Expression of Chemerin and Its Receptors in the Porcine Hypothalamus and Plasma Chemerin Levels during the Oestrous Cycle and Early Pregnancy

Abstract

Chemerin (CHEM) may act as an important link integrating energy homeostasis and reproductive functions of females, and its actions are mediated by three receptors: chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1), G protein-coupled receptor 1 (GPR1), and C-C motif chemokine receptor-like 2 (CCRL2). The aim of the current study was to compare the expression of CHEM and its receptor (CHEM system) mRNAs (quantitative real-time PCR) and proteins (Western blotting and fluorescent immunohistochemistry) in the selected areas of the porcine hypothalamus responsible for gonadotropin-releasing hormone production and secretion: the mediobasal hypothalamus, preoptic area and stalk median eminence during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy. Moreover, plasma CHEM concentrations were determined using ELISA. The expression of CHEM system has been demonstrated in the porcine hypothalamus throughout the luteal phase and follicular phase of the oestrous cycle, and during early pregnancy from days 10 to 28. Plasma CHEM levels and concentrations of transcripts and proteins of CHEM system components in the hypothalamus fluctuated throughout pregnancy and the oestrous cycle. Our study was the first experiment to demonstrate the presence of CHEM system mRNAs and proteins in the porcine hypothalamus and the correlations between the expression levels and physiological hormonal milieu related to the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy.

Effect of ursodeoxycholic acid therapy due to pregnant intrahepatic cholestasis on chemerin and irisin levels

“…Data from literature indicates that this new class of markers could be chemerin and irisin (Khan, 2018;Smolinska et al, 2019).…”

Transcription Analysis of the Chemerin Impact on Gene Expression Profile in the Luteal Cells of Gilts

“…Our recent studies have shown the presence of all three CHEM-associated receptors in selected structures of the pig hypothalamus [16] and ovary [17] during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy, which allowed us to conclude that CHEM has a direct effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal regulatory axis (HPG) by modifying the functioning of its upstream structures. We hypothesized that CHEM may have endocrine effects on downstream structures of the HPG axis, in particular on CL producing steroid hormones, significantly modifying reproductive processes in mammals.…”

“…After washing, LC were cultured for 24 h in F-12 medium with BSA (1%) and antibiotics, with or without recombinant human CHEM in concentration 200 ng/mL of medium. The concentration of the factor was selected on the basis of its relatively high level in women and porcine blood plasma [16,20].…”

The In Vitro Effect of Prostaglandin E2 and F2α on the Chemerin System in the Porcine Endometrium during Gestation

“…The expression of the chemerin system (a collective term for chemerin and its receptors) was confirmed in brain structures responsible for reproductive functions, as well as in the lower branches of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis and the female reproductive tract. Chemerin expression was confirmed in the hypothalami of mice and pigs [ 13 , 14 ]. Chemerin receptor expression was reported in porcine and bovine pituitaries and hypothalami [ 14 , 15 , 16 ].…”