title: Alterations in eicosanoid composition during embryonic development in the chorioallantoic membrane of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) and domestic chicken (Gallus gallus).
abstract: Eicosanoids are signaling lipids known to regulate several physiological processes in the mammalian placenta, including the initiation of parturition. Though all amniotes construct similar extraembryonic membranes during development, the composition and function of eicosanoids in extraembryonic membranes of oviparous reptiles is largely unknown. The majority of effort placed in eicosanoid investigations is typically targeted toward defining the role of specific compounds in disease etiology; however, comprehensive characterization of several pathways in eicosanoid synthesis during development is also needed to better understand the complex role of these lipids in comparative species. To this end, we have examined the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) and domestic chicken (Gallus gallus) during development. Previously, our lab has demonstrated that the CAM of several oviparous species shared conserved steroidogenic activity, a feature originally attributed to mammalian amniotes. To further explore this, we have developed a liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method that is used here to quantify multiple eicosanoids in the CAM of two oviparous species at different stages of development. We identified 18 eicosanoids in the alligator CAM; the cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway showed the largest increase from early development to later development in the alligator CAM. Similarly, the chicken CAM had an increase in COX products and COX activity, which supports the LC-MS/MS analyses. Jointly, our findings indicate that the CAM tissue of an oviparous species is capable of eicosanoid synthesis, which expands our knowledge of placental evolution and introduces the possibility of future comparative models of placental function.
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, United States; Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, United States. Electronic address: theresacantu23@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Theresa M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Cantu
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Chemical Sciences Division, Environmental Chemical Sciences Group, Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, United States.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bowden
authors.affiliation: Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, United States.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: Grice Marine Laboratory, College of Charleston, 205 Fort Johnson Rd, Charleston, SC 29412, United States.
authors.forename: Jimena B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Pérez-Viscasillas
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Chemical Sciences Division, Environmental Chemical Sciences Group, Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, United States.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huncik
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, United States; Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, United States.
authors.forename: Matthew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Guillette
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, United States; Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, United States.
authors.forename: Louis J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Guillette
mesh_terms: D000489:Alligators and Crocodiles / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000378:metabolism*; D002645:Chickens / Q000378:metabolism*; D049033:Chorioallantoic Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D015777:Eicosanoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005260:Female; D011247:Pregnancy; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D015777:Eicosanoids; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
keywords: American alligator; Amniotes; Chorioallantoic membrane; Cyclooxygenase; Eicosanoid; Oviparous; Prostaglandin