Abstract
BackgroundProstaglandin F2α (PGF2α) is an important component for the physiology of female reproductive processes. In the literature, the data pertaining to the synthesis and action of PGF2α in early embryonic bovine development are limited. In our study, we used the bovine in vitro culture model based on the time of first cleavage to determine the mRNA expression and immunolocalization of PGF2α synthase and its receptor in bovine embryos from the 2-cell stage to the hatched blastocyst stage. We also evaluated PGF2α production at 2, 5 and 7 days of in vitro culture.ResultsWe found a significantly higher proportion of blastocysts obtained from the early-cleaved embryos than from the late-cleaved embryos (37.7% vs. 26.1% respectively, P < 0.05). The PGFS mRNA expression was significantly higher in the late-cleaved group than in the early-cleaved group at the 2-, 4- and 16-cell stages (P < 0.05). For PTGFR, we observed that within the late-cleaved group, the mRNA abundance was significantly higher in embryos at the 2- and 16-cell stages than in embryos at the 4- and 8-cell stages (P < 0.05). We observed that PTGFR mRNA expression was significantly higher in the 2- and 16-cell embryos in the late-cleaved group than that in the early-cleaved group embryos (P < 0.05). Among the blastocysts, the PGFS and PTGFR expression levels showed a trend towards higher mRNA expression in the late-cleaved group than in the early-cleaved group. Analysis of PGF2α production showed that within the early-cleaved group, the content of PGF2α in the in vitro culture medium was significantly higher on day 7 than it was on day 2 (P < 0.05).ConclusionsThe mRNA expression levels of PGF2α synthase and its receptor depend on the developmental stage and the embryo quality. Analyses of PGFS and PTGFR expression in bovine blastocysts and of PGF2α embryo production suggest that prostaglandin F2α can act in an autocrine and paracrine manner in bovine in vitro-produced preimplantation embryos. Moreover, the tendency of PTGFR and PGFS mRNA expression to be upregulated in embryos with low developmental potential can indicate a compensation mechanism related to high PGFS and PTGFR mRNA expression levels in low-quality embryos.
Highlights
Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) is an important component for the physiology of female reproductive processes
Prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2α) and other prostanoids are synthesized from arachidonic acid (AA), which is converted into unstable prostaglandin H2 (PGH2) by either prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase 1 or 2 (PTGS1 or PTGS2) [1, 2]; PGH2 is metabolized into PGF2α by the 9,11-endoperoxide reductase (referred to as prostaglandin F2α synthase (PGFS); originating from the aldo-keto-reductase 1C (AKR1C) family) or through aldose reductase with 20α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity (AKR1B5, originating from the AKR1B5 family) [2,3,4]
In summary, we described the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of genes involved in PGF2α synthesis and the development of bovine preimplantation embryos from the 2-cell to the hatched blastocyst stage obtained from early- and late-cleaved zygotes
Summary
Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) is an important component for the physiology of female reproductive processes. The data pertaining to the synthesis and action of PGF2α in early embryonic bovine development are limited. PGF2α exerts its biological action through prostaglandin F2α receptor (PTGFR), which belongs to the group of Gprotein-coupled receptors. Prostanoids belong to the group of biologically active lipids, which are well-known primary mediators of pathological conditions such as inflammation and cancer but are essential for the physiology of female reproductive processes [9]. The addition of PGF2α to culture medium decreases the in vitro development of rabbit [12] and rat [13] embryos as well as the in vitro and in vivo development of bovine embryos [14]. Hockett et al [15] showed that the administration of PGF2α exerts a negative influence on embryo quality and the ability to develop past the morula stage
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
