Spatial and temporal expression profile of sex steroid receptors and antioxidant enzymes in the maternal-fetal interface of domestic cats

Abstract

Sex steroids and antioxidant enzymes modulate uterine and placental physiology. Failures in the expression, signaling, and/or secretion of these mediators are associated with female infertility and gestational problems. However, there is no data on the expression profile of receptors for sex steroids and antioxidant enzymes in the maternal-fetal interface of domestic cats. Uterus and placenta samples from non-pregnant diestrus cats and cats in mid- and late pregnancy were used to analyze the protein and gene expression of the receptors for estrogen alpha (ERα), progesterone (PR), and androgen (AR) and the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1) by immunohistochemistry and qPCR. Higher uterine expression of ERα, Pr, and Sod1 was observed in the pregnant cats, especially in mid-pregnancy, compared to non-pregnant diestrus cats, as well as reduced endometrial catalase immunostaining. In the placenta, the mRNA expression of Erα, Pr, Ar, and Gpx1 was higher in late pregnancy in relation to mid-pregnancy. Moreover, weak or no placental expression was observed for catalase in mid- and late pregnancy, while strong immunostaining was observed for AR in trophoblasts and decidual cells in mid-pregnancy. The findings of this study demonstrated that pregnancy in female cats increases the uterine expression of sex steroid receptors and antioxidant enzymes, and that the placental expression of these mediators varies according to gestational age.