Characterization and biological roles of oviduct-specific, oestrogen-dependent glycoprotein

Abstract

During late follicular growth, oestrus, fertilization and early embryonic development, the oviduct, under specific hormonal control, produces fluid and contributes secretory macromolecules that optimize the microenvironment for gamete maturation and transport, fertilization and early cleavage-stage embryonic development. This review describes the state of knowledge concerning the physiological and biochemical characterization of the major oviduct secreted protein, the oviduct-specific, oestrogen-dependent glycoprotein. The identification, localization within the oviduct, binding and association with oocytes, embryos and spermatozoa, hormonal control of gene expression, cloning, gene organization, protein sequences and post-translational modifications of oviduct-specific, oestrogen-dependent glycoprotein are discussed. Identification of biological functions for this glycoprotein, its interactions with spermatozoa, oocytes and embryos and its potential as a paracrine regulator of fertilization and development are also discussed.

Deleted in malignant brain tumor 1 is secreted in the oviduct and involved in the mechanism of fertilization in equine and porcine species

“…We analyzed the localization of DMBT1 in different sections of porcine oviduct (ampulla and isthmus) during the different estrous cycle stages. In both regions, the immunostaining was present mainly in non-ciliated cells, which are secretory cells mainly involved in the synthesis and release of glycoproteins that dissolve in the oviductal fluid (Buhi 2002, Abe & Hoshi 2007, Desantis et al 2011, but also in other cell types. The secretion of DMBT1 seems to follow the stages of the estrus cycle, as the presence of the protein is observed from the end of follicular phase in both isthmus and ampulla.…”

“…Moreover, some oviductal proteins have been shown to interact with gametes and to improve efficiency of IVF in porcine (McCauley et al 2003, bovine (Martus et al 1998), human (O' Day-Bowman et al 1996), and equine (Mugnier et al 2009) species. Some of these proteins, such as osteopontin, have been identified (Hao et al 2006, Goncalves et al 2008, Monaco et al 2009) in cattle and pigs and atrial natriuretic peptide A (Anderson et al 1994, Zamir et al 1995, Zhang et al 2006 and oviductin (oviduct-specific glycoprotein; Martus et al 1998, Buhi 2002, McCauley et al 2003 in cattle, pigs, and humans.…”

Oviductal secretion and gamete interaction

“…Part of the complex mixture of proteins that are present in the oviductal fluid come from serum transudate, but there are also specific proteins synthesized and secreted by the oviductal epithelium, and some of them could be regulated by cyclic hormonal changes, with increased biosynthesis at the periovulatory period , Buhi 2002.…”

“…The production and secretion of high-molecular-weight (MW 70-130 kDa) glycoproteins from the oviductal epithelium seem to be associated with hormonal changes during the ovulatory cycle in different species , Buhi 2002, Leese et al 2008, Avilés et al 2010. Oviductins, also known as oviduct-specific glycoproteins, have been found in the oviducts of every mammalian species studied to date, and the cDNA sequences for these glycoproteins indicated that they show a high homology among species (Donnelly et al 1991, Arias et al 1994, Buhi et al 1996.…”

“…Their densely glycosylated mucin-type domains would act as a protective shield around the oocyte and the early embryo and would be important for early stages of embryo development (Malette et al 1995, Boatman 1997, Velasquez et al 2001, Buhi 2002, Wolf et al 2003, Gonçalves et al 2008. Porcine oviductin increased post-cleavage embryo development to blastocyst (Kouba et al 2000, McCauley et al 2003.…”