title: Steroids affect gene expression, ciliary activity, glucose uptake, progesterone receptor expression and immunoreactive steroidogenic protein expression in equine oviduct explants in vitro.
abstract: The oviduct undergoes dramatic functional and morphological changes throughout the oestrous cycle of the mare. To unravel the effects of steroids on the morphology, functionality and gene expression of the equine oviduct, an in vitro oviduct explant culture system was stimulated with physiological concentrations of progesterone and 17β-oestradiol. Four conditions were compared: unsupplemented preovulatory explants, preovulatory explants that were stimulated with postovulatory hormone concentrations, unsupplemented postovulatory explants and postovulatory explants that were stimulated with preovulatory hormone concentrations. The modulating effects of both steroids on oviduct explants were investigated and the following parameters examined: (1) ciliary activity, (2) glucose consumption and lactate production pattern, (3) ultrastructure, (4) mRNA expression of embryotrophic genes, (5) steroidogenic capacities of oviductal explants and (6) progesterone receptor expression. The present paper shows that the equine oviduct is an organ with potential steroidogenic capacities, which is highly responsive to local changes in progesterone and 17β-oestradiol concentrations at the level of morphology, functionality and gene expression of the oviduct. These data provide a basis to study the importance of endocrine and paracrine signalling during early embryonic development in the horse.
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Hilde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nelis
authors.affiliation: University of Warmia and Mazury, Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Oczapowskiego St. 1A, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland.
authors.forename: Bartosz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wojciechowicz
authors.affiliation: University of Warmia and Mazury, Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Oczapowskiego St. 1A, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franczak
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Leemans
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, De Pintelaan 185 4B3, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: D'Herde
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Heidestraat 19, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goossens
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Department of Morphology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cornillie
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Heidestraat 19, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peelman
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Soom
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Katrien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smits
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006736:Horses; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D005947:Glucose