Ontogeny of LH/hCG receptor gene expression in male and female pig reproductive tracts.
The receptors for LH, located in the gonadal tissues of the male and female, mediate stimulation of ovarian and testicular steroidogenesis by the pituitary. However, it is known that several animal and human nongonadal reproductive tissues also contain functional LH receptors. This study was undertaken to compare expression of LH/hCG receptor gene expression in gonadal and nongonadal reproductive tissue of the male and female fetal and neonatal pigs. We used reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to examine the onset of LH/hCG receptor gene expression in both gonadal and nongonadal tissues during ontogeny of the pig. According to our results the expression of LH/hCG receptor gene as measured by the presence in its extracellular domain starts between 30 and 40 d post coitum in the testis and between 40 and 48 d post coitum in the ovary. The expression of extragonadal LH/hCG receptor gene in the uterus occurred between Days 48 and 103 post coitum. When detected, the extracellular domain of LH/hCG receptor gene was expressed permanently both in gonadal and nongonadal porcine reproductive tissues. We also showed that LH/hCG receptors are expressed in the pig epididymis on Day 1 of neonatal life.
Derecka
K
K
Division of Endocrinology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland.
Ziecik
A J
AJ