title: Expression of Prostaglandin-Synthesizing Enzymes (Cyclooxygenase 1, Cyclooxygenase 2) in the Ovary of the Quail (Coturnix japonica).
abstract: Cyclooxygenase is known to be the ratelimiting enzyme in the production of prostaglandins. So far, in different bird species there have been found two isoforms of cyclooxygenases (COX), cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2). These isoforms along with prostaglandins are regarded to possess a determining influence on the success in female reproduction. Only in a few bird species the expression sites of cyclooxygenases have been investigated. In this study we report on the expression of COX-1 and COX-2 in the ovary of the quail (Coturnix japonica) using PCR, immunohistochemistry and non-radioactive in situ hybridization techniques. Using real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), a distinct signal for COX-1 and COX-2 could be shown in small and large follicles of quail ovary. Antibodies to COX-1 distinctly labelled smooth muscle cells of the stroma, whereas COX-2 showed marked immunostaining in the thecal glands and the ovarian surface epithelium. In the same location, a signal of the corresponding mRNAs of COX-1 and COX-2 was found using in situ hybridization. This expression pattern in the quail is therefore completely different from the localization of COX-1 and COX-2 in the hen and ostrich, which suggests different functions of the cyclooxygenases in this small galliform avian species. According to our results, in quails COX-2 is involved in the synthesis of prostaglandins in the ovary's interstitial glands, which until now have been considered mainly as steroid-secreting cells. COX-1, which is expressed in the smooth muscles of the stroma, possibly plays a role in ovulation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rodler
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sinowatz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010053:Ovary / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011784:Quail / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2