Plasma level and expression of visfatin in the porcine hypothalamus during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy

Tadeusz Kaminski,Ewa Mlyczynska,Ewa Zaobidna,Kamil Dobrzyn,Marta Kiezun,Kinga Bors,Marlena Gudelska,Karolina Szymanska,Grzegorz Kopij,Edyta Rytelewska,Barbara Wasilewska,Barbara Kaminska,Katarzyna Kisielewska,Agnieszka Rak,Nina Smolinska

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-88103-z

Tadeusz Kaminski, Ewa Mlyczynska + Show 13 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88103-z

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Abstract

Visfatin appears to be an energy sensor involved in the regulation of female fertility, which creates a hormonal link integrating the control of energy homeostasis and reproduction. This study evaluates the expression levels of visfatin gene and protein in selected areas of the porcine hypothalamus responsible for gonadotropin-releasing hormone synthesis: the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) and preoptic area (POA), and visfatin concentrations in the blood plasma. The tissue samples were harvested from gilts on days 2–3, 10–12, 14–16, and 17–19 of the estrous cycle, and on days 10–11, 12–13, 15–16, 27–28 of pregnancy. Visfatin was localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus of cells creating both studied hypothalamic structures. The study demonstrated that visfatin gene and protein expression in MBH and POA depends on hormonal status related to the phase of the estrous cycle or early pregnancy. Blood plasma concentrations of visfatin during the estrous cycle were higher on days 2–3 in relation to other studied phases of the cycle, while during early pregnancy, the highest visfatin contents were observed on days 12–13. This study demonstrated visfatin expression in the porcine hypothalamus and its dependence on the hormonal milieu related to the estrous cycle and early pregnancy.

Highlights

Visfatin appears to be an energy sensor involved in the regulation of female fertility, which creates a hormonal link integrating the control of energy homeostasis and reproduction
Termed nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), was identified in 2005 by Fukuhara et al.[1]. It exists in two forms: the intracellular form, which is a rate-limiting enzyme engaged in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) biosynthesis from nicotinamide and the extracellular form considered as an adipokine
The immunofluorescence staining has shown the presence of visfatin in some regions of the pig hypothalamus both during the estrous cycle as well as during early gestation

Summary

Introduction

Visfatin appears to be an energy sensor involved in the regulation of female fertility, which creates a hormonal link integrating the control of energy homeostasis and reproduction. The study demonstrated that visfatin gene and protein expression in MBH and POA depends on hormonal status related to the phase of the estrous cycle or early pregnancy. This study demonstrated visfatin expression in the porcine hypothalamus and its dependence on the hormonal milieu related to the estrous cycle and early pregnancy. It is suggested that visfatin gene expression can be controlled by species-specific regulatory mechanism[9] and the adipokine concentrations in human adipose tissue are affected by hormonal status. The goal of the present study was to investigate visfatin gene and protein expression, and its localization in the porcine hypothalamic structures: mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) and preoptic area (POA) engaged in GnRH generation, and plasma visfatin concentrations during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy

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