Identification of Differentially Expressed Gene Transcripts in Porcine Endometrium during Early Stages of Pregnancy (original) (raw)

Differential Endometrial Gene Expression in Pregnant and Nonpregnant Sows1

Biology of Reproduction, 2010

In an attempt to unveil molecular processes controlling the porcine placentation, we have investigated the pregnancyinduced gene expression in the endometrium using the Affymetrix GeneChip Porcine Genome Array. At Day 14 after insemination, at the time of initial placentation, samples were obtained from the endometrium of pregnant sows and sows inseminated with inactivated semen. Analysis of the microarray data revealed 263 genes to be significantly differentially expressed between the pregnant and nonpregnant sows. Most gene ontology terms significantly enriched at pregnancy had allocated more up-regulated genes than down-regulated genes. These terms included developmental process, transporter activity, calcium ion binding, apoptosis, cell motility, enzymelinked receptor protein signaling pathway, positive regulation of cell proliferation, ion homeostasis, and hormone activity. Only the three terms oxidoreductase activity, lipid metabolic process, and organic acid metabolic process had an overrepresentation of down-regulated genes. A gene interaction network based on the genes identified in the gene ontology term developmental processes identified genes likely to be involved in the process of placentation. Pregnancy-specific localization of IL11RA to the surface epithelium of the endometrium suggests a role of interleukin 11 signaling in formation of the porcine epitheliochorial placenta. Furthermore, up-regulation of FGF9 mRNA in pregnant endometrium and localization of FGF9 to the apical cell domain of the glandular epithelium suggest the concept of endometrial FGF9 acting as an embryonic growth factor in the pig.

Endometrial gene expression profiling in pregnant Meishan and Yorkshire pigs on day 12 of gestation

BMC Genomics, 2014

Background: Litter size in pigs is a major factor affecting the profitability in the pig industry. The peri-implantation window in pigs is characterized by the coordinated interactions between the maternal uterine endometrium and the rapidly elongating conceptuses and represents a period of time during which a large percentage of the developing conceptuses are lost. However, the gene expression and regulatory networks in the endometrium contributing to the establishment of the maternal: placental interface remain poorly understood. Results: We characterized the endometrial gene expression profile during the peri-implantation stage of development by comparing two breeds that demonstrate very different reproductive efficiencies. We employed the porcine Affymetrix GeneChip® to assay the transcriptomic profiles of genes expressed in the uterine endometrium obtained from Meishan and Yorkshire gilts (n = 4 for each breed) on day 12 of gestation (M12 and Y12, respectively). Total of 17,076 probesets were identified as "present" in at least two arrays. A mixed model-based statistical analysis predicted a total of 2,656 (q < 0.1) transcripts as differentially expressed between Meishan and Yorkshire pigs. Eighteen differentially expressed transcripts of interest were validated by quantitative real-time PCR. Gene ontology (GO) annotation revealed that the known functions of the differentially expressed genes were involved in a series of important biological processes relevant to early pregnancy establishment in the pig. Conclusions: The results identified endometrial gene expression profiles of two breeds differing in litter size and identified candidate genes that are related to known physiological pathways related to reproductive prolificacy. These findings provide a deeper understanding of molecular pathways differing between two breeds at the critical peri-implantation stage of pregnancy, which can be utilized to better understand the events contributing to pregnancy establishment in the pig.

Proteomic analysis of pregnancy-related proteins from pig uterus endometrium during pregnancy

Proteome Science, 2011

Many important molecular events associated with implantation and development occur within the female reproductive tract, especially within the uterus endometrium, during pregnancy periods. The endometrium includes the mucosal lining of the uterus, which provides a suitable site for implantation and development of a fertilized egg and fetus. To date, the molecular cascades in the uterus endometrium during pregnancy periods in pigs have not been elucidated fully. In this study, we compared the functional regulated proteins in the endometrium during pregnancy periods with those in non-pregnant conditions and investigated changes in expression patterns during pregnancy (days 40, 70, and 93) using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and western blotting. The functional regulated proteins were identified and discovered from differentially expressed proteins in the uterus endometrium during pregnancy. We discovered 820 protein spots in a proteomic analysis of uterus endometrium tiss...

Proteomic analysis of the sheep caruncular and intercaruncular endometrium reveals changes in functional proteins crucial for the establishment of pregnancy

REPRODUCTION, 2014

The expression and regulation of endometrial proteins are crucial for conceptus implantation and development. However, little is known about site-specific proteome profiles of the mammalian endometrium during the peri-implantation period. We utilised a two-dimensional gel electrophoresis/mass spectrometry-based proteomics approach to compare and identify differentially expressed proteins in sheep endometrium. Caruncular and intercaruncular endometrium were collected on days 12 (C12) and 16 (C16) of the oestrous cycle and at three stages of pregnancy corresponding to conceptus pre-attachment (P12), implantation (P16) and post-implantation (P20). Abundance and localisation changes in differentially expressed proteins were determined by western blot and immunohistochemistry. In caruncular endometrium, 45 protein spots (5% of total spots) altered between day 12 of pregnancy (P12) and P16 while 85 protein spots (10% of total spots) were differentially expressed between P16 and C16. In in...

Proteomic analysis of the endometrium during early pregnancy in the domestic pig

Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 2017

Reproductive processes in domestic pigs have been studied extensively. Pigs are one of the main sources of meat for human consumption and are an established model for investigations into mammalian, including human, reproductive physiology. Studies of the uterus during early pregnancy will lead to a better understanding of mechanisms governing pregnancy. Proteomics provides the possibility to explore endometrial functions in an unbiased way. The aim of the study was to compare endometrium harvested from Days 12–13 and 15–16 of pregnancy with the corresponding days of the oestrous cycle. We identified endometrial proteins that are unique to the early stages of pregnancy (Days 12–13 and 15–16). Twenty-one proteins were identified that were uniquely expressed on the selected days of pregnancy or the oestrous cycle. Out of 21 identified proteins, 14 referred to the pregnancy periods. Systemic analysis of the identified proteins revealed cell adhesion and cytoskeletal organisation as two ...

Gene expression profiling of bovine endometrium during the oestrous cycle: detection of molecular pathways involved in functional changes

Journal of Molecular Endocrinology, 2005

The endometrium plays a central role among the reproductive tissues in the context of early embryo–maternal communication and pregnancy. It undergoes typical changes during the sexual/oestrous cycle, which are regulated by the ovarian hormones progesterone and oestrogen. To identify the underlying molecular mechanisms we have performed the first holistic screen of transcriptome changes in bovine intercaruncular endometrium at two stages of the cycle – end of day 0 (late oestrus, low progesterone) and day 12 (dioestrus, high progesterone). A combination of subtracted cDNA libraries and cDNA array hybridisation revealed 133 genes showing at least a 2-fold change of their mRNA abundance, 65 with higher levels at oestrus and 68 at dioestrus. Interestingly, genes were identified which showed differential expression between different uterine sections as well. The most prominent example was the UTMP (uterine milk protein) mRNA, which was markedly upregulated in the cranial part of the ipsi...

RNA-Sequencing based analysis of bovine endometrium during the maternal recognition of pregnancy

BMC Genomics

BackgroundMaternal recognition is the crucial step for establishing pregnancy in cattle. This study aims to identify endometrial genes and biological pathways involved in the maternal recognition of pregnancy. Caruncular endometrial tissues were collected from Day 15–17 of gestation (pregnant), non-pregnant (absence of conceptus), and cyclic (non-bred) heifers.ResultsTotal RNAs were isolated from the caruncular endometrial tissues of pregnant, non-pregnant, and cyclic heifers, and were subjected to high-throughput RNA-sequencing. The genes with at least two-fold change and Benjamini and Hochbergp-value ≤ 0.05 were considered differentially expressed genes and further confirmed with quantitative real-time PCR. A total of 107 genes (pregnant vs cyclic) and 98 genes (pregnant vs non-pregnant) were differentially expressed in the pregnant endometrium. The most highly up-regulated genes in the pregnant endometrium wereMRS2,CST6,FOS,VLDLR,ISG15, IFI6, MX2,C15H11ORF34,EIF3M,PRSS22,MS4A8, a...