Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Insulin-like growth factor II gene expression in the fetus and placenta of the horse during the first half of gestation.
Abstract: Placentation in equids involves two types of trophoblast: a minor invasive component, the chorionic girdle, that gives rise to transient endocrine structures known as endometrial cups, and a major non-invasive component, the allantochorion, that forms the diffuse, microcotyledonary placenta. Growth factors are likely to be important in controlling these complex events at implantation and this study describes the use of in situ hybridization and northern blotting techniques to monitor expression of insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) in the fetus and placenta of the horse (Equus caballus), using 12 conceptuses recovered between 14 and 150 days of gestation (term is about 340 days). The anti-sense, but not the sense, ovine IGF-II oligonucleotide probe (45 mer) hybridized to a total of seven IGF-II mRNA transcripts (6.2-1.3 kb) in RNA extracted from horse fetal liver, demonstrating the specificity and validity of the probe for equine IGF-II mRNA. In situ hybridization demonstrated that the IGF-II gene was expressed intensely in the fetus at all stages examined, predominantly in tissues of mesodermal origin, but also in the endoderm-derived liver and epithelia of the gut and lung bronchioles, and the ectoderm-derived facial mesenchyme and choroid plexus. High concentrations of IGF-II mRNA were also detected in the extraembryonic mesoderm, invasive chorionic girdle and mature endometrial cup tissue.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Publication Date: 1995-01-01 PubMed ID: 7707294DOI: 10.1530/jrf.0.1030169Google 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
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
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.
This research examines the expression of the insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) gene in the fetus and placenta of horses during the initial half of gestation. Researchers used hybridization and northern blotting techniques on 12 developing horse conceptuses, investigating the key roles of IGF-II in fetal development and placental formation.
Study Overview
The researchers in this study focused on the expression of insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II), a gene likely involved in the complex processes of implantation in horses, specifically related to the two types of trophoblast:
- The chorionic girdle, a minor invasive element which forms the temporary endocrine structures recognized as endometrial cups.
- And the allantochorion, a major non-invasive component which forms the diffuse, microcotyledonary placenta.
Data Collection Process
The expression of IGF-II in the placenta and fetus of the horse was monitored through the use of northern blotting and in situ hybridization methodologies. The research involved 12 conceptuses, ranging between 14 and 150 days of gestation.
- An ovine IGF-II oligonucleotide probe was utilized, demonstrating its specificity and validity by hybridizing to seven IGF-II mRNA transcripts in RNA obtained from horse fetal liver.
Key Findings and Conclusion
By using hybridization, the study found that the IGF-II gene was intensely expressed in the fetus at all examined stages. This was prevalent mainly in tissues derived from mesoderm, but was also found in:
- The liver, which is derived from endoderm.
- The epithelia of the gut and lung bronchioles, which are also endoderm-derived.
- The facial mesenchyme and choroid plexus, which are derived from ectoderm.
In addition, high concentrations of IGF-II mRNA were detected in extraembryonic mesoderm, the invasive chorionic girdle, and mature endometrial cup tissue. This study further solidifies the essential role of the IGF-II gene in equine fetuses and placentas, contributing detailed findings on its involvement in these developments.
Cite This Article
APA
Lennard SN, Stewart F, Allen WR.
(1995).
Insulin-like growth factor II gene expression in the fetus and placenta of the horse during the first half of gestation.
J Reprod Fertil, 103(1), 169-179.
https://doi.org/10.1530/jrf.0.1030169 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Equine Fertility Unit, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Base Sequence
- Blotting, Northern
- Female
- Fetus / physiology
- Gene Expression
- Horses / physiology
- In Situ Hybridization
- Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / genetics
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Oligonucleotide Probes
- Placenta / physiology
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy, Animal / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Gibson C, de Ruijter-Villani M, Stout TAE. Insulin-like growth factor system components expressed at the conceptus-maternal interface during the establishment of equine pregnancy. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:912721.
- Brinton RD, Thompson RF, Foy MR, Baudry M, Wang J, Finch CE, Morgan TE, Pike CJ, Mack WJ, Stanczyk FZ, Nilsen J. Progesterone receptors: form and function in brain. Front Neuroendocrinol 2008 May;29(2):313-39.
- Scoggin KE, Adlan F, Fedorka CE, Rakha SI, Stout TAE, Troedsson MHT, Ali HE. Gestation-Stage Related Changes in the IGF System Components in the Equine Placenta. Biomolecules 2025 Aug 6;15(8).
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
