title: Vascular endothelial (VEGF) and epithelial growth factor (EGF) as well as platelet-activating factor (PAF) and receptors are expressed in the early pregnant canine uterus.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the course of expression of platelet-activating factor (PAF), PAF-receptor (PAF-R), epidermal growth factor (EGF), EGF-R, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF-R1 and VEGF-R2 in uterine tissue during canine pregnancy. For this purpose, 20 bitches were ovariohysterectomized at days 10-12 (n = 10), 18-25 (n = 5) and 28-45 (n = 5) days after mating, respectively. The pre-implantation group was proven pregnant by embryo flushing of the uterus after the operation, the others by sonography. Five embryo negative, that is, non-pregnant, bitches in diestrus (day 10-12) served as controls. Tissue samples from the uterus (placentation sites and horn width, respectively) were excised and snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen after embedding in Tissue Tec(®). Extraction of mRNA for RT-PCR was performed with Tri-Reagent. In the embryos, mRNA from all factors except VEGF was detected. In the course of pregnancy, significantly higher expression of PAF and PAFR as well as VEGF and VEGFR2 during the pre-implantation stage than in all other stages and a strong upregulation of EGF during implantation were characteristic. The course of EGF was in diametrical opposition to the course of the receptor. These results point towards an increased demand for VEGF, EGF and PAF during the earliest stages of canine pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria. sabine.schaefer@vetmeduni.ac.at
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schäfer-Somi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabitzer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Reinbacher
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kanca
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Beceriklisoy
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Aksoy
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kucukaslan
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Macun
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aslan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs / Q000502:physiology*; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D010920:Placenta / Q000502:physiology; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C039351:platelet activating factor receptor; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D012313:RNA; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor