title: Gene expression profiles of some cytokines, growth factors, receptors, and enzymes (GM-CSF, IFNγ, MMP-2, IGF-II, EGF, TGF-β, IGF-IIR) during pregnancy in the cat uterus.
abstract: Early pregnancy is one of the most critical periods of pregnancy, and many factors such as cytokines, enzymes, and members of the immune system have to cooperate in a balanced way. In the present study, the gene expression profiles of factors associated with pregnancy such as EGF, transforming growth factor beta, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interferon gamma, insulin-like growth factor 2, insulin-like growth factor 2 receptor, and matrix metalloproteinase 2 were analyzed in uterine tissues of female cats. The cats were assigned to five groups: G1 (embryo positive, n = 7; 7th day after mating), G2 (after implantation, n = 7; 20th day after mating), G3 (midgestation, n = 7; 24-25th day after mating), G4 (late gestation, n = 7; 30-45th day after mating), G5 (oocyte group, n = 7; 7th day after estrus). Tissue samples from the uterus and placenta were collected after ovariohysterectomy. Relative messenger RNA levels were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. All the factors examined were detected in all tissue samples. In the course of pregnancy, significantly higher expression of EGF and matrix metalloproteinase 2 in G2 than in G1 was observed (P < 0.05). Insulin-like growth factor 2 expression was higher in all groups than in G1 (P < 0.05). Upregulation of EGF during implantation was detected. The expression of interferon gamma was significantly higher in G3 than in G1 (P < 0.05). Transforming growth factor beta and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor were constantly expressed in all groups. In conclusion, the expressions of these factors in feline uterine tissue at different stages of pregnancy might indicate that these factors play roles in the development of pregnancy such as trophoblast invasion, vascularization, implantation, and placentation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Burdur, Turkey. Electronic address: ozgecanagaoglu@mehmetakif.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Ozgecan Korkmaz
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Agaoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Burdur, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali Reha
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Agaoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aydin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guzeloglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Veterinary Faculty, Near East University, Nicosia; North Cyprus, Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aslan
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ercan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kurar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Karabuk University, Karabük, Turkey.
authors.forename: Seyit Ali
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kayis
authors.affiliation: Centre for Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schäfer-Somi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000502:physiology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004798:Enzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004798:Enzymes; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
keywords: Cytokine; Feline; Growth factor; Pregnancy; Receptor