Effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the bovine oviduct in vitro: Alteration by heat stress

Metabolic stressful environment drives epigenetic modifications in oviduct epithelial cells

The oviduct provides a suitable microenvironment from the gametes' final maturation until initial embryo development. Dynamic functional changes are observed in the oviduct cells, mainly controlled by steroid hormones and well-orchestrated during the estrous cycle. However, based on the roles played by the oviduct, additional layers of complexity might be present in its regulatory process. There is a cellular process that includes metabolic adaptation that can guide molecular modifications. This process is known as metaboloepigenetics. Therefore, we aimed to better understand how this crosstalk occurs in oviductal epithelial cells (OEC). Due to limited in situ access to the oviduct, we used the primary in vitro cell culture as a culture model and glucose as a metabolic disturbed factor. For that, cells derived from the oviductal epithelial layer were collected from cows at either follicular or luteal stages (n = 4 animals per group). They were cultured on a monolayer culture system under normoglycemic (2.7 mM glucose) or hyperglycemic conditions (27 mM glucose). On day five of culture, attached cells were submitted to analysis of mitochondrial metabolism (mitochondrial membrane potential - MMP) and epigenetics markers (5- methylcytosine - 5 mC and histone 3 lysine 9 acetylation - H3K9ac). Moreover, the culture media were submitted to the metabolites analysis profile by Raman spectrometry. Data were analyzed considering the effect of glucose level (normoglycemic vs. hyperglycemic), stages when OEC were harvested (follicular vs. luteal), and their interaction (glucose level * cycle stage) by two-way ANOVA. As a result, the high glucose level decreased the H3K9ac and MMP levels but did not affect the 5 mC. Regardless of the metabolic profile of the culture media, the glucose level was the only factor that changed the Raman shifts abundance. Although this present study evaluated oviductal epithelial cells after being submitted to an in vitro monolayer culture system, which is known to lead to cell dedifferentiation, yet, these results provide evidence of a relationship between epigenetic reprogramming and energy metabolism under these cell culture conditions. In conclusion, the levels of metabolites in culture media may be crucial for cellular function and differentiation, meaning that it should be considered in studies culturing oviductal cells.

Effect of estrous cycle phases on gene expression in bovine oviduct epithelial cells

Background and Aim: The oviduct environment is of particular importance because it is the site of fertilization and early embryo development. The oviduct, as a component of the reproductive system, responds to ovarian hormone (estradiol [E2] and progesterone [P4]) stimuli depending on the estrous cycle phase. This study aimed to elucidate the effect of estrous cycle phases (follicular and early and late luteal phases) on gene expression patterns in bovine oviduct epithelial cells (BOECs). Materials and Methods: Oviducts were obtained from healthy slaughterhouse animals, corresponding to ipsilateral ovaries with dominant follicles or corpus luteum during early and late luteal phases. BOECs were recovered from the isthmus (IST) and ampulla (AMP), and the expression patterns of genes related to cytokinesis and mitosis mechanisms (rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase and cellular communication network factor 2 [CCN2]), growth factors (insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3, epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR], vascular endothelial growth factor A, and EGFR), antioxidant mechanisms (glutathione peroxidase 4 [GPX4]), apoptosis (B-cell lymphoma 2), complement component (C3), energy metabolism (aldose reductase gene family 1-member b1 [AKRIB1] and solute carrier family 2), hormone receptors (estrogen receptor 1 and luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor), and specific glycoproteins (oviductal glycoprotein 1) were analyzed. Results: High P4 levels (late luteal phase) affected the expression of important genes related to antioxidant mechanisms (GPX4), energy metabolism (AKRIB1), growth factors (IGBP3 and EGFR), and cell growth regulation (CCN2) in the AMP. Low P4 levels (early luteal phase) affected the expression of AKR1B1, IGBP3, and CCN2. In addition, estrogen likely had an effect on OVPGP expression in the cattle oviduct. Conclusion: Differential gene expression patterns of BOECs in the AMP during the luteal phase (antioxidant mechanisms, energy metabolism, growth factors, and immunological regulators) and in the IST during the follicular phase (glycoproteins) may influence their renewal and population proportions, modulating the oviduct environment as well as gamete and embryo physiology.

Effects of epidermal growth factor and progesterone on oocyte meiotic resumption and the expression of maturation-related transcripts during prematuration of oocytes from small and medium-sized bovine antral follicles

This study evaluated the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and progesterone (P4) on growth, the resumption of meiosis and expression of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E(eIF4E), poly(A)-specific ribonuclease (PARN), oocyte-specific histone H1 (H1FOO), oocyte maturation factor Mos (cMOS), growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF9) and cyclin B1 (CCNB1) mRNA in oocytes from small and medium-sized antral follicles after prematuration and maturation invitro. Oocytes from small (<2.0mm) and medium (3.0-6.0mm) antral follicles were cultured in medium containing EGF (10ng mL-1), P4 (100 µM) or both. After culture, growth rate, resumption of meiosis and eIF4E, PARN, H1FOO, cMOS, GDF9 and CCNB1 mRNA levels were evaluated. P4 increased cMOS, H1FOO and CCNB1 mRNA levels after the culture of oocytes from small antral follicles, and EGF increased CCNB1 mRNA levels in these oocytes. In the medium-sized antral follicles, P4 alone or in combination with EGF increased oocyte diameter after prematuration invitro. In these oocytes, the presence of either EGF or P4 in the culture medium increased cMOS mRNA levels. In conclusion, P4 increases cMOS, H1FOO and CCNB1 mRNA levels after the culture of oocytes from small antral follicles. P4 and the combination of EGF and P4 promote the growth of oocytes from medium-sized antral follicles, and both EGF and P4 increase cMOS mRNA levels.

Mechanisms of Epidermal Growth Factor Effect on Animal Intestinal Phosphate Absorption: A Review

Phosphorus is one of the essential mineral elements of animals that plays an important role in animal growth and development, bone formation, energy metabolism, nucleic acid synthesis, cell signal transduction, and blood acid–base balance. It has been established that the Type IIb sodium-dependent phosphate cotransporters (NaPi-IIb) protein is the major sodium-dependent phosphate (Pi) transporter, which plays an important role in Pi uptake across the apical membrane of epithelial cells in the small intestine. Previous studies have demonstrated that epidermal growth factor (EGF) is involved in regulating intestinal Pi absorption. Here we summarize the effects of EGF on active Pi transport of NaPi-IIb under different conditions. Under normal conditions, EGF inhibits the active transport of Pi by inhibiting the expression of NaPi-IIb, while, under intestinal injury condition, EGF promotes the active absorption of Pi through upregulating the expression of NaPi-IIb. This review provides a reference for information about EGF-regulatory functions in Pi absorption in the animal intestine.

Genotype-by-environment interaction in Holstein heifer fertility traits using single-step genomic reaction norm models

Background

The effect of heat stress on livestock production is a worldwide issue. Animal performance is influenced by exposure to harsh environmental conditions potentially causing genotype-by-environment interactions (G × E), especially in highproducing animals. In this context, the main objectives of this study were to (1) detect the time periods in which heifer fertility traits are more sensitive to the exposure to high environmental temperature and/or humidity, (2) investigate G × E due to heat stress in heifer fertility traits, and, (3) identify genomic regions associated with heifer fertility and heat tolerance in Holstein cattle.

Results

Phenotypic records for three heifer fertility traits (i.e., age at first calving, interval from first to last service, and conception rate at the first service) were collected, from 2005 to 2018, for 56,998 Holstein heifers raised in 15 herds in the Beijing area (China). By integrating environmental data, including hourly air temperature and relative humidity, the critical periods in which the heifers are more sensitive to heat stress were located in more than 30 days before the first service for age at first calving and interval from first to last service, or 10 days before and less than 60 days after the first service for conception rate. Using reaction norm models, significant G × E was detected for all three traits regarding both environmental gradients, proportion of days exceeding heat threshold, and minimum temperature-humidity index. Through single-step genome-wide association studies, PLAG1, AMHR2, SP1, KRT8, KRT18, MLH1, and EOMES were suggested as candidate genes for heifer fertility. The genes HCRTR1, AGRP, PC, and GUCY1B1 are strong candidates for association with heat tolerance.

Conclusions

The critical periods in which the reproductive performance of heifers is more sensitive to heat stress are trait-dependent. Thus, detailed analysis should be conducted to determine this particular period for other fertility traits. The considerable magnitude of G × E and sire re-ranking indicates the necessity to consider G × E in dairy cattle breeding schemes. This will enable selection of more heat-tolerant animals with high reproductive efficiency under harsh climatic conditions. Lastly, the candidate genes identified to be linked with response to heat stress provide a better understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms of heat tolerance in dairy cattle.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-07496-3.

Physiological heating augments the anti-inflammatory reactions during granulocyte/monocyte apheresis: A in vitro study

Granulocyte and monocyte adsorptive apheresis (GMA), an effective therapy for inflammatory disorders, exerts an anti-inflammatory influence by utilizing the biological reaction between blood and cellulose acetate (CA) beads, which are the carriers of the GMA column. Although the biological reaction has an optimum temperature, blood contacts the CA beads below body temperature as GMA is performed in an extracorporeal circulation system. We investigated various soluble factors in blood treated with CA beads at 25°C and 37°C. Here, the optimal temperature for IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) release induced by CA beads was 37°C, and IL-6 production from monocytic cells was inhibited by the addition of plasma prepared from the CA bead-treated blood at 37°C, rather than at 25°C. These results indicated that physiological heating of the apheresis carrier augmented the anti-inflammatory reaction in vitro. Thus, heating during GMA may be a new approach for augmenting clinical efficacy.

Insulin-like growth factor 1 sustained-release collagen on urethral catheter prevents stricture after urethral injury in a rabbit model

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the preventive effect of an insulin-like growth factor 1 sustained-release collagen urethral catheter on urethral stricture after urethral injury in a rabbit model.

METHODS

We made urethral catheters coated either with insulin-like growth factor 1 impregnated collagen or with only collagen, and we divided 19 male Japanese white rabbits into three groups according to the kind of catheter inserted immediately after the rabbit's urethra was injured by electrocoagulation. Group 1 (n = 7) had a catheter coated with insulin-like growth factor 1 impregnated collagen inserted; group 2 (n = 7) had a catheter coated with only collagen inserted; and group 3 (n = 5) had an uncoated catheter inserted. A total of 14 days later, the injured urethras were evaluated by urethrography and urethroscopy, and were also histologically examined.

RESULTS

Urethrography showed that the ratio of the urethral lumen diameter in injured urethra to that in normal urethra was the largest in group 1 (P < 0.0001). In addition, five of the seven rabbits in group 1 (71.4%) had a urethral lumen large enough for passage of a urethroscope, a fraction larger than the corresponding fractions in groups 2 (57.1%) and 3 (20%). On histological analysis, the injured area not covered with regenerated urethral epithelium tended to be smaller in group 1 than the other two groups, but the mean difference was not significant (P = 0.19).

CONCLUSIONS

An insulin-like growth factor 1 sustained-release collagen urethral catheter significantly improves wound healing and prevents urethral stricture after urethral injury.

Oviduct epithelium induces interferon-tau in bovine Day-4 embryos, which generates an anti-inflammatory response in immune cells

Recent studies indicate that communication between the bovine embryo and the mother begins in the oviduct. Here, we aimed to investigate the effect of embryos on bovine oviducts for their immune responses using an in vitro model. First, zygotes were cultured with or without bovine oviduct epithelial cells (BOECs) for 4 days, when embryos had reached the 16-cell stage. At that time, we detected interferon-tau (IFNT) in embryos co-cultured with BOECs, but not in embryos cultured alone. Next, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were incubated either in media from embryo alone cultures or from co-cultures of embryos with BOECs. The medium from embryo alone cultures did not modulate PBMCs gene expression; whereas the embryo-BOEC co-culture medium increased interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs: ISG15, OAS1, MX2), STAT1, PTGES and TGFB1 but suppressed IL17 expression in PBMCs. Both IFNT-treated BOEC culture medium and IFNT-supplemented fresh medium alone without BOEC, modulated PBMCs gene expressions similar to those by the embryo-BOEC co-culture medium. Further, specific antibody to IFNT neutralized the effect of embryo-BOEC co-culture medium on PBMCs gene expression. Our results indicate that BOECs stimulate embryos to produce IFNT, which then acts on immune cells to promote an anti-inflammatory response in the oviduct.