Natural Mating Differentially Triggers Expression of Glucocorticoid Receptor (NR3C1)-Related Genes in the Preovulatory Porcine Female Reproductive Tract
Ruiz Conca, Mateo (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals)
Gardela Santacruz, Jaume (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals)
Martinez, Cristina A.. (Linköping University. Department Biomedical and Clinical Sciences)
Wright, Dominic (Linköping University. Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology)
López Béjar, Manel (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals)
Rodriguez-Martinez, Heriberto (Linköping University. Department Biomedical and Clinical Sciences)
Álvarez-Rodríguez, Manuel (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals)

Date:	2020
Abstract:	Mating initiates dynamic modifications of gene transcription in the female reproductive tract, preparing the female for fertilization and pregnancy. Glucocorticoid signaling is essential for the homeostasis of mammalian physiological functions. This complex glucocorticoid regulation is mediated through the glucocorticoid receptor, also known as nuclear receptor subfamily 3 group C member 1 (NR3C1/GR) and related genes, like 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (HSD11Bs) and the FK506-binding immunophilins, FKBP5 and FKBP4. This study tested the transcriptome changes in NR3C1/GR regulation in response to natural mating and/or cervical deposition of the sperm-peak ejaculate fraction collected using the gloved-hand method (semen or only its seminal plasma), in the preovulatory pig reproductive tract (cervix to infundibulum, 24 h after mating/insemination/infusion treatments). Porcine cDNA microarrays revealed 22 NR3C1 -related transcripts, and changes in gene expression were triggered by all treatments, with natural mating showing the largest differences, including NR3C1, FKBP5, FKBP4, hydroxysteroid 11-beta dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (HSD11B1, HSD11B2), and the signal transducer and activator of transcription 5A (STAT5A). Our data suggest that natural mating induces expression changes that might promote a reduction of the cortisol action in the oviductal sperm reservoir. Together with the STAT-mediated downregulation of cytokine immune actions, this reduction may prevent harmful effects by promoting tolerance towards the spermatozoa stored in the oviduct and perhaps elicit spermatozoa activation and detachment after ovulation.
Grants:	Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte FPU15/06029 Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2018 FI_B 00236
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Transcriptomics ; Microarrays ; Spermatozoa ; Mating ; Glucocorticoid ; FKBP5 ; FKBP4 ; NR3C1 ; Female reproductive tract ; Pig
Published in:	International journal of molecular sciences, Vol. 21 (june 2020) , ISSN 1422-0067

DOI: 10.3390/ijms21124437
PMID: 32580389

17 p, 1.9 MB

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