title: Influence of seminal plasma, spermatozoa and semen extender on cytokine expression in the porcine endometrium after insemination.
abstract: The effects of semen components or extender alone on the expression of selected cytokines [interleukine (IL)-1β, IL-6, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1] on the porcine endometrium were studied, as well as the presence of polymorphonuclear neutrophilic granulocytes (PMNs). In experiment (Exp) I, groups of gilts were sampled at 5-6h after insemination with fresh semen in extender (Beltsville thawing solution, BTS), spermatozoa in extender (Spz), seminal plasma (SP), or only BTS (control). In Exp II, gilts were sampled 35-40h after insemination with Spz, SP, BTS or only catheter inserted (as control). Immunohistochemical (IHC) labelling of IL-6, IL-10 and TGF-β1 was evident, especially in surface and glandular epithelia of the porcine endometrium. There were no consistent differences in IHC-labelling of the cytokines in relation to different treatments. However, the scores for IL-6 and IL-10 in surface epithelium and sub-epithelial connective tissue compartments were higher at 35-40h than shortly (5-6h) after treatment. Cytoplasmic labelling in the sub-epithelial connective tissue was observed in scattered individual cells but not in PMNs. Shortly (5-6h) after insemination, there were no differences between animals inseminated with BTS (control) and the semen components for any of the cytokine mRNAs. Later however, at 35-40h, lower endometrial expression of TGF-β1 mRNA was observed in the Spz and BTS groups compared with the control (catheter only). The same pattern was found for IL-10 (NS). The mRNA expression of IL-6 in the BTS inseminated group was higher compared to the control group. Insemination with SP resulted in significantly lower PMN cell infiltration in the sub-epithelial connective tissue compared with Spz or BTS groups shortly (5-6h) after insemination. Later (35-40h), a significant difference was found between SP (lower) and the control group (only catheter). To conclude, our results show that insemination and/or inseminated components modulated cytokine expression in the gilt endometrium. The semen extender BTS stimulated immune reactivity, as shown by down-regulation of the suppressive cytokine TGF-β1. Insemination with solely SP clearly decreased PMN cell infiltration of the gilt endometrium. However, no clear relation between the cytokines studied and PMN cell presence was found.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproduction, Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiwakanon
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Persson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: A-M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dalin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000662:veterinary; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000502:physiology* / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology*; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000662:veterinary; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D016207:Cytokines