Transforming growth factor beta family expression at the bovine feto-maternal interface

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Endometrial remodelling is necessary for implantation in all mammalian species. The TGF beta super-family plays a crucial role in this event in humans and mice. However, the role of TGF beta super-family members during implantation is still unclear in ruminants. In the present study, the spacio-temporal expression of TGF beta super-family members including activin was explored in bovine trophoblasts and endometrial tissue during the peri-implantation period in order to elucidate whether it is essential for promoting cell proliferation at the implantation site.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Gene expression in the fetal membrane and endometrium of the gravid and non-gravid horn around Day 35 of gestation were analyzed with a custom-made oligo-microarray in cattle. The expression of activin and its related genes was also analyzed with quantitative RT-PCR. Activin-like activity in trophoblastic tissue and BT-1 cells was examined using a fibroblast cell proliferation test and Western blotting.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The expression of various TGF beta super-family related genes including activin was detected in trophoblasts and the endometrium in cattle. The most intensive activin expression was found in the gravid horn endometrium, and rather intense expression was detected in the non-gravid trophoblastic tissue. Extracts from the fetal membrane including trophoblasts and purified activin both stimulated fibroblast proliferation effectively, and activin was immunologically detected in BT-1 cells, which have trophoblastic features.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Specific expression of the activin gene (gene name: inhibin beta A) was found in the gravid horn endometrium during peri-implantation. An activin-like molecule, which was derived from the endometrium and trophoblasts, stimulated the proliferation of fibroblast cells. These results suggested that as in other species, the activity of TGF beta super-family members including activin-like molecules plays a pivotal role in endometrial remodelling, which is an essential process in implantation and placentogenesis during the peri-implantation period in cattle.</p

Phylogeography of Juniperus Species (Cupressaceae) with a Disjunct Distribution in the Island Areas of Japan

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Potentiometric Responses of Polymeric Liquid Membranes Based on Hydrophobic Chelating Agents to Metal lons

液膜イオンセンサーの感応物質として用いる各種キレート試薬の疎水性が、金属イオンに対する電位応答に及ぼす効果について調べた。キレート試薬として、オキシン、ジチゾン、ビリジルアゾナフトール及びそれらの長鎖アルキル誘導体、ならびに一連のN-アルキルカルボニル-N-フェニルヒドロキシルアミン類を用いた。疎水性の高いキレート試薬を含む膜でZn2+,Ni2+などに対し大きな電位応答が得られた。一方、疎水性が低い試薬では、有意な電位応答は得られなかった。電位応答挙動、界面張力測定などの結果から、膜電位発生モデルを提案した。キレート試薬の高い疎水性は、試薬陰イオンが膜/溶液界面にとどまることを可能とする。試薬陰イオンによる金属イオンの選択的取り込みによって界面での電荷分離が達成され、結果として電位応答が生起する