Expression profiling of candidate embryotrophic genes of buffalo oviduct during different stages of oestrous cycle

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to identify the gene expression profile of three candidate genes namely heat shock protein 70, oviductal glycoprotein and osteopontin in buffalo oviduct during different stages of the oestrous cycle. Slaughter house derived buffalo oviducts were categorized as belonging to early, mid and late phase of the oestrous cycle based on the morphological appearance of CL and progesterone concentration. The relative abundance of each of the candidate gene transcript was quantified by real time RT-PCR. Transcripts of all the three candidate genes were found to be expressed in OEC throughout the oestrous cycle. The results of the present study demonstrate that gene expression in the buffalo oviduct is clearly regulated during the oestrous cycle, as these candidate genes play a crucial role in several reproductive processes. It was found that Hsp 70 gene was significantly upregulated in OEC belonging to the early and late phases when compared to mid phases of the cycle. The expression of OVGP mRNA was found to be maximum during the early phase and it remained low during the mid and late phases while expression of OPN mRNA was maximum during the early phase and declined sequentially during the mid and late phase of oestrus cycle.

The abundance and localization of heat shock proteins (HSP)-60, -70, and -90 in the oviductal ampulla of hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas) during the menstrual cycle

“…These findings agree with previous observations (Soleihavoup et al 2016 ), which reported a strong reduction of HSP71 (belonging to the HSP70 family) in the luteal phase of the ewe oviduct. The relationship between sex steroids and HSP expression has been observed in other mammals, such as rats (Olazabal et al 1992 ) and buffalos (Kalyanaraman et al 2022 ), and reinforces what is evidenced by the sex steroid regulation of the HSPs on the oviductal secretome (Binelli et al 2008 ).…”

“…Long-term exposure of bovine oviduct epithelial cells to high temperature (41 °C) increased the expression of HSP70 with no effect on cell viability, suggesting its putative protective role (Rapala et al 2018 ). In addition, it has been suggested that high levels of HPS70 mRNA are related to the rise in the body temperature with a concomitant increase in the temperature of the reproductive organs, which is a common feature in farm animals before estrus and until ovulation (Kalyanaraman et al 2022 ). It must take into account that sex steroid fluctuation is responsible for the rise in the basal temperature, which induces the presence of heat stress mediators in reproductive organs during the preovulatory periods (Olazabal et al 1992 ; Soleihavoup et al 2016 ).…”

“…It must take into account that sex steroid fluctuation is responsible for the rise in the basal temperature, which induces the presence of heat stress mediators in reproductive organs during the preovulatory periods (Olazabal et al 1992 ; Soleihavoup et al 2016 ). In buffalo (Kalyanaraman et al 2022 ) and bovine (Bauersachs et al 2004 ) oviducts, the maximal expression of HSP70 mRNA has been detected during the late estrous cycle phase. Moreover, an increase in the level of HSP70 in the bovine oviduct has been reported during the late proestrus and estrus phases when the down-regulation of estrogen receptors occurs (Salvetti et al 2008 ).…”

“…The appearance of the menstrual cycle and the modulation of the oviductal morphology and function are regulated by sex hormone fluctuations (Barton et al 2020 ) that are also modulators of the HSPs expression in several tissues such as the porcine ovary (Sirotkin and Bauer 2011 ) and rat hypothalamus (Olazabal et al 1992 ). As for the oviduct, sex hormone-depending HSPs expression has been reported in ewes (Soleihavoup et al 2016 ), rats (Mariani et al 2000 ), buffalos (Kalyanaraman et al 2022 ), and bovines (Bauersachs et al 2004 ). Proteomic analyses of oviducts revealed the presence of several HSPs in the luminal fluid of cows (Lamy et al 2016 ), rabbits (Yu et al 2019 ), and ewes (Soleihavoup et al 2016 ), whereas immunohistochemical investigations localized the site of the expression of HSPs in cattle (Boilard et al 2004 )], rats (Mariani et al 2000 ), and women (Lachance et al 2007 ).…”