Fibroblast growth factor-2 is expressed by the bovine uterus and stimulates interferon-tau production in bovine trophectoderm.
Uterine-derived factors are essential for conceptus development and secretion of the maternal recognition-of-pregnancy factor, interferon-tau (IFNT), in ruminant species. The objectives of this study were to determine whether fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) is expressed in the bovine uterus during early pregnancy in cattle and to determine whether FGF-2 supplementation affects IFNT mRNA and protein abundance in bovine trophectoderm. FGF-2 mRNA was present in endometrium throughout the estrous cycle and was localized to the luminal and glandular endometrial epithelium at d 17-18 after estrus in pregnant and nonpregnant cows. Immunoreactive FGF-2 protein was detected within the endometrium and in the uterine lumen at d 17-18 after estrus, and concentrations did not differ based on pregnancy status. In a bovine trophectoderm cell line, CT-1, supplementation of medium with at least 1 ng/ml FGF-2 increased the incorporation of [(3)H]thymidine into DNA. Similarly, IFNT secretion from CT-1 cells increased after FGF-2 supplementation (1-100 ng/ml) for 72 h. Abundance of IFNT mRNA in CT-1 cells increased after 24 h exposure to 1, 10, or 100 ng/ml FGF-2. In bovine blastocysts, FGF-2 supplementation did not affect cell number after 72 h of culture but did stimulate IFNT protein concentrations in conditioned medium. In summary, FGF-2 is present in the uterine lumen during early pregnancy and increases IFNT mRNA and protein abundance in trophectoderm. The magnitude by which FGF-2 stimulates IFNT expression suggests that this uterine-derived factor plays an active role in regulating the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy in ruminants.
Michael
Donna D
DD
Department of Dairy and Animal Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, USA.
Alvarez
Idania M
IM
Ocón
Olga M
OM
Powell
Anne M
AM
Talbot
Neil C
NC
Johnson
Sally E
SE
Ealy
Alan D
AD
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002460:Cell Line; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism*
D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D007370:Interferon Type I; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C020947:interferon tau; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2