Detection of Steroid Hormone Receptors in the Canine Circumanal Gland

The oestrogen receptor beta (ERß) is largely distributed in the ovary of many species but data for the bovine ovary are scare. Therefore, the expression of ERß mRNA in the different follicles of the bovine ovary was studied using in situ hybridization. Ovarian tissue sections of three cows with different plasma progesterone concentrations were used (cow 1: 3.50 ng/ml; cow 2: 1.00 ng/ml, cow 3: 0.35 ng/ml). A 602 bp fragment of ERß mRNA was cloned, sequenced and digoxigenin (DIG)-labelled. Subsequently, in situ hybridization was performed by incubating the sections with the DIG-labelled RNA anti-sense probe. For the semi-quantitative evaluation of ERß mRNA expression the ERß mRNA score (SER) was determined for the different follicular cell types using the formula: SER = 0.n0 + 1.n1+ 2.n2 + 3.n3 with n0, n1, n2, n3 indicating the percentage of cells exhibiting a staining intensity 0 (absent), 1 (weak), 2 (moderate) or 3 (strong), respectively. High ER mRNA levels were noticed in primordial and primary follicle cells, and suggest a role of ER mRNA in early folliculogenesis. A lower SER was observed in the granulosa cells of secondary and tertiary follicles. This significant difference in the SER of follicle cells during follicular growth may be associated with cell proliferation. In obliterative and cystic atretic follicles high SER were observed, although ERß mRNA levels in obliterative follicles showed much inter-individual variation. This is suggestive for ERß mediated oestrogen action in atretic follicles. In the corpora lutea moderate ERß mRNA levels were noticed. Our findings are in accordance with studies in the ewe in which corpora lutea cells synthesize estrogen. These preliminary findings will be further elaborated in a higher number of cows to examine the role of ERß in the ovary throughout the oestrus cycle.     

Heat Shock Protein 70 and Sex Steroid Receptors in the Follicular Structures of Induced Ovarian Cysts

The purpose of this study was to estimate the expression and relative amounts of estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) and their isoforms as well as heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in ovaries of rats with induced cystic ovarian disease (COD). Primary, secondary, tertiary, atretic and cystic follicles were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and total ovarian proteins were analyzed by Western blot. In the granulosa layer, growing and cystic follicles in the treated group have a higher expression of ERα than growing follicles of control individuals. In the theca interna layer, tertiary follicles presented a significantly higher expression of ERα in the treated group. An increase in total ERα protein was detected in the treated group. Granulosa cells of all growing, atretic and cystic follicles show a lower expression of ERβ in animals with COD, and the total protein expression of ERβ was lower in this group. The expression of PR was lower in the granulosa cell layer of tertiary and cystic follicles in treated animals, and theca interna layer had less intense immunostaining in this group. Although there were no differences in the expression of PR-B by Western blotting, the expression of PR-A was higher and the expression of PR-C was smaller in the treated group. An intense HSP70 immunostaining was observed in the cells of cystic follicles. By Western blotting, higher protein expression of HSP70 was detected in the ovarian samples of the control group than those of the treated ones. Ovaries of animals with COD exhibited an altered steroid receptor expression and subtype balance as compared with control animals, and an increase in HSP70 immunoexpression.     

促黄体素受体在母畜生殖道的分布与表达

在多种动物包括灵长类动物、猪、牛、火鸡和人,子宫内都发现有促黄体素(LH)或人绒毛膜促性腺激素(hCG)及其mRNA的结合位点.牛、猪在整个发情周期子宫内都存在LH受体(LHR)蛋白及其mRNA,并在黄体期表达最高.LH通过激活腺苷酸环化酶和磷脂酶C信号途径,增加前列腺素合成酶(PGSH),也称环加氧酶(COX)的活性,从而促进前列腺素(PG)的合成.牛、猪、羊在发情周期的15 d左右PGF2α升高,这与子宫内LHR的活化有关.在不同种动物的输卵管、子宫内膜、子宫肌层和子宫颈,LHR的释放呈现出动态特征,表明LH在发情周期和胚胎附植的分子自分泌-旁分泌调节中可能具有重要的作用.     

Growth Hormone Receptors in the Porcine Testis During Prepuberty

Supplementation of exogenous growth hormone (GH) during prepuberty advances onset of spermatogenesis in boars, but the mechanism of action is unknown. The present study is an investigation of the presence and characteristics of testicular growth hormone receptors (GHR). A total of 36 boars were castrated, three boars every 10 days, between the ages of 10 and 120 days. Testicular membrane preparations of 10, 20, 30, 50, 70, 100 and 120‐day‐old boars were used to determine ¹²⁵I‐bGH binding and Scatchard analysis. Liver from a 60‐kg barrow was used for comparison. Specific ¹²⁵I‐bGH binding to testicular membrane preparations occurred in all age groups with the exception of 20‐day‐old boars at levels of 30–40% of liver binding. At 30 days of age the unlabelled bGH at 1.1 ng/tube achieved half maximal inhibition (ID₅₀). Results of Scatchard analysis indicated a single class of binding sites. Binding affinity was 2.89 × 10⁹m with a binding capacity of 12 fmole/mg membrane protein. The results from this study suggest that GH may act directly on the cells of the prepubertal boar testis.     

孕激素诱导的生长激素与犬的乳腺肿瘤

乳腺肿瘤是犬的最常见的肿瘤，约占母犬肿瘤总数的一半；乳腺肿瘤约有一半是恶性肿瘤，发生转移的比率很高。犬乳腺肿瘤的发病原因还不很明确，它的形成都受哪些因子调节还未完全确定。孕激素能够诱导乳腺组织生成并蓄积生长激素，使乳腺增生，最终导致犬乳腺肿瘤的形成。在此过程中，雌激素受体、孕激素受体、生长激素结合蛋白和生长激素受体在乳腺癌的形成、发展中起关键作用。从内分泌的角度对犬乳腺肿瘤发病机理作了简单综述，以期为激素治疗乳腺肿瘤提供一些理论依据。     

家禽睾丸主要生殖激素受体的研究进展

睾丸的主要功能是制造精子,而睾丸中生殖激素与其受体的结合又影响着精子的发生和成熟,因此家禽睾丸中生殖激素受体的研究对提高其受精率具有十分重要的意义。本文主要阐述四类生殖激素受体——促卵泡激素受体、促黄体激素受体、雄激素受体和雌激素受体的研究进展,为提高家禽繁殖力,推进家禽养殖业发展提供一定的参考。     

Heritability and transmission analysis of necrotizing meningoencephalitis in the Pug

Necrotizing meningoencephalitis (NME) in the Pug is an invariably fatal disease with an early age of onset whose cause remains unknown. Breed predilection strongly suggests genetic component(s), and viral etiology proves negative in studied cases. The current study was undertaken as the first analysis of the heritable component(s) involved in NME in the Pug. Complete medical records, individual characteristics, and pedigree information were collected for 58 affected dogs with data pertaining to 4698 dogs analyzed. A high inbreeding coefficient with differences across gender and significant differences across coat color classes and variable expression was evident. Median onset age was 19 months and median survival time 23 days. Screening for herpes-, adeno-, and parvoviruses was negative. The data demonstrate a strong familial inheritance of NME in the Pug. This investigation provides parameters of disease from the largest Pug NME cohort analyzed to date and offers evidence of previously unrecognized familial inheritance.     

Insulin‐Like Growth Factor‐1 Regulates the Expression of Luteinizing Hormone Receptor and Steroid Production in Bovine Granulosa Cells

Luteinizing hormone LH plays important roles in follicular maturation and ovulation. The effects of LH are mediated by LH receptor (LHR) in the ovary. However, the factors that regulate the expression of LHR in bovine granulosa cells (GCs) are not well known. Insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) is known to play a key role in the acquisition and maintenance of functional dominance. To better understand the roles of LHR expression and IGF‐1, we conducted three experiments to determine (i) mRNA expression of LHR in the GCs of developing follicles, (ii) the effects of IGF‐1 on LHR mRNA expression in cultured GCs and (iii) the effects of IGF‐1 on estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4) and androstenedione (A4) production by non‐luteinized GCs. In experiment 1, small follicles (<6 mm Ø) expressed lower levels of LHR than mid‐sized follicles (6–8 mm Ø) and large follicles (≥9 mm Ø) expressed the highest levels of LHR mRNA (p < 0.05). In experiment 2, IGF‐1 (1 and 100 ng/ml) increased (p < 0.05) the expression of LHR mRNA in GCs from small and large follicles. In experiment 3, IGF‐1 (0.1–100 ng/ml) increased A4 and E2 in GCs from both small and large follicles but increased P4 only in large follicles. IGF‐1 in combination with LH (0.1 and 1 ng/ml) increased P4 and A4 in large follicles, and increased E2 and A4 in GCs of small follicles. These findings strongly support the concept that IGF‐1 upregulates LHR mRNA expression as well as A4 and E2 production in GCs and that IGF‐1 is required for determining which follicle becomes dominant and acquires ovulatory capacity.     

Orexin A Expression in the Ovary of Dog and Cat

Orexin A and B, also known as hypocretin A and B, are hypothalamic neuropeptides arising from a precursor to the 130 amino acid, called pre–pro orexin. They are synthesized mainly in lateral and posterior hypothalamus and are involved in different functions such as regulation of food intake and energy balance. Orexins and orexin receptors were previously described also in different tissues and organs outside the brain. The aim of this study was to demonstrate by means of the immunofluorescence technique, the presence of orexin A in the ovary of cat and dog, to support the hypothesis of the role of this substance also at the level of the female genital system. The presence of orexin A in the ovary either in dog or in cat is in agreement with previous data on the presence and role of orexins in the female genital system of other species.     

Expression and Activity of Steroid Sulphatase in the Boar Testis

Oestrogens are essential for male fertility targeting the testicular-epididymal compartment. However, the underlying mechanisms are only vaguely known and species specificities must be considered. The boar has a remarkably high testicular-oestrogen output, with the biologically inactive oestrone-sulphate being the major oestrogen occurring in the testicular vein. In the boar testis and epididymis, activity of steroid sulphatase (StS) and oestrogen sulphotransferase has been demonstrated. Thus apart from their synthesis in Leydig cells, provision of biologically active free oestrone seems also to depend on the activity and localization of these enzymes. Our aim was to establish expression patterns and activity of StS in boar testis. Testes were randomly collected from healthy boars and allotted to five age groups, five animals in each, aged 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 days. Three extra boars aged over 250 days were castrated to obtain fresh tissue for enzyme activity tests. Immunohistochemistry detected StS only in the cytoplasm of Leydig cells and – except for day-50 group in which 65.1 ± 4.9% (X ± SD) of the cells were positive – expression was constant with virtually all the cells staining positive. RT-PCR and in situ hybridization confirmed expression and localization of StS mRNA. The V _max and K _m value (X ± SD) for StS was 24.05 ± 0.3 fmol/s/μg protein and 2.15 ± 0.12 μ m . These data suggest that StS within the Leydig cells of the boar is involved in modulation of testicular oestrogen bioavailability and that the site of sulpho-conjugation is not the testis but a different compartment of the testes–epididymidis complex.     

Profile of Steroid Receptors and Increased Aromatase Immunoexpression in Canine Inflammatory Mammary Cancer as a Potential Therapeutic Target

Canine inflammatory mammary cancer (IMC) has been proposed as a model for the study of human inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). The aims of this study were to compare the immunohistochemical expression of aromatase (Arom) and several hormone receptors [estrogen receptor α (ERα), estrogen receptor β (ERβ), progesterone receptor (PR) and androgen receptor (AR)], in 21 IMC cases vs 19 non‐IMC; and to study the possible effect of letrozole on canine IMC and human inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) in vitro using IPC‐366 and SUM‐149 cell lines. Significant elevations of the means of Arom Total Score (TS), ERβ TS and PR TS were found in the IMC group (p = 0.025, p = 0.038 and p = 0.037, respectively). Secondary IMC tumours expressed higher levels of Arom than primary IMC (p = 0.029). Non‐IMC PR‐ tumours contained higher levels of Arom than non‐IMC PR+ tumours (p = 0.007). After the addition of letrozole, the number of IMC and IBC cells dropped drastically. The overexpression of Arom found and the results obtained in vitro further support canine IMC as a model for the study of IBC and future approaches to the treatment of dogs with mammary cancer, and especially IMC, using Arom inhibitors.     

Anti‐Müllerian Hormone in the Domestic Dog during the Anestrus to Oestrous Transition

The reproductive cycle of the domestic dog features a long period of relative ovarian inactivity or anestrus. The mechanism of anestrous termination/oestrous resumption is not yet fully understood, which presents a challenge to the development of oestrous induction protocols. In this study, we assess the possibility that anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH) might play a role in this transition by characterizing its patterns of expression in the circulation during the transition from anestrus to oestrous and in all stages of ovarian follicular growth. Serum samples from five beagles (2.0–4.5 years) were collected three times per week at least 30 days prior to the onset of oestrous and assessed for AMH concentrations. Serum AMH concentration increased significantly during the transition from anestrus to proestrus and then declined back to the anestrous baseline beginning on day ?4 before the luteinizing hormone surge, which was determined by changes in serum progesterone concentrations. Cortical sections of ovaries from females undergoing routine ovariohysterectomy (aged 8 months–5 years, n = 4) were evaluated for AMH by immunohistochemistry. Pre‐antral and small antral follicles were most strongly immunoreactive for AMH. These data suggest that the increase in the number of antral follicles is associated with the rise in serum AMH as the anestrous period comes to an end. The rise in AMH might be useful in predicting the onset of oestrus and therefore assist with the optimization of oestrous induction protocols and possibly other assisted reproductive technologies.     

Toll样受体在生殖道和母胎界面的表达及其作用

文章围绕Toll样受体近年来主要的研究进展,探讨其在生殖道和母胎界面的表达和作用,为防治生殖系统疾病提供新的思路。     

Glomangioma in the Prepuce of a Dog

A case of preputial glomangioma in an 8-year-old Springer Spaniel dog is reported. The dog presented a solitary nodular mass, approximately 3.5 x 5.2 cm in diameter, located on the lateral wall of the prepuce at the base of the penis. Histologically, the excised tumour mass consisted of proliferating round epithelioid cells arranged in a cordon-like structure around small blood vessels. The neoplastic cells were positive for alpha smooth muscle actin and negative for cytokeratin, desmin, S-100 protein and neurone-specific enolase. Based on these pathologic features, the tumour was diagnosed as glomangioma, a neoplasm extremely rare in dogs. To our knowledge, this is the first report of preputial glomangioma in the dog.     

性激素受体在子午岭黑山羊隐睾及正常睾丸中的分布比较

旨在研究性激素受体[雄激素受体（androgen receptor,AR）、雌激素受体（estrogen receptor,ER）]在子午岭黑山羊正常睾丸与隐睾组织中的分布与隐睾症的关系,应用免疫组织化学及免疫荧光技术方法结合形态计量学统计软件,比较了正常睾丸与隐睾的组织化学特点。特殊染色结果显示：与正常组相比,隐睾组间质组织疏松,管腔面积明显减小,糖原含量明显减少,胶原纤维及网状纤维含量增多。免疫组化及免疫荧光结果显示：1） AR在正常睾丸组Leydig细胞呈高密度强阳性表达,在各级生精细胞呈中等强度阳性表达,隐睾组中Leydig细胞及各级生精细胞表达明显减弱,且在精原细胞偶见表达;2） ER在正常睾丸Leydig细胞呈高密度强阳性表达,管周肌样细胞呈中等强度阳性表达,Sertoli细胞偶见表达,各级生精细胞无表达;3） ER在隐睾Leydig细胞、初级精母细胞、精原细胞和Sertoli细胞中均呈中等强度阳性表达;4）统计结果显示,隐睾组AR的平均光密度较正常组显著降低（P<0.05）,而ER的平均光密度则显著高于正常组（P<0.01）,且隐睾组AR与ER表达量比值基本接近1：1。子午岭黑山羊隐睾组织胶原纤维和网状纤维分布较正常睾丸多,生精小管基膜主要成分以中性糖蛋白为主,酸性糖蛋白含量明显降低影响精子的正常形成;隐睾组织精原细胞及Sertoli细胞ER与AR表达失常尤为明显,可为哺乳动物隐睾的相关研究提供一定参考。     

Subpopulations of Stromal Cells from Long-term Human Bone Marrow Cultures: Ontogeny of Progenitor Cells and Expression of Growth Hormone Receptors *

Long-term culture of bone marrow derived stromal colony forming cells (S-CFC) in matrix and nutrient defined agar medium resulted in stromal cell colonies that pass sequentially through three distinct morphological stages: firstly, aggregated loose syncytium of round to ovoid cells (stage I), a second developmental stage of large branching colonies in which the cells become enlarged, elongated with cytoplasmic projections forming a loosely anastomized network with adjacent cells (stage II), and finally cells become dissociated, loosing their long, thin cytoplasmic filaments and breaking their contacts with one another, but remain large and retain a bi-polar nature (stage III). Cells were also grown in liquid medium in a culture microenvironment closely resembling conditions of haemopoiesis in vitro. Using a panel of well defined monoclonal antibodies reactive against the rat, rabbit and human growth hormone receptors, this study found immunochemical evidence of the presence and localization of binding sites of growth hormone (GH) in the cell membrane and extra-nuclear Golgi area of long-term bone marrow derived human stromal cells in liquid and semi-solid nutrient agar mediums. GH-receptor immunoreactivity was present in small proliferating progenitor cells, myofibroblast-like cells, large reticular fibroblast cells, adipocytes and endothelial cells. Only MAb known to be reactive against human tissue resulted in strong immunoreactivity. The expression of GH-receptors not only on small proliferating, but also on the well differentiated cells, indicates a role for growth hormone on non-progenitor cells. GH-receptor immunoreactivity on differentiating and/or differentiated cells suggests that GH is also necessary for, or has a trophic function in differentiation. We propose that direct GH action is necessary not only for differentiation of progenitor cells as implied by the dual effector hypothesis, but also their subsequent clonal expansion, differentiation and maintenance.     

性腺激素对山羊子宫内膜上皮细胞激素受体表达的影响

为探讨性腺激素对山羊子宫内膜上皮细胞激素受体表达的影响。本研究构建永生化山羊子宫内膜上皮细胞(EEC)与基质细胞(ESC)体外培养研究模型,通过细胞免疫荧光技术检测性腺激素E2或/和P4对单独培养EEC中PR与ER表达水平的调节作用以及ESC对该作用的影响。结果显示:与未加激素对照组相比,单独添加P4或与E2同时加入均可显著抑制单独培养EEC中PR与ER的表达(P<0.05);而单独添加E2可轻微促进2种激素受体表达水平。在添加有ESC条件培养液的EEC培养模式中,E2单独作用对EEC中PR与ER表达水平无显著影响;P4单独或与E2共同作用下,EEC中PR与ER表达水平均较未加激素对照组显著降低(P<0.05)。性腺激素对单独培养及与ESC共培养模式下的EEC中PR与ER表达水平的调节作用相似,P4对山羊EEC中PR与ER表达水平具有显著抑制作用。