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.     

Effect of growth hormone on estrogen receptor binding properties in the chick oviduct in vivo

The equilibrium dissociation constant (K_d) and the maximum binding capacity (B_max) of estrogen receptor in cytosolic and nuclear fractions in oviduct of pullets following various daily injections (1–10 times) of growth hormone (GH: 50 µg/chick) were examined by Scathchard analysis of specific [³H]estradiol‐17β (E₂) binding. The K_d values of receptor in both fractions decreased after three times of GH‐injection. In the B_max values, three times of the injection caused a marked decrease in that value in the cytosolic fraction with a concomitant increase in that in the nuclear fraction, whereas the total B_max (sum of B_max in the cytosolic and nuclear fractions) did not change. A similar relationship between the K_d values in the binding of the two fractions was also observed in 4–10 times of GH‐injection. However, in 4–10 times of GH‐injection the B_max of the both fractions and total B_max was greater than that in vehicle‐injection (control). When the chicks were injected with 6–10 times of GH‐injection, the weight of oviduct was increased. No change in the plasma concentrations of E₂ was found following GH‐ and vehicle‐injections into the chicks. The results suggest that growth hormone stimulates the growth of the chick oviduct by increasing the binding affinity and capacity of estrogen receptor.     

Evidence for estrogen receptor expression during medullary bone formation and resorption in estrogen-treated male Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

The temporal expression of estrogen receptor (ER)-α and ER-β mRNA was examined in male Japanese quails. Femurs of quails receiving 17β-estradiol underwent RTPCR and histochemical analysis 1 to 15 days after treatment. Untreated quails were used as controls (day 0). Between days 0 and 5, cells lining the bone endosteal surface differentiated into osteoblasts, which in turn formed medullary bone. Expression of ER-α was already observed on day 0 and increased slightly during bone formation whereas ER-β was hardly detected throughout this process. After osteoclasts appeared on the medullary bone surface, this type of bone disappeared from the bone marrow cavity (days 7~15). ER-α expression simultaneously decreased slightly and ER-β levels remained very low. These results suggest that estrogen activity mediated by ER-α not only affects medullary bone formation but also bone resorption.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Changes in hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism‐related parameters in domestic pigeon (Columba livia) during incubation and chick rearing

This study aimed to evaluate the hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism‐related parameters of adult male and female White King pigeons (Columba livia) during incubation and chick rearing. At day 4 (I4), 10 (I10) and 17 (I17) of incubation and day 1 (R1), 7 (R7), 15 (R15) and 25 (R25) of chick rearing, livers were sampled from six pigeons for each sex. Glycogen and fat contents, activities of glycolytic enzymes (hexokinase, HK; 6‐phosphofructokinase, 6‐PFK), and genes expressions of key enzymes involved in glycolysis (pyruvate kinase, PK; glucokinase, GK), gluconeogenesis (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase cytosolic, PCK1; fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphatase, FBP1; glucose‐6‐phosphatase, G6Pase), fatty acid synthesis (fatty acid synthase, FAS; acetyl‐CoA carboxylase, ACC) and fatty acid β‐oxidation (carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1, CPT1; acyl‐CoA 1, ACO) were measured. In male and female pigeon livers, glycogen content and HK activity dramatically increased after I17 and after R1, respectively; expressions of FBP1 and G6Pase genes were maximized at R15; activity of 6‐PFK and expressions of PK and CPT1 genes were highest at R7; fat content and expressions of FAS and ACC genes steeply increased from I10 to R1. In females, hepatic expressions of GK and PCK1 genes were greatest at R7 and I17, respectively; however, in males, both of them were maximized at R15. Hepatic expression of ACO gene was significantly enhanced at R1 compared to I17 and R7 in males, whereas it was notably up‐regulated at I17 and R7 in females. Furthermore, expressions of PCK1, GK, FAS and ACC genes were in significant relation to fat content in the livers of female pigeons, while fat content in male pigeons was highly correlated with expression of PCK1, ACC, CPT1 and ACO genes. In conclusion, regulations of glucose and lipid metabolic processes were enhanced in parent pigeon livers from terminal phases of incubation to mid phase of chick rearing with sexual effects.     

Comparison of heat production and plasma lipid metabolites between meat- and egg-types of Nagoya breed chicken during embryonic development

We compared heat production (HP) and plasma lipid metabolites between meat‐ and egg‐types of Nagoya breed chickens during embryonic development. To investigate HP and respiratory quotient, oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production were measured using an open‐circuit calorimeter system. HP was significantly lower in meat‐ than in egg‐type chickens during embryonic development, and HP gradually decreased with developmental stage in both types. The respiratory quotient was constant at approximately 0.68 at every embryonic stage investigated, and the value was similar in both types. Plasma concentrations of triacylglycerol, nonesterified fatty acid, glycerol and D‐3‐hydroxybutyrate, which are associated with lipid metabolism, were similar in both types during embryonic development. These results demonstrate that chicken embryos selected for rapid growth of Nagoya breed have characteristic lower HP, and that when selecting chickens for rapid growth, HP is an important parameter during embryonic stages.     

雌激素受体与M2mAchR在成年雌兔背根神经节中的共存

为检测成年雌兔背根神经节中是否存在雌激素受体(ER)与M2型乙酰胆碱受体(M2mAchR)的分布与共存,采用免疫荧光双标记染色法对ER与M2mAchR在背根神经节中的分布情况进行了研究。结果显示,在成年雌兔背根神经节中:(1) ER分布主要以神经元为主。其中,ERα主要表达于中小型神经元,而ERβ则多分布于大中型神经元。(2)相较ER而言,M2mAchR分布更为广泛,除神经元外,神经纤维等组织上也有弱阳性表达。(3)两种ER与M2mAchR均有共存现象,但共存情况存在差异,ERα/M2mAchR主要共分布于中小型细胞,ERβ/M2mAchR主要共分布于大中型神经元。结果表明,首先,雌激素具有通过影响背根神经节部分神经元的活动而实现对躯体内脏感觉活动间接调节的条件。其次,在此影响的机制中,雌激素除可以直接作用于神经元上的受体之外,还具有与共表达的M2mAchR交互作用而实现的条件。为研究雌激素影响神经系统调控活动的机制以及背根神经节的神经内分泌调节机制提供了重要的形态学依据。     

Hepatic lipolysis in broiler chickens with different fat deposition during embryonic development

The aim of this study was to explore the hepatic lipolysis in broiler chickens with different fat deposition during embryonic development. The mRNA expression of CPT-1 (carmitine palmtoyltransferase-1), PPARα (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha) and LPL (lipoprotein lipase) genes were determined using Real time RT-PCR. The start of incubation was called day 1 (E1) and after hatching called day 1 (H1). On incubation days 9 (E9), 14 (E14) and 19 (E19) as well as at hatching (H1), samples of liver were collected. Blood samples were obtained during days 14 (E14) and 19 (E19) of embryonic development and at hatching. This study showed that serum TG (triglycerol) decreased and TC (total cholesterol) and NEFA (non-estered fatty acid) increased during embryonic development. The expression of CPT-1, PPARα and LPL genes exhibited different developmental changes. For example, little LPL gene was expressed at hatching and PPARα gene expression peaked before hatching. However, CPT-1 gene exhibited no significance during the embryonic development. Our results showed that expression of these genes in Arbor Acres (AA) broilers was significantly higher than that in San Huang (SH) broilers. Therefore, this study suggested that hepatic lipolysis in broiler chickens exhibited developmental changes during embryogenesis and breed difference which may be one of the factors in the fat deposition difference between fat line and lean line broilers during embryonic development.     

热应激时鸡糖皮质激素受体和热休克蛋白的变化

本研究应用3H-Dex放射配体结合的Scatchard分析和35S-蛋氨酸体外标记法分别测定了环境温度40℃热应激时,鸡外周血淋巴细胞(PBL)的糖皮质激素受体(GR)的最大结合容量(Ro)、平衡解离常数(Kd)及其热休克蛋白的表达。结果显示在热应激处理后0．5～4h鸡PBL、GR、Ro从85．75±10．09fmol／107细胞迅速下降至15．34±2．89fmol／107细胞。仅为正常对照组Ro的17．90％(P＜0．01)。与此同时细胞热休克蛋白(HSP)的合成持续增加,主要有HSP100,HSP90,HSP70和HSP25。而在热应激最初0．5h细胞总的蛋白合成急剧下降,随着应激时间的延长,HSP合成的增多,细胞总的蛋白也逐渐恢复。提示HSP在热应激过程中对细胞结构和机能的重建、维持激素与GR的亲合力,稳定受体蛋白结构,提高机体热耐受力具有重要意义。     

大鼠不同时期乳腺组织中雌激素孕激素及催乳素的变化规律

为探讨雌激素(E2)、孕激素(P)及催乳素(Prl)在大鼠不同时期乳腺组织中的变化规律,选雌性SD大鼠42只,分别为处女鼠、妊娠鼠(6d、12d、18 d)、泌乳鼠(6d、12d、18 d),每个时期6只.在指定的时间点处死大鼠取乳腺组织.用放免(RIA)组织匀浆中E2、P及Prl水平进行定量研究,用统计学方法进行处理,观察这三种激素的变化规律.结果显示E2从处女期到整个妊娠期,其呈现下降趋势.而分娩后E2水平急剧升高,后又有所下降,但维持在较高水平;在乳腺发育不同时期,P在乳腺组织中整体水平一直呈现下降趋势;Prl水平以处女期最高;随着妊娠进行逐渐降低,整个乳腺发育过程中Prl整体上几乎一直呈下降趋势.表明E2、P及Prl在促进乳腺发育及维持和启动泌乳方面发挥了重要的作用.     

Immunohistochemical study of Ki‐67 protein,androgen receptor,and estrogen receptor beta in testicular tissues of male pigs immunocastrated with different times of GnRH vaccination

This study aimed to investigate the immunoexpression of Ki‐67 protein, androgen receptor (AR), and estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) in testicular tissues of male pigs immunocastrated using GnRH vaccine (Improvac?, Zoetis Co., Ltd., Thailand) with different times. Totally, 30 male pigs were classified by castration protocol into three groups: T1 (n = 10) consisted of pigs immunocastrated at 14 and 18 weeks of age, T2 (n = 10) included pigs immunocastrated at 9 and 19 weeks of age, and C (n = 10) contained intact pigs. The results revealed that testicular length of pigs in C was longer than that of both T1 (8.1 ± 0.76 vs 6.5 ± 0.5 cm, p < 0.001) and T2 (8.1 ± 0.76 vs 6.9 ± 1.0, p = 0.007). Spearman correlation coefficients showed negative correlation between testicular length and H‐score of AR (r = ?0.38, p = 0.037), as well as positive correlation between testicular length and Ki‐67 index (r = 0.602, p < 0.001). Generally, mean Ki‐67 index and mean H‐scores of AR and ERβ of pigs in T1 were not different from those in T2 (p > 0.05). However, mean Ki‐67 index and mean AR H‐scores of T1 and T2 were significantly different from C group (p < 0.05). In summary, the immunocastration significantly affected testicular length, including expressions of Ki‐67, AR, and ERβ in pig testes. Moreover, the duration between two shots of GnRH vaccine could be extended from 4 to 10 weeks without difference in Ki‐67 protein, AR, and ERβ immunoexpressions.     

降钙素基因相关肽在鸭腔上囊胚胎及胚后发育过程中的表达

应用免疫组织化学技术研究降钙素基因相关肽在鸭腔上囊胚胎及胚后发育过程中的表达特征.结果显示,降钙素基因相关肽强阳性细胞出现于20 d胚龄至胚后14周龄的滤泡间上皮,20 d胚龄至胚后17周龄的小结相关上皮,新生雏至胚后14周龄的滤泡皮质,24 d胚龄至胚后14周龄的滤泡髓质,20 d胚龄至胚后14周龄的肌层和小动脉平滑肌.结果说明,降钙素基因相关肽表达于鸭腔上囊的不同部位及不同发育阶段;在腔上囊退化期,降钙素基因相关肽的表达表现出明显的变化特征,这可能是导致腔上囊退化的原因之一;滤泡间上皮与小结相关上皮在神经肽表达方面存在差异.