title: Colony-stimulating factor-1 in conceptus and uterine tissues in pigs.
abstract: Colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1), a growth factor for cells of monocyte/macrophage lineages, is produced by uterine and placental tissues in humans and mice and may stimulate placental growth and development. The present study characterized CSF-1 mRNA and protein expressed by porcine uterine, conceptus, allantochorion, and fetal tissues at various stages of pregnancy. A human CSF-1 cDNA and an anti-human CSF-1 monoclonal antibody were utilized to examine CSF-1 mRNA and protein. Northern blot analyses detected mRNA transcripts of 3.6-5.1 kb in pig tissues. A 4.0-kb transcript was common to all tissues examined. Endometrial CSF-1 mRNA increased (p < 0.05) as pregnancy proceeded, with highest levels at term, and was temporally associated with concentrations of estrogen (E) in plasma. Placental expression of the CSF-1 gene increased (p < 0.05) throughout gestation with the major increase occurring between Days 20 and 30, after which time high levels of mRNA were maintained to term. The changes in placental CSF-1 mRNA were temporally associated with periods of rapid placental and fetal growth. High levels of CSF-1 mRNA were also detected in skeletal muscle, kidney, and intestine of fetuses. Immunoreactive CSF-1 was detected in all of the tissues examined. Partial cloning of the porcine CSF-1 gene indicated greater than 98% identity with the human CSF-1 gene. CSF-1 gene expression in endometrium was not affected by exogenous E or progesterone treatment in ovariectomized gilts. These results suggest that CSF-1 may influence placental and fetal growth, and its differential expression in fetal tissues indicates that CSF-1 may also affect embryonic differentiation and growth of those tissues.
authors.affiliation: Animal Science Department, University of Florida, Gainvesville, USA.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tuo
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Harney
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Bazer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002460:Cell Line; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor