The role of oviduct-specific glycoprotein (OVGP1) in modulating biological functions of gametes and embryos

Abstract

Diverse lines of evidence indicate that the mammalian oviduct makes important contributions to the complex process of reproduction other than being simply a conduit for the transport of gametes and embryos. The cumulative synthesis and transport of proteins secreted by oviductal secretory cells into the oviductal lumen create a microenvironment supporting important reproductive events, including sperm capacitation, fertilization, and early embryo development. Among the components that have been identified in the oviductal fluid is a family of glycosylated proteins known collectively as oviduct-specific glycoprotein (OVGP1) or oviductin. OVGP1 has been identified in several mammalian species, including humans. The present review summarizes the work carried out, in various mammalian species, by many research groups revealing the synthesis and secretion of OVGP1, its fate in the female reproductive tract upon secretion by the oviductal epithelium, and its role in modulating biological functions of gametes and embryos. The production and functions of recombinant human OVGP1 and recombinant OVGP1 of other mammalian species are also discussed. Some of the findings obtained with immunocytochemistry will be highlighted in the present review. It is hoped that the findings obtained from recent studies carried out with recombinant OVGP1 from various species will rekindle researchers’ interest in pursuing further the role of the oviductal microenvironment, of which OVGP1 is a major component, in contributing to the successful occurrence of early reproductive events, and the potential use of OVGP1 in improving the current assisted reproductive technology in alleviating infertility.

Oviductal Glycoprotein 1 Promotes Hypertension by Inducing Vascular Remodeling Through an Interaction With MYH9

“…OVGP1 is a secretory glycoprotein that was reported to be highly expressed in ovarian tissues. 22 Our results showed that OVGP1 was broadly expressed in mouse tissues, including heart, liver, kidney, spleen, lung, brain, oviduct, and arterial tissues (Figure S3), indicating that OVGP1 derived from other tissues may participate in the regulation of BP. The expression of OVGP1 was not associated with the sex of either humans or mice (Figure S4).…”

“…OVGP1 (oviduct glycoprotein 1) is an estrogen-induced secretory protein in the oviduct that aids in sperm capacitation, fertilization, and early embryonic development. 22 Whether OVGP1 participates in hypertension remains unclear. A genome-wide scan performed in the Québec Family Study revealed that the chromosome 1p22.3-1p13.1 region was associated with an increase in arterial systolic BP.…”

OVGP1 is an oviductal fluid factor essential particularly for early embryonic development in golden hamsters

“…Among oviductal factors identified in the oviductal fluid, OVGP1 has been well characterized and suggested to play important roles in the process of several mammalian species, including humans [for review, see Araki & Yoshida-Komiya, 1998; Buhi 2002; Avilés et al, 2010; González-Brusi et al, 2020; Zhao et al, 2022]. Using the golden hamster as a model, which has provided a wealth of knowledge concerning the mammalian reproductive process [Hirose & Ogura, 2019], Ovgp1 -knockout (KO) animals were generated using gene editing technology (Suppl.…”

“…Among oviductal factors identified in the oviductal fluid, OVGP1 has been well characterized and suggested to play important roles in the process of several mammalian species, including humans [for review, see Araki & Yoshida-Komiya, 1998;Buhi 2002;Avilés et al, 2010;González-Brusi et al, 2020;Zhao et al, 2022].…”

In focus in HCB: new histochemical insights into mammalian gametogenesis

“…Apart from ovarian follicular development, oviductal fluid in the lumen of the oviduct provides an important milieu for gamete maturation and fertilization. Zhao et al (2022) reviewed the identification and characterization of oviduct-specific glycoprotein (OVGP1) and its functions in various mammalian species, including humans. OVGP1 plays a key role in sperm capacitation, fertilization, and early embryo development.…”