Gene expression of estrogen and oxytocin receptors in the uterus of pregnant and parturient bitches
In the canine species, the precise mechanisms of pregnancy maintenance and the initiation of parturition are not completely understood. The expression of genes encoding the receptors for estrogen (ERα mRNA) and oxytocin (OTR mRNA) was studied in the endometrium and myometrium during pregnancy and pa...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica
2015-02-01
|
| Series: | Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/pdf/bjmbr/v48n4/1414-431X-bjmbr-1414-431X20143969.pdf |
| _version_ | 1798013892090134528 |
|---|---|
| author | G.A.L. Veiga M.P. Milazzotto M. Nichi C.F. Lúcio L.C.G. Silva D.S.R. Angrimani C.I. Vannucchi |
| author_facet | G.A.L. Veiga M.P. Milazzotto M. Nichi C.F. Lúcio L.C.G. Silva D.S.R. Angrimani C.I. Vannucchi |
| author_sort | G.A.L. Veiga |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the canine species, the precise mechanisms of pregnancy maintenance and the initiation of parturition are not completely understood. The expression of genes encoding the receptors for estrogen (ERα mRNA) and oxytocin (OTR mRNA) was studied in the endometrium and myometrium during pregnancy and parturition in dogs. Real-time PCR was performed to quantify the levels of ERα mRNA and OTR mRNA in the uterus of bitches during early (up to 20 days of gestation), mid (20 to 40 days) and late pregnancy (41 to 60 days), and parturition (first stage of labor). All tissues expressed ERα and OTR mRNA, and are thus possibly able to respond to eventual estrogen and oxytocin hormonal stimuli. No statistically significant differences in the expression of ERα mRNA were verified in the endometrium and myometrium throughout pregnancy and parturition, but expression of OTR mRNA increased at both parturition and late pregnancy. We concluded that the increase of endometrial and myometrial OTR mRNA expression in dogs is not an event dependent on estrogenic stimulation. Moreover, the contractility response of the canine uterus to oxytocin begins during pregnancy and maintains myometrial activity. The expression of OTR mRNA in canine uterine tissues varied over time, which supports an interpretation that the sensitivity and response to hormone therapy varies during the course of pregnancy and labor. Further studies are needed to elucidate the factors underlying the synthesis of uterine oxytocin receptors and the possible role of ERβ rather than ERα in the uterine tissues during pregnancy and parturition in dogs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T15:09:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c5d9cfec18d0410fa7583d2f437aa8c5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1414-431X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T15:09:46Z |
| publishDate | 2015-02-01 |
| publisher | Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-c5d9cfec18d0410fa7583d2f437aa8c52022-12-22T04:16:42ZengAssociação Brasileira de Divulgação CientíficaBrazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research1414-431X2015-02-0148433934310.1590/1414-431x20143969Gene expression of estrogen and oxytocin receptors in the uterus of pregnant and parturient bitchesG.A.L. VeigaM.P. MilazzottoM. NichiC.F. LúcioL.C.G. SilvaD.S.R. AngrimaniC.I. VannucchiIn the canine species, the precise mechanisms of pregnancy maintenance and the initiation of parturition are not completely understood. The expression of genes encoding the receptors for estrogen (ERα mRNA) and oxytocin (OTR mRNA) was studied in the endometrium and myometrium during pregnancy and parturition in dogs. Real-time PCR was performed to quantify the levels of ERα mRNA and OTR mRNA in the uterus of bitches during early (up to 20 days of gestation), mid (20 to 40 days) and late pregnancy (41 to 60 days), and parturition (first stage of labor). All tissues expressed ERα and OTR mRNA, and are thus possibly able to respond to eventual estrogen and oxytocin hormonal stimuli. No statistically significant differences in the expression of ERα mRNA were verified in the endometrium and myometrium throughout pregnancy and parturition, but expression of OTR mRNA increased at both parturition and late pregnancy. We concluded that the increase of endometrial and myometrial OTR mRNA expression in dogs is not an event dependent on estrogenic stimulation. Moreover, the contractility response of the canine uterus to oxytocin begins during pregnancy and maintains myometrial activity. The expression of OTR mRNA in canine uterine tissues varied over time, which supports an interpretation that the sensitivity and response to hormone therapy varies during the course of pregnancy and labor. Further studies are needed to elucidate the factors underlying the synthesis of uterine oxytocin receptors and the possible role of ERβ rather than ERα in the uterine tissues during pregnancy and parturition in dogs.http://www.scielo.br/pdf/bjmbr/v48n4/1414-431X-bjmbr-1414-431X20143969.pdfCanineEstrogenOxytocinReceptorsPregnancyParturition |
| spellingShingle | G.A.L. Veiga M.P. Milazzotto M. Nichi C.F. Lúcio L.C.G. Silva D.S.R. Angrimani C.I. Vannucchi Gene expression of estrogen and oxytocin receptors in the uterus of pregnant and parturient bitches Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research Canine Estrogen Oxytocin Receptors Pregnancy Parturition |
| title | Gene expression of estrogen and oxytocin receptors in the uterus of pregnant and parturient bitches |
| title_full | Gene expression of estrogen and oxytocin receptors in the uterus of pregnant and parturient bitches |
| title_fullStr | Gene expression of estrogen and oxytocin receptors in the uterus of pregnant and parturient bitches |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gene expression of estrogen and oxytocin receptors in the uterus of pregnant and parturient bitches |
| title_short | Gene expression of estrogen and oxytocin receptors in the uterus of pregnant and parturient bitches |
| title_sort | gene expression of estrogen and oxytocin receptors in the uterus of pregnant and parturient bitches |
| topic | Canine Estrogen Oxytocin Receptors Pregnancy Parturition |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/pdf/bjmbr/v48n4/1414-431X-bjmbr-1414-431X20143969.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT galveiga geneexpressionofestrogenandoxytocinreceptorsintheuterusofpregnantandparturientbitches AT mpmilazzotto geneexpressionofestrogenandoxytocinreceptorsintheuterusofpregnantandparturientbitches AT mnichi geneexpressionofestrogenandoxytocinreceptorsintheuterusofpregnantandparturientbitches AT cflucio geneexpressionofestrogenandoxytocinreceptorsintheuterusofpregnantandparturientbitches AT lcgsilva geneexpressionofestrogenandoxytocinreceptorsintheuterusofpregnantandparturientbitches AT dsrangrimani geneexpressionofestrogenandoxytocinreceptorsintheuterusofpregnantandparturientbitches AT civannucchi geneexpressionofestrogenandoxytocinreceptorsintheuterusofpregnantandparturientbitches |