This dissertation focused on two classes of molecules implicated in processes of
implantation and placentation in sheep and pigs. Study one examined the temporal/spatial
distribution of several Small Integrin-Binding Ligand, N-Linked Glycoprotein (SIBLING)
family members in cyclic and pregnant ovine uterus. Studies two and three evaluated the
relationships between progesterone (P4) and estrogen (E2) and their receptors (PGR and
ESR1, respectively) on FGF7 mRNA expression within the endometrium and placenta of
pigs.
Study one showed that dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) was first detected in
luminal epithelium (LE) of Day 15 cyclic and pregnant sheep. Stromal expression of DSPP
was first detected on Day 20 of pregnancy in stratum compactum and remained prominent in
stroma through Day 120. Stromal DSPP protein was positively influenced by the conceptus
based upon analysis of a unilaterally pregnant ewe model system. Immunoreactive dentin
matrix protein 1 (DMP1), matrix extracellular phospoglycoprotein (MEPE) were localized to the stroma of cyclic and pregnant sheep, however, these proteins appeared to be
constitutively expressed. BSP was not detected in ovine endometrium.
Study two determined the effects of E2, P4, P4+E2, P4+the PGR antagonist (ZK137,
316), and P4+E2+ZK on FGF7 mRNA expression in uterine LE of ovariectomized pigs.
Results indicate that P4 is permissive to FGF7 mRNA expression by down-regulating PGR
in LE; P4 stimulates PGR-positive uterine stromal cells to release an as yet unidentified
progestamedin that induces FGF7 mRNA expression by LE; E2 and P4 can induce FGF7
mRNA in the absence of PGR rendered nonfunctional by ZK.
Study three showed the expression of ESR1, PGR and FGF7 in the uterine and
placental tissue of pregnant pigs from Day 20 through 85. Results reveal a positive
correlation between stromal cell expression of PGR and FGF7 mRNA which suggests that P4
is permissive to FGF7 mRNA expression by down-regulating PGR in LE. FGF7 mRNA in
later pregnancy is maintained by the release of progestamedin from PGR-positive stromal
cells. A novel finding was the presence of ESR1 in porcine placenta on Days 20 through Day
85 of pregnancy suggesting that E2 may play important roles in the placental biology of the
pig.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:tamu.edu/oai:repository.tamu.edu:1969.1/ETD-TAMU-1383 |
| Date | 15 May 2009 |
| Creators | Al Ramadan, Saeed Yaseen |
| Contributors | Burghardt, Robert C. |
| Source Sets | Texas A and M University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Book, Thesis, Electronic Dissertation, text |
| Format | electronic, application/pdf, born digital |
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