of Pregnancy.. Genes (Basel) 2019 Sep 25;10(10).
- Budik S, Schrammel N, Aurich C. Evaluation of genes involved in the JAK/EGFR/ERK/EGR-1 pathway for their mRNA expression in pregnant and non-pregnant equine endometrium during the time of maternal recognition of pregnancy ISER XI Hamilton, New Zealand.. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2014;1:186.
- Waclawik A, Ziecik AJ. Differential expression of prostaglandin (PG) synthesis enzymes in conceptus during peri-implantation period and endometrial expression of carbonyl reductase/PG 9-ketoreductase in the pig.. J Endocrinol 2007 Sep;194(3):499-510.
- Ziecik AJ, Waclawik A, Bogacki M. Conceptus signals for establishment and maintenance of pregnancy in pigs - lipid signaling system.. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2008 Jul;116(7):443-9.
- Boerboom D, Brown KA, Vaillancourt D, Poitras P, Goff AK, Watanabe K, Doré M, Sirois J. Expression of key prostaglandin synthases in equine endometrium during late diestrus and early pregnancy.. Biol Reprod 2004 Feb;70(2):391-9.
- Stout TA, Allen WR. The role of oxytocin in luteolysis in the cycling mare.. Reprod. Domest. Anim. 1999;34:351–354.
- Tanioka T, Nakatani Y, Semmyo N, Murakami M, Kudo I. Molecular identification of cytosolic prostaglandin E2 synthase that is functionally coupled with cyclooxygenase-1 in immediate prostaglandin E2 biosynthesis.. J Biol Chem 2000 Oct 20;275(42):32775-82.
- Szóstek AZ, Adamowski M, Galvão AM, Ferreira-Dias GM, Skarzynski DJ. Ovarian steroid-dependent tumor necrosis factor-α production and its action on the equine endometrium in vitro.. Cytokine 2014 Jun;67(2):85-91.
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Vegas AR, Podico G, Canisso IF, Bollwein H, Fröhlich T, Bauersachs S, Almiñana C. Dynamic regulation of the transcriptome and proteome of the equine embryo during maternal recognition of pregnancy. FASEB Bioadv 2022 Dec;4(12):775-797.
- 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).
- Ulaangerel T, Mu S, Sodyelalt J, Yi M, Zhao B, Hao A, Wen X, Han B, Bou G. Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Equine Endometrium's Gene Expression Profile Around Embryo Fixation. Genes (Basel) 2025 Feb 1;16(2).
- Lawson EF, Pickford R, Aitken RJ, Gibb Z, Grupen CG, Swegen A. Mapping the lipidomic secretome of the early equine embryo. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1439550.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
