Changes in estrogen receptor expression in the chick thymus during late embryonic development

In chickens, although estrogen receptors (ER) are reported to be associated with the immunological processes, detailed information about the differences in ER expression in the tissues related to the development of lymphocytes is not fully known, especially during the developmental stage. To learn more about this immunological relationship, we used semi‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction method to detect the ER expression levels in the thymus tissues of chicks during the developmental stage. Furthermore, ER‐expressing cells were detected by immunohistochemistry. The results of this study show that the expression level of ER increased on embryonic day 16 and decreased on day 20. Furthermore, ER expression was significantly higher in male than in female chickens at day 16. The increased expression on day 16 and decreased level on day 20 were also reproduced in the incidence of immunoreactive cells, although there was a 1‐day delay in the elevated incidence of the cells. This study revealed the changes in ER expression and the incidence of ER‐positive cells in the thymus of chickens during the developmental stage.     

Effects of estrogen on estrogen receptor expression in the bursal cells of chick embryos and steroidogenic enzymes gene expression in the bursa: Relevance of estrogen receptor and estrogen synthesis in the bursa of chick embryos

Estrogen has been reported to act on B cell genesis in the bursa of Fabricius of chick embryos. In this study, we attempted to demonstrate the hypothesis that B cell genesis is controlled by estrogen receptor (ER) in the bursal cells and steroidogenic enzymes synthesized in the bursa. We previously reported the presence of estrogen receptor α (ERα) in the bursa during the late stage of embryogenesis and an increase in the expression of ERα messenger RNA (mRNA) between the 13th day and 16th day. The number of ER-positive cells was maximal on the 16th day. In the present study, ER-positive cells in the bursa during the late stage of embryogenesis increased 4 h after β-estradiol treatment on the 14th to 18th day. The concentration of β-estradiol in the embryonic bursa increased. These results suggest that this stage of embryogenesis is critical in B cell development in the bursa in connection with the effect of estrogen treatment. Our findings also showed that the mRNA expression of five steroidogenic enzymes occurred in the bursa of chick embryos. These results suggest that estrogen is synthesized in the embryonic bursa and estrogen acts on the bursal cells in a paracrine fashion.     

传染性支气管炎病毒感染对蛋雏鸡输卵管雌激素受体及孕激素受体表达的影响

以不同传染性支气管炎病毒（肾型IBV-河北分离株与呼吸型IBV-M41）分别感染蛋雏鸡,通过测定输卵管蛋白分泌部及子宫雌激素受体（Estrogen receptor,ER）和孕激素受体（Progesterone receptor,PR）的表达水平,来探讨IBV早期感染（10d）对抑制蛋鸡输卵管发育的作用机制。结果显示,IBV感染降低子宫和蛋白分泌部ER mR-NA、PR mRNA的表达水平,即致子宫ER mRNA和PR mRNA的表达低于检测水平;蛋白分泌部ER mRNA和PR mRNA的表达水平显著降低（P〈0.01）,且M41的作用幅度较肾型IBV更为显著（P〈0.01）。结果表明,IBV可通过降低ER和PR的表达水平,抑制输卵管对雌激素的应答能力而影响输卵管的发育。     

Genetic diversity of growth hormone receptor gene in cattle

Growth hormone receptor (GHR) belongs to a member of the cytokine receptor superfamily. Polymorphism of presence or absence of an approximately 1.2 kbp LINE-1 element is observed in bovine GHR gene. The present study was carried out for estimating the genetic diversity and the origin of the LINE-1 element in 10 European, Southeastern Asian and East Asian cattle breeds or populations. Genotyping of the LINE-1 revealed predominant LINE-1 presence in European breeds (0.917∼0.991), absence in the Bos taurus indicus populations (0.000∼0.017), and intermediate presence in Northeast Asian cattle (0.417∼0.522). From genetic features of LINE families, LINE-1 of GHR could be attributed to the same origin in both European and Asian cattle, and Asian LINE-1 may not be derived from recent introgression. This result suggested that LINE-1 in bovine GHR gene could have arisen in an ancestral population of Bos taurus taurus .     

Predominant expression of growth hormone secretagogue receptor in the caudal lobe of chicken pituitary and parallel developmental increase in expression of pituitary GH and proventriculus ghrelin mRNA

To examine the involvement of ghrelin in growth hormone (GH) synthesis in the chicken pituitary, the regional distribution of GH secretagogue receptor (GHS‐R)/ghrelin receptor was investigated. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (Q‐PCR) analysis revealed that the expression levels of GHS‐R and GH mRNA in the caudal lobe were about fourfold and sevenfold higher in the cephalic lobe of 7 day‐old chickens, respectively. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that GHS‐R immunoreactivity was more abundant in the caudal lobe than in the cephalic lobe, as was the case for GH immunoreactivity. By Q‐PCR, parallel increases were observed in the expression levels of ghrelin mRNA in the proventriculus and GH mRNA in the pituitary from embryonic day 17 to day 7 after hatching, whereas no significant change was found in the expression levels of GHS‐R mRNA in the pituitary during this period. These results suggest that proventriculus‐derived ghrelin may participate in pituitary GH synthesis by acting on its receptor during late embryonic development and the early post‐hatching period in chickens.     

Development of an in vitro oviduct epithelial explants model for studying sperm–oviduct binding in the buffalo

In this study, we developed an in vitro model for studying sperm–oviduct binding in the buffalo. Oviduct explants were prepared by overnight culture of epithelial cells in TCM‐199 medium under 5% CO₂ at 38.5 °C. Cryopreserved spermatozoa from buffalo bulls (n = 4) were incubated with the oviduct explants, and the sperm–oviduct explants complex was stained with JC‐1. The effect of sperm concentration (2, 3 and 4 million), size of the oviduct explants (<0.2, 0.2–0.3, 0.3–0.4 and >0.4 mm²) and time of incubation (1 hr and 4 hr) on binding index (BI—number of sperm bound to unit area of explants) was studied. No significant difference was observed in the BI among <0.2, 0.2–0.3 and 0.3–0.4 mm² size of explants; however, the BI decreased significantly (p < .05) when the size of explants exceeded 0.4 mm². The BI decreased significantly (p < .05) when the sperm concentration was increased to 4 million, while the duration of incubation did not have any significant effect on the BI. The interaction of bulls with explants size, sperm concentration and incubation time was not significant. The developed assay has the potential to be used as an in vitro model for studying sperm–oviduct binding in the buffalo.     

Bos indicus type of growth hormone receptor gene is retained in Japanese Black cattle

The growth hormone receptor (GHR) gene is responsible for growth and carcass traits, and polymorphisms associated with the variation of meat production are thought to occur in the liver‐specific promoter of the GHR gene in cattle. The aim of this study was to analyse the structure of the liver‐specific promoter of GHR in Japanese Black cattle, as the relationship between GHR polymorphism and meat production is poorly understood in this breed. Typically in European cattle, the LINE‐1 element, a family of retrotransposons, is inserted in the liver‐specific promoter. However, a short GHR promoter without the LINE‐1 sequence was found in the Japanese Black breed as in Bos indicus cattle. The frequency of the short allele was approximately 60%. In addition, 24 of 29 Holstein/Japanese Black crosses carried the short allele from their sire. The present result suggests that the short allele for GHR may be a candidate marker for improving meat production of Japanese Black cattle.     

雌激素受体α在雌性大鼠脑中的表达

本试验利用免疫组织化学SP法,研究了雌激素受体α在大鼠脑中的表达.结果表明,ER_α免疫反应产物主要定位于神经元细胞核,部分区域出现阳性神经元和阳性突起,在海马CA1、CA2辐射层、齿状回、下托的分子层等出现阳性星形胶质细胞;ER_α在脑中表达广泛,免疫反应产物在端脑的隔外侧核、海马锥体细胞层、大脑皮质等,间脑的缰内侧核、下丘脑室旁核、弓状核、视上核等,中脑的动眼神经核,脑桥的脑桥核外侧部等为高密度;在端脑的尾壳核、杏仁中央核、海马CA4区,间脑的下丘脑室周核、缰外侧核等,中脑的黑质致密带,脑桥的脑桥被盖核等为较高密度;在问脑的视前室周核、丘脑后核、中脑的红核、脑桥的脑桥被盖网状核等为中等密度;在端脑的苍白球,间脑的无名质,无免疫反应产物出现.结果显示,雌激素在调节脑的认知和生殖内分泌过程中,ER_α可能起主要作用;雌激素可通过ER_α调节星形胶质细胞功能.     

Reduction in channel catfish hepatic growth hormone receptor expression in response to food deprivation and exogenous cortisol

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of food deprivation and exogenous cortisol administration on somatic growth of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, and examine the resultant changes in circulating insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) concentrations and growth hormone receptor (GHR) gene expression. Integral to this objective, we report the isolation, sequence, and characterization of channel catfish GHR. Sequence analysis and characterization results indicate sequence identity and tissue distribution similar to GHRs in other teleost fish and several functional characteristics conserved in known vertebrate GHRs. The effects of food deprivation and dietary exogenous cortisol administration were assessed as part of a 4-week study. Growth was significantly reduced after 4 weeks in cortisol-fed fish compared to fed-control fish, and fasting resulted in weight loss. At the end of the 4-week study, both IGF-I plasma concentrations and hepatic GHR mRNA abundance were significantly reduced in fasted and cortisol-fed catfish. Levels of hepatic GHR mRNA were positively correlated to circulating IGF-I levels. These results suggest that a reduction in hepatic GHR gene expression might serve as a mechanism for the reduction of circulating IGF-I and growth in channel catfish during periods of food deprivation and stress.     

禽腺联病毒序列对鸡输卵管细胞表达人溶菌酶基因的促进作用

将鸡卵清蛋白基因5′-调控区控制的人溶菌酶（hLYZ）cDNA表达盒插入禽AAV末端反向重复序列之间,将CMV启动子控制的rep表达盒插入其下游,获得的表达载体pRep2ITR-OV4-LYZ用聚乙烯亚胺包裹,经翅静脉注射产蛋鸡,待蛋清中rhLYZ表达水平下降至注射前水平时,用pRep2ITR-OV4-LYZ进行3次重复注射,以RBB-R染料标记比色法和Western-blotting检测蛋清中rhLYZ表达,以细菌生长抑制试验检测rhLYZ活性。结果,在相同试验条件下,pRep2ITR-OV4-LYZ表达rhLYZ的水平和时间优于不含禽AAV序列的pOV4-LYZ,rhLYZ表达水平和时间随载体注射次数增加呈上升和延长趋势,rhLYZ的分子质量与天然hLYZ相同,对致乳牛乳腺炎大肠杆菌、葡萄球菌和链球菌具有显著的抑制作用。试验结果提示,禽AAV ITR和rep序列能促进hLYZ基因在鸡输卵管细胞中正确表达。     

催情助孕液对小鼠雌、孕激素水平及其受体mRNA表达的影响

分别以0.1、0.2、0.4 mL/d剂量的催情助孕液给21日龄小鼠灌服7d后,检测体质量、脏器指数、血清雌激素和孕激素水平、子宫组织中雌激素和孕激素受体基因mRNA的表达情况,并与腹腔注射雌二醇4d的小鼠进行比较.结果显示与对照组和雌二醇注射组比较,0.2 mL的催情助孕液能显著促进小鼠子宫发育,并增强雌激素水平及其受体基因表达,而对孕激素水平及其受体基因表达无显著影响.结果表明,催情助孕液对动物生殖发育与促进发情具有较好的效果.     

Expression of estrogen receptor 1 and progesterone receptor in primary goat mammary epithelial cells

The exact role and sensitivity of cells to estrogen and progesterone mediated through the steroid receptors during lactation is not known. Expression of estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) and progesterone receptor (PGR) was quantified in mammary tissue‐derived primary goat mammary epithelial cells (pgMECs) to determine the influence of donor tissue physiology (lactating and juvenile) and cell culture growth conditions (basal and lactogenic) on ESR1 and PGR expression in the derived cells. Relative messenger RNA (mRNA) levels for both receptors were the highest in cell lines derived from mammary tissue of juvenile goats. Maintaining pgMECs in lactogenic conditions resulted in up‐regulation of ESR1 (1.36‐ to 12.35‐fold) and in down‐regulation of PGR (‐2.53‐ to ‐3.62‐fold), compared to basal conditions. Based on Western blotting analysis we suggest that the differences in mRNA expression are translated to the protein level. We suggest that differential expression in lactating conditions is correlated with terminal differentiation of the pgMECs. Double immunostainings showed that estrogen receptor alpha (ER‐α) positive cells do not exclusively belong to the luminal lineage and that ER‐α and PGR can be expressed individually or co‐expressed in the pgMECs. The derived primary cultures/lines in early passages are hormone‐responsive and represent a useful surrogate for mammary tissue in research experiments.     

LH受体在山羊结状神经节中的分布

为了检测山羊迷走神经结状神经节中是否有促黄体生成素受体(LHR)的存在,探讨促黄体生成素(LH)是否能够影响结状神经节内脏感觉神经元的功能活动。本试验采用免疫组织化学SP法观察LHR在结状神经节中的分布特征,利用IPP 6.0图像半定量分析系统分析LHR在结状神经节中阳性神经元和阳性非神经元上的表达量差异。结果显示,LHR主要分布在神经元细胞膜和细胞质中,呈棕黄色为强阳性。在带核的神经元中,神经元细胞核呈圆形空泡状,LHR为阴性反应。神经元群间的神经纤维呈淡黄色,LHR为弱阳性。LHR在神经元胞体上的相对表达量极显著高于节内其他阳性非神经元结构(P0.01)。结果表明,山羊结状神经节内脏感觉神经元是LH作用的主要靶细胞,提示LH有可能通过作用于结状神经节内脏感觉神经元胞体上的LHR参与调节内脏器官感觉信息的传导。     

Inhibition of growth hormone secretagogue receptor antagonist, [D-Lys-3]-GHRP-6, in adipogenesis of ovine and rat adipocytes

Ghrelin and growth hormone secretagogues receptor (GHS‐R or ghrelin receptor) have been reported as being one of the factors of adipogenesis in adipocytes. To investigate the involvement of ghrelin and GHS‐R in adipocytes, the effect of the GHS‐R antagonist, [D‐Lys‐3]‐GHRP‐6 (His‐D‐Trp‐D‐Lys‐Trp‐D‐Phe‐Lys‐NH₂), on the process of adipogenesis in ovine and rat adipocytes was evaluated. [D‐Lys‐3]‐GHRP‐6 (10^?7 mol/L) significantly inhibited adipogenic differentiation of ovine and rat preadipocytes prepared from adipose tissues. The level of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)‐γ2 mRNA, an adipogenic marker, was decreased during the differentiation of adipocytes treated with [D‐Lys‐3]‐GHRP‐6 for 10 days. Ghrelin stimulated adipogenesis, also causing an increment of glycerol‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase and upregulation of PPAR‐γ2. Furthermore, the antilipolytic effect of ghrelin was attenuated by treatment with [D‐Lys‐3]‐GHRP‐6 in both types of isolated adipocytes. Overall, the results of the present study highlight that GHS‐R in adipogenesis can be blocked by treatment with [D‐Lys‐3]‐GHRP‐6.     

The distribution and immunolocalization of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) in the rat oviduct during early pregnancy and the post-partum period

The mammalian oviduct provides a favourable environment for several reproductive processes, including ovum transport, sperm capacitation, fertilization and pre-implantation embryonic development. This environment is regulated by cyclic ovarian steroids, that is oestrogen, and growth factors. Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) regulate the differentiation and growth of various cell types in the female genital tract. This study aimed to determine the localization of FGF1, FGF2, FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1) and 2 (FGFR2) in the rat oviduct, by immunohistochemistry, on day 5 of pregnancy and post-partum days 1, 3 and 5, and to demonstrate the possible functions of these proteins during early pregnancy and the post-partum period. On all examination days, cytoplasmic and nuclear FGF1 immunoreactivity was detected in the epithelium lining the infundibulum, ampulla and isthmus of the oviduct. Immunoreactivity was much stronger in the basal bodies of the cilia on the epithelium lining the infundibulum and ampulla. FGF1 immunoreactivity was also detected in stromal cells, myocytes and endothelial cells. Cytoplasmic FGF2 immunoreactivity was observed in the tunica muscularis, vascular myocytes and endothelial cells. While strong cytoplasmic FGF2 immunoreactions were observed in the stromal cells of the lamina propria, the luminal epithelium, some stromal cells and smooth muscle cells displayed a rather weak FGFR1 and FGFR2 immunoreactivity. Immunoreaction intensity did not differ between the periods examined. This study shows that FGF1, FGF2, FGFR1 and FGFR2 are produced by rat oviduct cells during pregnancy and the post-partum period, and reproductive physiology is regulated not only by hormonal mechanisms, but also by growth factors.     

甘氨酰谷氨酰胺对鸡生长、内源激素及相关基因表达的影响

9日龄优质粤黄鸡360只，随机分为4组，每组90只，通过饮水添加不同剂量的甘氨酰谷氨酰胺（Glycyl—Glu—tamine，Gly—Gln，剂量分别为0％、0．01％、0．05％和0．1％），观察Gly—Gln对粤黄鸡生长性能、内源激素和肝脏GHRmRNA、肌肉IGF—IR mRNA的影响。结果显示：一定剂量的Gly—Gln显著提高了试验组鸡的平均体重、胸肌率和腿肌率，显著降低了腹脂率；添加Gly—Gln的各试验组鸡血清中IGF-1、TSH、T3、T4水平均明显升高，而血清胰岛素水平降低；添加Gly—Gln的各试验组鸡肝脏GHRmRNA表达量略高于对照组，但差异不显著，而肌肉IGF—IRmRNA表达量低于对照组，其中0．01％和0．1％Gly—Gin组差异显著。以上结果提示，Gly—Gin可通过提高鸡血液IGF一1、TSH、T3、T4水平，降低血液胰岛素浓度而发挥其促生长和改善胴体品质的作用。