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.
Department of Dairy and Animal Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, USA.
Donna D
DD
Michael
Idania M
IM
Alvarez
Olga M
OM
Ocón
Anne M
AM
Powell
Neil C
NC
Talbot
Sally E
SE
Johnson
Alan D
AD
Ealy
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