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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Med Sci / Presence of surfactant proteins in the uteri and placentae o...
The Journal of veterinary medical science2021; 83(7); 1167-1172; doi: 10.1292/jvms.20-0174

Presence of surfactant proteins in the uteri and placentae of pregnant mares.

Abstract: Immunohistochemical investigations of the expression of surfactant protein A (SP-A) and surfactant protein D (SP-D) in the uterine and placental tissues of 13 pregnant mares were performed using anti-horse monoclonal primary antibodies. Strong positive reactions for both SP-A and SP-D were observed in the trophoblasts in the microcotyledons of the placentae at 182 to 314 days of gestation; in uterine glandular epithelial cells, faint-to-weak reactions were observed during gestation. This study describes, for the first time, the changes in the SP-A and SP-D expression levels in the endometrium of mares during gestation; the SP-A and SP-D expression levels increased after the second trimester of gestation.
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Publication Date: 2021-06-15 PubMed ID: 34135243PubMed Central: PMC8349814DOI: 10.1292/jvms.20-0174Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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.

This research investigated the presence of specific proteins, known as surfactant proteins, in the womb and placental tissues of pregnant horses. The findings show that the levels of these proteins increase after the second trimester of the horse’s gestation period.

Research Objectives and Methods

  • The research was designed to provide insights into the expression of surfactant protein A (SP-A) and surfactant protein D (SP-D) in the womb and placental tissues of pregnant mares, with the aim of adding to our understanding of horse reproductive biology.
  • This study employed immunohistochemistry, a technique that uses antibodies to detect specific proteins in tissues. The method involved using anti-horse monoclonal primary antibodies to identify and visualize the surfactant proteins in the tissue samples.

Findings

  • Researcher discovered strong positive reactions for both SP-A and SP-D in an essential part of the placenta known as trophoblasts. This was observed in the microcotyledons of the placentae between 182 to 314 days of the horse’s gestation period.
  • In the womb’s glandular epithelial cells, researchers noticed faint-to-weak reactions for these proteins during the gestation period, indicating a lower level of presence as compared to the placental tissues.
  • The findings represent the first description of how the levels of these specific proteins change in the womb of horses during pregnancy. An important observation was that the expression levels of both SP-A and SP-D increased after the second trimester of gestation.

Significance

  • The study contributes to expanding the knowledge on the physiology and biochemistry of horse reproduction, which could be influential for future research in related fields.
  • Given that surfactant proteins are crucial in the lungs for reducing surface tension and facilitating lung expansion, the presence of these proteins in reproductive tissue could suggest a possible role in the birth process, like facilitating the delivery of the foal. However, further research is needed to confirm this speculation.

Cite This Article

APA
Araki M, Ohtaki T, Kimura J, Hobo S, Taya K, Tsunoda N, Taniyama H, Tsumagari S, Nambo Y. (2021). Presence of surfactant proteins in the uteri and placentae of pregnant mares. J Vet Med Sci, 83(7), 1167-1172. https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.20-0174

Publication

The Journal of veterinary medical science
ISSN: 1347-7439
NlmUniqueID: 9105360
Country: Japan
Language: English
Volume: 83
Issue: 7
Pages: 1167-1172

Researcher Affiliations

Araki, Masanari
  • The Japan Racing Association, Tokyo 320-0856, Japan.
Ohtaki, Tadatoshi
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-0880, Japan.
Kimura, Junpei
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
Hobo, Seiji
  • Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan.
Taya, Kazuyoshi
  • Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.
  • Shadai Corporation, 275 Hayakitagenbu, Abira-cho, Yufutsu-gun, Hokkaido 059-1432, Japan.
Tsunoda, Nobuo
  • Shadai Corporation, 275 Hayakitagenbu, Abira-cho, Yufutsu-gun, Hokkaido 059-1432, Japan.
Taniyama, Hiroyuki
  • Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu, Hokkaido 069-8501, Japan.
Tsumagari, Shigehisa
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-0880, Japan.
Nambo, Yasuo
  • Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Endometrium
  • Female
  • Horses
  • Placenta
  • Pregnancy
  • Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A
  • Surface-Active Agents
  • Uterus

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have nothing to disclose.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Shamim A, Abdul Aziz M, Saeed F, Kumari R, Mary Joseph A, Ponnachan P, Kishore U, Masmoudi K. Revisiting surfactant protein D: an immune surveillance molecule bridging innate and adaptive immunity. Front Immunol 2024;15:1491175.
    doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1491175pubmed: 39742280google scholar: lookup
  2. Özbek M, Ata A, Karaca H, Kankavi O. Changes in surfactant protein A and D in ovine ovaries related to follicle development. Vet Res Commun 2024 Aug;48(4):2671-2676.
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