Abstract
BackgroundAlthough chicken oviduct is a useful model and target tissue for reproductive biology and transgenesis, little is known because of the highly specific hormonal regulation and the lack of fundamental researches, including lectin-binding activities and glycobiology. Because lectin is attached to secreted glycoproteins, we hypothesized that lectin could be bound to secretory egg-white proteins, and played a crucial role in the generation of egg-white protein in the oviduct. Hence, the purpose of this study was to investigate the structural, histological and lectin-binding characteristics of the chicken oviductal magnum from juvenile and adult hens.MethodsThe oviductal magnums from juvenile and adult hens were prepared for ultrastructural analysis, qRT-PCR and immunostaining. Immunohistochemistry of anti-ovalbumin, anti-ESR1 and anti-PGR, and mRNA expression of egg-white genes and steroid hormone receptor genes were evaluated. Lectin histochemical staining was also conducted in juvenile and adult oviductal magnum tissues.ResultsThe ultrastructural analysis showed that ciliated cells were rarely developed on luminal surface in juvenile magnum, but not tubular gland cells. In adult magnum, two types of epithelium and three types of tubular gland cells were observed. qRT-PCR analysis showed that egg-white genes were highly expressed in adult oviduct compared with the juvenile. However, mRNA expressions of ESR1 and PGR were considerably higher in juvenile oviduct than adult (P < 0.05). The immunohistochemical analysis showed that anti-ovalbumin antibody was detected in adult oviduct not in juvenile, unlikely anti-ESR1 and anti-PGR antibodies that were stained in both oviducts. In histological analysis, Toluidine blue was stained in juvenile and adult oviductal epithelia, and adult tubular glands located in the outer layer of oviductal magnum. In contrast, PAS was positive only in adult oviductal tubular gland. Lectins were selectively bound to oviductal epithelium, stroma, and tubular gland cells. Particularly, lectin-ConA and WGA were bound to electron-dense secretory granules in tubular gland.ConclusionsThe observation of ultrastructural analysis, mRNA expression, immunohistochemistry and lectin staining showed structural and physiological characterization of juvenile and adult oviductal magnum. Consequently, oviduct study could be helped to in vitro culture of chicken oviductal cells, to develop epithelial or tubular gland cell-specific markers, and to understand female reproductive biology and endocrinology.
Highlights
Chicken oviduct is a useful model and target tissue for reproductive biology and transgenesis, little is known because of the highly specific hormonal regulation and the lack of fundamental researches, including lectin-binding activities and glycobiology
While the oviduct mucosa of 10-week-old juvenile chickens is lined by a thin layer of pseudostratified columnar epithelial cells upon compact stroma cells [2], the oviductal magnum mucosa from egg-laying hens consists of surface oviductal epithelium lined by ciliated nonsecretory cells, non-ciliated secretory granular cells, and three different types of tubular gland cells under the epithelium [5]
The luminal epithelium of the egg-laying hen oviductal magnum was filled with well developed ciliated columnar secretory and non-secretory ciliated cells, bulging secretory granular cells, and a secretory egg-white protein mass, which were prominent and bulged on the luminal surface of the magnum when observed under the scanning electron microscope (Figure 1d-f)
Summary
Chicken oviduct is a useful model and target tissue for reproductive biology and transgenesis, little is known because of the highly specific hormonal regulation and the lack of fundamental researches, including lectin-binding activities and glycobiology. The oviduct of oviparous animals such as chicken and quail is an amazing organ It produces each structural component of the laid egg, including the egg-white and eggshell. The oviductal magnum is regarded as an important target tissue [3,4] for transgenic research and the production of glycosylated pharmaceutical proteins in chickens because most egg-white proteins are synthesized and secreted in the magnum segment to the oviductal lumen during the 24-h egg production cycle, and this process is mediated by a series of hormones. While the oviduct mucosa of 10-week-old juvenile chickens is lined by a thin layer of pseudostratified columnar epithelial cells upon compact stroma cells [2], the oviductal magnum mucosa from egg-laying hens consists of surface oviductal epithelium lined by ciliated nonsecretory cells, non-ciliated secretory granular cells ( referred to as goblet cells), and three different types of tubular gland cells under the epithelium [5]. The ciliated cells rarely show secretory activity and consist of cilia in the luminal mucosa [6] but non-ciliated cells are mainly involved in the release of secretory granules that are synthesized by tubular gland cells
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