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International journal of molecular sciences2023; 24(11); 9538; doi: 10.3390/ijms24119538

Production of Mare Chorionic Girdle Organoids That Secrete Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin.

Abstract: The equine chorionic girdle is comprised of specialized invasive trophoblast cells that begin formation approximately 25 days after ovulation (day 0) and invade the endometrium to become endometrial cups. These specialized trophoblast cells transition from uninucleate to differentiated binucleate trophoblast cells that secrete the glycoprotein hormone equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG; formerly known as pregnant mare serum gonadotropin or PMSG). This eCG has LH-like activity in the horse but variable LH- and FSH-like activity in other species and has been utilized for these properties both in vivo and in vitro. To produce eCG commercially, large volumes of whole blood must be collected from pregnant mares, which negatively impacts equine welfare due to repeated blood collections and the birth of an unwanted foal. Attempts to produce eCG in vitro using long-term culture of chorionic girdle explants have not been successful beyond 180 days, with peak eCG production at 30 days of culture. Organoids are three-dimensional cell clusters that self-organize and can remain genetically and phenotypically stable throughout long-term culture (i.e., months). Human trophoblast organoids have been reported to successfully produce human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and proliferate long-term (>1 year). The objective of this study was to evaluate whether organoids derived from equine chorionic girdle maintain physiological functionality. Here we show generation of chorionic girdle organoids for the first time and demonstrate in vitro production of eCG for up to 6 weeks in culture. Therefore, equine chorionic girdle organoids provide a physiologically representative 3D in vitro model for chorionic girdle development of early equine pregnancy.
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Publication Date: 2023-05-31 PubMed ID: 37298490PubMed Central: PMC10253530DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119538Google 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.

This research focuses on the production of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), a glycoprotein hormone, by utilizing specialized cells from a horse’s chorionic girdle in a 3D organoid model. This new method shows promise as a more sustainable, welfare-conscious way to produce eCG, which has traditionally been sourced from pregnant mares’ blood, causing unwanted implications for animal welfare.

Research Background

  • Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin (eCG) is a hormone produced during early equine pregnancy with important roles in stimulating luteinizing hormone-like activity in the horse and feritilzation.
  • Commercially, eCG is extracted from the blood of pregnant mares, leading to adverse impact on equine welfare due to frequent blood collections and resulting in unwanted foals.
  • Previous attempts to produce eCG in vitro could not maintain activity past 180 days, and peak eCG production came after just 30 days of culture.

Objective of the Study

  • The aim of the study was to establish if organoids derived from the equine chorionic girdle could maintain physiological functionality.
  • Organoids are three-dimensional clusters of cells with potential to self-organize and sustain genetic and phenotypic stability throughout long-term culture.
  • Previous research on human trophoblast organoids indicated successful production and sustained proliferation of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which led the researchers to explore a similar model for eCG production in horses.

Findings from the Study

  • The researchers were successful in generating organoids from the chorionic girdle, marking this as the first instance of such a development.
  • These organoids demonstrated in vitro production of eCG for up to 6 weeks in culture, surpassing previous attempts with explant cultures.
  • The study suggests that equine chorionic girdle organoids could serve as a physiologically representative 3D in vitro model for chorionic girdle development during the early stages of equine pregnancy.
  • This advance presents an alternative method for producing eCG that is less harmful to horse welfare and more sustainable than current practices.

Cite This Article

APA
Thompson RE, Meyers MA, Palmer J, Veeramachaneni DNR, Magee C, de Mestre AM, Antczak DF, Hollinshead FK. (2023). Production of Mare Chorionic Girdle Organoids That Secrete Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin. Int J Mol Sci, 24(11), 9538. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24119538

Publication

International journal of molecular sciences
ISSN: 1422-0067
NlmUniqueID: 101092791
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 24
Issue: 11
PII: 9538

Researcher Affiliations

Thompson, Riley E
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
  • Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
Meyers, Mindy A
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
  • Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
Palmer, Jennifer
  • Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
Veeramachaneni, D N Rao
  • Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
Magee, Christianne
  • Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
de Mestre, Amanda M
  • Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
Antczak, Douglas F
  • Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
Hollinshead, Fiona K
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
  • Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Pregnancy
  • Humans
  • Horses
  • Animals
  • Female
  • Gonadotropins, Equine / pharmacology
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Trophoblasts
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin / pharmacology
  • Organoids

Grant Funding

  • N/A / Foundation for the Horse

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

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