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The Journal of reproduction and development2016; 63(2); 127-133; doi: 10.1262/jrd.2016-096

Expression of uterine lipocalin 2 and its receptor during early- to mid-pregnancy period in mares.

Abstract: From previous cDNA subtraction studies analyzing gene expression in equine endometrium, high lipocalin 2 (LCN2) mRNA expression was found in the gravid endometrium. In the uterus, LCN2 may transport hydrophobic molecules and siderophores with iron, or may form a complex with another protein, however, the expression of uterine LCN2 beyond day 20 of equine pregnancy and its receptor has not been characterized. To study the expression and potential roles of uterine LCN2 from pre-implantation to mid-gestation period, stage-specific endometrial samples were obtained from day 13 (day 0 = ovulation) cyclic and days 13, 19, 25, and 60 to 131 pregnant mares. Expression of LCN2 mRNA increased in day 19 gravid endometrium and was abundant from day 60 onward. The expression of LCN2 mRNA was localized to the glandular epithelium. LCN2 protein was detected in day 25 gravid endometrium and luminal fluid, and the protein was localized to the glandular epithelium and luminal cavity, whereas LCN2 receptor expression was found in luminal and glandular epithelium and trophectoderm throughout the experimental period. The presence of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) was also examined because MMP9 is known to form a complex with LCN2. Although MMP9 and LCN2 were both found in luminal fluid from day 25 pregnant uterus, the complex of these proteins was not detected. Localization of the receptor in the trophectoderm suggests that endometrial LCN2 could play a role in carrying small substances from the mother to fetus in the equine species.
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Publication Date: 2016-12-16 PubMed ID: 27980236PubMed Central: PMC5401805DOI: 10.1262/jrd.2016-096Google 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 discusses how the protein Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) and its receptor behave in horse uteri from early to mid-pregnancy. High quantities of LCN2 were found in pregnant horses’ uterus lining, and this protein may potentially help transport heavy molecules or form complex units with other proteins.

Overview of Research & Approach

  • The researchers focused their study on the protein Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) which had previously demonstrated high levels within the uterus lining of pregnant horses.
  • The overall function of LCN2 is not completely understood. However, it’s believed to transport bulky molecules, siderophores that bind iron, or combine with other proteins.
  • The research aimed primarily to understand better the course of uterine LCN2 expression from pre-implantation to mid-gestation in horses, as this was previously unexplored beyond day 20 of equine pregnancy.

  • For this purpose, they collected endometrium samples at specific stages of pregnancy from horses (days 13, 19, 25, and from 60 to 131).

Findings

  • LCN2 mRNA expression, which indicates the protein synthesis, ramped up in the uterus lining on the 19th day of pregnancy and was significantly present from day 60 onward.
  • Expressed LCN2 mRNA was found in the glandular epithelium, the layer of cells composing the glands that secrete substances into the uterus lining.
  • The LCN2 protein was not only detected in the uterus lining but also in uterine fluid by the 25th day of pregnancy.
  • The LCN2 protein was observed in the glandular epithelium and luminal cavity, which is the central portion of the uterus, while the LCN2 receptor was present in both the luminal and glandular epithelium as well as the trophectoderm (the layer of cells at the embryo’s outer shell) over the full study period.

Implications of the Observations

  • The researchers also noted the presence of the matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) protein since it has been shown previously to form a complex with LCN2.
  • Both MMP9 and LCN2 were found in the fluid lining the uterus by day 25 of pregnancy, although no evidence of a protein complex between the two was identified.
  • The trophectoderm’s localization of the LCN2 receptor suggests a potentially crucial role for the protein in equine pregnancy, specifically by ferrying small molecules from the mother to the fetus.

The research contributes valuable insight into how LCN2 works in equine pregnancy and suggests avenues for further studies into its potential roles.

Cite This Article

APA
Haneda S, Nagaoka K, Nambo Y, Kikuchi M, Nakano Y, Li J, Matsui M, Miyake YI, Imakawa K. (2016). Expression of uterine lipocalin 2 and its receptor during early- to mid-pregnancy period in mares. J Reprod Dev, 63(2), 127-133. https://doi.org/10.1262/jrd.2016-096

Publication

The Journal of reproduction and development
ISSN: 1348-4400
NlmUniqueID: 9438792
Country: Japan
Language: English
Volume: 63
Issue: 2
Pages: 127-133

Researcher Affiliations

Haneda, Shingo
  • Department of Applied Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
Nagaoka, Kentaro
  • Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 183-0057, Japan.
Nambo, Yasuo
  • Department of Applied Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
Kikuchi, Masato
  • Chiba Agricultural Insurance Association, Chiba 260-0031, Japan.
Nakano, Yasuko
  • Animal Resource Science Center, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Ibaraki 319-0206, Japan.
Li, Junyou
  • Animal Resource Science Center, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Ibaraki 319-0206, Japan.
Matsui, Motozumi
  • Department of Applied Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
Miyake, Yo-Ichi
  • Department of Applied Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
Imakawa, Kazuhiko
  • Animal Resource Science Center, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Ibaraki 319-0206, Japan.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Horses
  • Lipocalin-2 / metabolism
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / metabolism
  • Organic Cation Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Pregnancy
  • Uterus / metabolism

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Citations

This article has been cited 8 times.
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