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Home / Equine Research Bank / Biol Reprod / Microarray analysis of equine endometrium at days 8 and 12 o...
Biology of reproduction2010; 83(5); 874-886; doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.110.085233

Microarray analysis of equine endometrium at days 8 and 12 of pregnancy.

Abstract: Establishment and maintenance of pregnancy in equids is only partially understood. To provide new insights into early events of this process, we performed a systematic analysis of transcriptome changes in the endometrium at Days 8 and 12 of pregnancy. Endometrial biopsy samples from pregnant and nonpregnant stages were taken from the same mares. Composition of the collected biopsy samples was analyzed using quantitative stereological techniques to determine proportions of surface and glandular epithelium and blood vessels. Microarray analysis did not reveal detectable changes in gene expression at Day 8, whereas at Day 12 of pregnancy 374 differentially expressed genes were identified, 332 with higher and 42 with lower transcript levels in pregnant endometrium. Expression of selected genes was validated by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Gene set enrichment analysis, functional annotation clustering, and cocitation analysis were performed to characterize the genes differentially expressed in Day 12 pregnant endometrium. Many known estrogen-induced genes and genes involved in regulation of estrogen signaling were found, but also genes known to be regulated by progesterone and prostaglandin E2. Additionally, differential expression of a number of genes related to angiogenesis and vascular remodeling suggests an important role of this process. Furthermore, genes that probably have conserved functions across species, such as CRYAB, ERRFI1, FGF9, IGFBP2, NR2F2, STC1, and TNFSF10, were identified. This study revealed the potential target genes and pathways of conceptus-derived estrogens, progesterone, and prostaglandin E2 in the equine endometrium probably involved in the early events of establishment and maintenance of pregnancy in the mare.
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Publication Date: 2010-07-14 PubMed ID: 20631402DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.110.085233Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

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 investigates how gene expression changes in the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) of mares in the early stages of pregnancy, giving us new insights into horse reproduction and pregnancy.

Research Context and Methodology

  • The study was motivated by the fact that our understanding of how pregnancy happens and is maintained in horses (equids) is still incomplete. Understanding these early stages can help improve breeding and pregnancy success rates.
  • To uncover these early events, the researchers systematically analyzed changes in the transcriptome (all the gene expression activity) in the endometrium on the 8th and 12th days of pregnancy.
  • Endometrial biopsy samples were taken from the same mares when they were pregnant and not pregnant. The composition of these biopsies was analyzed to identify the proportions of different types of cells (surface and glandular epithelium and blood vessels).

Microarray Analysis Findings

  • At Day 8 of pregnancy, no noticeable changes in gene expression were found between pregnant and non-pregnant mares.
  • However, at Day 12 of pregnancy, there were 374 genes expressing differently, with 332 showing higher levels of transcript activity and 42 showing lower levels in the pregnant endometrium.
  • The researchers validated these results with quantitative real-time RT-PCR, a technique that quantifies RNA (gene transcripts) in real time as they are being amplified.

Interpretation of Results

  • The researchers performed gene set enrichment analysis, functional annotation clustering, and cocitation analysis to characterize the genes that expressed differently on Day 12.
  • Many of the identified genes were already known to be induced by estrogen and involved in regulating estrogen signaling. Besides, genes that are regulated by progesterone and prostaglandin E2, other hormones critical for pregnancy, were also identified.
  • There was a differential expression of several genes that relate to angiogenesis and vascular remodeling, suggesting this process might play a critical role in early pregnancy.
  • The study also identified genes that are likely to have conserved, or similar, functions across different species. This includes genes such as CRYAB, ERRFI1, FGF9, IGFBP2, NR2F2, STC1, and TNFSF10.
  • In conclusion, this study identified potential target genes and pathways of conceptus-derived hormones in the equine endometrium, likely involved in the early events of pregnancy establishment and maintenance.

Cite This Article

APA
Merkl M, Ulbrich SE, Otzdorff C, Herbach N, Wanke R, Wolf E, Handler J, Bauersachs S. (2010). Microarray analysis of equine endometrium at days 8 and 12 of pregnancy. Biol Reprod, 83(5), 874-886. https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.110.085233

Publication

Biology of reproduction
ISSN: 1529-7268
NlmUniqueID: 0207224
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 83
Issue: 5
Pages: 874-886

Researcher Affiliations

Merkl, M
  • Clinic for Horses, Center for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, and Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
Ulbrich, S E
    Otzdorff, C
      Herbach, N
        Wanke, R
          Wolf, E
            Handler, J
              Bauersachs, S

                MeSH Terms

                • Animals
                • Biopsy / veterinary
                • Embryo Implantation / physiology
                • Endometrium / blood supply
                • Endometrium / metabolism
                • Estrogens / metabolism
                • Estrous Cycle / metabolism
                • Female
                • Gene Expression Profiling / veterinary
                • Gene Expression Regulation
                • Gene Regulatory Networks
                • Horses / genetics
                • Horses / metabolism
                • Multigene Family
                • Neovascularization, Physiologic
                • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / veterinary
                • Pregnancy
                • Pregnancy Maintenance / physiology
                • Pregnancy, Animal / genetics
                • Pregnancy, Animal / metabolism
                • Progesterone / blood
                • Progesterone / metabolism
                • Prostaglandins / metabolism
                • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
                • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
                • Signal Transduction

                Citations

                This article has been cited 27 times.
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