Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Expression of β-defensins in bovine oviduct and uterus during follicular and luteal phases

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Comparative Clinical Pathology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the expression of β-defensins of cow’s reproductive tract and their relationship with estrus cycle using quantitative PCR and ELISA methods. Six kinds of β-defensins and the receptors of estrogen and progesterone were studied in cows’ reproductive tract during the follicular and luteal phases. The results show that besides LAP, TAP, BNBD4, and BNBD5, BNBD1 and BNBD10 were also found in cow oviduct, uterine horn, and uterine body. During the follicular phase, the uterine body had the highest expressions of BNBDI, TAP, LAP1, BNBD4, and BNBD5. However, the highest expression of BNBD10 was observed in the uterine horn at the same phase. The highest expressions of BNBD1, TAP, LAP1, BNBD4, BNBD5, and BNBD10 were observed in the uterine horn during the luteal phase, while the oviduct had the least expression. A significant higher expression of BNBD1, TAP, LAP1, BNBD4, and BNBD5 was observed in the uterine horn in the luteal phase than in the follicular phase. However, BNBD10 expression of the follicular phase was significantly higher than luteal phase. Significant expression of estrogen receptor protein was observed in the uterine body, the oviduct, and the uterine horn during the follicular phase, while a significant progesterone receptor protein (PGR) expression was detected in same portions of the reproductive tract during the luteal phase. BNBD10 was found to perform key function in the uterine horn natural defense process during the follicular phase. The production of bovine uterus defensins did not influenced the expression of estrogen receptor α and progesterone receptor.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aerts JM, Bols PE (2010) Ovarian follicular dynamics. A review with emphasis on the bovine species. Part II: antral development, exogenous influence and future prospects. Reprod Domest Anim 45:180–187. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0531.2008.01302

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Aviles M, Gutierrez AA, Coy P (2010) Oviductal secretions: will they be key factors for the future ARTs. Mol Hum Reprod 16:896–906. doi:10.1093/molehr/gaq056

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chapwanya A, Meade KG, Foley C et al (2012) The postpartum endometrial inflammatory response: a normal physiological event with potential implications for bovine fertility. Reprod Fertil Dev 24:1028–1039. doi:10.1071/RD11153

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cornet B, Bonmatin JM, Hertru C (1995) Refined three-dimensional solution structure of insect defensin A. Structure 3:435–448

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coy P, García-Vázquez FA, Visconti PE (2012) Roles of the oviduct in mammalian fertilization. Reproduction 144:649–660. doi:10.1530/REP-12-0279

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Davies D, Meade KG, Herath S et al (2008) Toll-like receptor and antimicrobial peptide expression in the bovine endometrium. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 6:53. doi:10.1186/1477-7827-6-53

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Fair T (2015) The contribution of the maternal immune system to the establishment of pregnancy in cattle. Front Immunol. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2015.00007 eCollection 2015

  • Falchi L, Scaramuzzi RJ (2015) An in vitro investigation of the actions of reproductive hormones on the cervix of the ewe in the follicular stage: the effects of 17β-estradiol, oxytocin, FSH, and arachidonic acid on the cervical pathway for the synthesis of prostaglandin E2. Theriogenology 83:1007–1014. doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2014.12.003

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Foley C, Chapwanya A, Creevey C et al (2012) Global endometrial transcriptomic profiling: transient immune activation precedes tissue proliferation and repair in healthy beef cows. BMC Genomics 13:489. doi:10.1186/1471-2164-13-489

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ganz T (2003) Defensins: antimicrobial peptides of innate immunity. Nat Rev Immunol 3:710–720

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ganz T, Lehrer RI (1995) Defensins. Pharmacol Ther 66:191–205

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gravina FS, Van Helden DF, Kerr DF et al (2014) Phasic contractions of the mouse vagina and cervix at different phases of the estrus cycle and during late pregnancy. PLoS One. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0111307 eCollection 2014

  • Haas GG Jr, Nicosia SV, Wolf DP (1987) Influence of estrogens on vascular transudation and mucus production in the rabbit endocervix. Fertil Steril 48:1036–1042

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Higgs R, Lynn DJ, Gaines S et al (2005) The synthetic form of a novel chicken beta-defensin identified in silico is predominantly active against intestinal pathogens. Immuno genetics 57:90–98

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ireland JJ, Murphee RL, Coulson PB (1980) Accuracy of predicting stages of bovine estrous cycle by gross appearance of the corpus luteum. J Dairy Sci 63:155–160

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • King AE, Hilary OD, Critchley (2003) Innate immune defences in the human endometrium. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 1:116

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lai Y, Gallo RL (2009) AMPed up immunity: how antimicrobial peptides have multiple roles in immune defence. Trends Immunol 30:131–141

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lehrer RI, Ganz T (2002) Defensins of vertebrate animals. Curr Opin Immunol 14:96–102

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leonova L, Kokryakov VN, Aleshina G (2001) Circular minidefensins and posttranslational generation of molecular diversity. J Leukoc Biol 70:461–464

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Luan HY, Yao XM, Cao SZ et al (2010) Cloning of yak lingual antimicrobial peptide gene and its expression in the reproductive system. Chinese veterinary science 40:83–88

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martin I, Torres NR, Oba E et al (2008) Immunohistochemical detection of receptors for oestrogen and progesterone in endometrial glands and stroma during the oestrous cycle in Nelore cows. Reprod Domest Anim 43:415–421. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0531.2007.00928

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meade KG, Cormican P, Narciandi F (2014) Bovine β-defensin gene family: opportunities to improve animal health? Physiol Genomics 46:17–28. doi:10.1152/physiolgenomics.00085.2013

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira LJ, Mansouri-Attia N, Fahey AG et al (2013) Characterization of the Th profile of the bovine endometrium during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy. PLoS One. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0075571 eCollection 2013

  • Quayle AJ, Porter EM, Nussbaum AA et al (1998) Gene expression, immunolocalization, and secretion of human defensin-5 in human female reproductive tract. Am J Pathol 152:1247–1258

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ramos JG, Varayoud J, Bosquiazzo VL et al (2002) Cellular turnover in the rat uterine cervix and its relationship to estrogen and progesterone receptor dynamics. Biol Reprod 67:735–742

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sağsöz H, Akbalik ME, Saruhan BG (2011) Localization of estrogen receptor α and progesterone receptor B in bovine cervix and vagina during the follicular and luteal phases of the sexual cycle. Biotech Histochem 86:262–271. doi:10.3109/10520291003795861

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schutte BC, Mitros JP, Bartlett JA et al (2002) Discovery of five conserved beta-defensin gene clusters using a computational search strategy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 99:2129–2133

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Sheldon IM, Cronin JG, Goetze L (2009) Defining postpartum uterine disease and the mechanisms of infection and immunity in the female reproductive tract in cattle. Biol Reprod 81:1025–1032. doi:10.1095/biolreprod.109.077370

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sheldon IM, Cronin JG, Healey GD et al (2014) Innate immunity and inflammation of the bovine female reproductive tract in health and disease. Reproduction 148:R41–R51. doi:10.1530/REP-14-0163

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spicer LJ, Echternkamp SE (1986) Ovarian follicular growth, function and turnover in cattle: a review. J Anim Sci 62:428–451

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Valore EV, Ganz T (1992) Posttranslational processing of defensins in immature human myeloid cells. Blood 79:1538–1544

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Valore EV, Park CH, Quayle AJ et al (1998) Human β defensin-1: an antimicrobial peptide of urogenital tissues. J Clin Invest 101:1633–1642

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Wang GR, Yan ZR, Wang DS (2009) Cloning and prokaryotic expression of endometrial antibacterial peptide BNBD5 gene of dairy cow. Chinese veterinary science 39:538–542

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wood GA, Fata JE, Watson KL (2007) Circulating hormones and estrous stage predict cellular and stromal remodeling in murine uterus. Reproduction 133:1035–1044

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yu N, Khalid A, Shi Y et al (2014) Behaviors of calf Sertoli cells and fibroblast cells transfected with human HNP-1 gene. Genet Mol Res 13:9656–9664. doi:10.4238/2014

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, People’s Republic of China

    Yue Zeng, E. O. Adegoke, Xue Wang, Xu Lin, Hao Wang, Chen Wang & Guixue Zhang

Authors
  1. Yue Zeng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. O. Adegoke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xue Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Xu Lin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Hao Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Chen Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Guixue Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Ethics declarations

All procedures involving animals in this study were approved by Northeast Agricultural University ethical committee on animal care and use.

Conflict of interest

The authors of this paper have no conflicts of interest, including specific financial interests, relationships, and/or affiliations relevant to the subject matter or materials included.

Funding

This work was supported by Fund of Northeast Agricultural University (NEAU), China (2015DKZX-01Z).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zeng, Y., Adegoke, E.O., Wang, X. et al. Expression of β-defensins in bovine oviduct and uterus during follicular and luteal phases. Comp Clin Pathol 26, 749–756 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-017-2442-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-017-2442-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation