Pig Endometrial Cells Research Articles

Influence of the mycotoxins α- and β-zearalenol (ZOL) on regulators of cap-dependent translation control in pig endometrial cells

The molecular mechanisms that control the mycotoxin-mediated effects in porcine endometrial cells are far from being completely understood. Recent results show that they could inhibit cell proliferation. Therefore, the present study investigated the effects of the mycotoxins α-zearalenol (α-ZOL) and β-zearalenol (β-ZOL) on a cellular level. Mainly, the abundance and phosphorylation state (activity) of the cell cycle-dependent kinases MAPK and Akt (PKB) and their potential targets eIF4E (eukaryotic initiation factor 4E) and 4E-BP1 (4E binding protein, eIF4E repressor protein) were investigated. The results show that α-ZOL has apparently only a slight influence on the phosphorylation state of MAP kinases, Akt and on eIF4E and 4E-BP1. In contrast, their phosphorylation was strongly reduced in β-ZOL-treated cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Therefore, our results indicate that β-ZOL potentially not only influences transcription but also effects gene expression on translational level. The effect of α- and β-ZOL on endometrial cell proliferation and their toxicology are discussed.

Effect of ovarian steroids on basal and oxytocin-induced prostaglandin F2alpha secretion from pig endometrial cells.

These studies were undertaken to determine how treatment with 100 nM progesterone and/or 10 nM oestradiol-17beta acutely (3 h; Experiment 1) or chronically (72 h; Experiments 2-4) influenced basal and oxytocin (OT)-stimulated prostaglandin (PG) F(2alpha) secretion, in enriched cultures of pig endometrial luminal epithelial, glandular epithelial and stromal cells obtained on Day 16 (Experiments 1, 2 and 4) or Day 12 (Experiment 3) after oestrus. In Experiment 1, acute treatment with progesterone stimulated PGF(2alpha) secretion from each cell type on Day 16, whereas acute oestradiol treatment inhibited the stimulatory action of progesterone on PGF(2alpha) secretion only in glandular epithelial cells. In Experiment 2, OT stimulated phospholipase (PL) C activity in luminal epithelial cells on Day 16 only in the presence of chronic oestradiol treatment. For glandular epithelial cells on Day 16, OT stimulated PLC activity only in the presence of chronic treatment with steroid. In stromal cells on Day 16, OT stimulated PLC activity in the absence of steroids and the response to OT was further enhanced by oestradiol. In the absence of chronic treatment with steroid, OT did not stimulate PGF(2alpha) secretion from luminal epithelial cells, but oestradiol induced a response to OT. For glandular epithelial cells, OT-induced PGF(2alpha) secretion was not altered by steroids, whereas the stimulatory response to OT was inhibited by oestradiol or progesterone in stromal cells. For endometrial cells obtained on Day 12 after oestrus in Experiment 3, OT only stimulated PGF(2alpha) release from glandular epithelial and stromal cells. For luminal epithelial cells obtained on Day 16 after oestrus and cultured under polarizing conditions in Experiment 4, secretion of PGF(2alpha) occurred preferentially from the basolateral surface and was stimulated by OT more from the basolateral surface than from the apical surface. Oxytocin-induced PGF(2alpha) secretion from the apical surface was enhanced by chronic treatment with oestradiol, whereas that from the basolateral surface was enhanced by chronic treatment with progesterone. In summary, oestradiol enhanced OT-induced PGF(2alpha) secretion from the apical surface of luminal epithelial cells and reduced the response of stromal cells to OT, actions that may contribute to the reorientation of PGF(2alpha) from endocrine secretion (i.e. towards the uterine vasculature) to exocrine secretion (i.e. towards the uterine lumen) during pregnancy recognition in pigs.

Effects of arginine- and lysine-vasopressin on phospholipase C activity, intracellular calcium concentration and prostaglandin F2alpha secretion in pig endometrial cells.

Oxytocin and vasopressin are related peptides that have receptors in the uterus. Species from families other than Suidae produce only arginine-vasopressin; in contrast, pigs apparently express both arginine- and lysine-vasopressin. The aim of this study was to determine whether arginine- or lysine-vasopressin would activate phospholipase C, increase intracellular calcium concentration [Ca(2+)](i) and stimulate PGF(2alpha) production in enriched cultures of stromal, glandular epithelial and luminal epithelial cells from pig endometrium. Cells were obtained from gilts on day 16 after oestrus by differential enzymatic digestion and sieve separation. After 96 h in culture, the cells were treated with 0 or 100 nmol arginine- or lysine-vasopressin l(-1). The responses to 100 nmol oxytocin l(-1) and 100 nmol GnRH l(-1) were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. Consistent with previous results, oxytocin stimulated phospholipase C activity (P < 0.05), increased [Ca(2+)](i) (P < 0.05) and promoted PGF(2alpha) secretion (P < 0.05) from stromal and glandular epithelial cells. Activity of phospholipase C, [Ca(2+)](i) and PGF(2alpha) release were also increased (P < 0.05) by arginine-vasopressin in stromal cells, but the responses were less (P < 0.01) than those induced by oxytocin. An oxytocin antagonist attenuated the [Ca(2+)](i) response of stromal cells to both oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin. Sequential treatment of cells with oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin indicated that oxytocin desensitized the response to oxytocin, but arginine-vasopressin did not similarly desensitize the response to oxytocin. In glandular and luminal epithelial cells, arginine-vasopressin did not stimulate phospholipase C activity, [Ca(2+)](i) or PGF(2alpha) secretion. Neither GnRH nor lysine-vasopressin induced phospholipase C activity, increased [Ca(2+)](i) or stimulated PGF(2alpha) production in any endometrial cell type. These results indicate that oxytocin receptors can bind arginine-vasopressin more readily than they bind lysine-vasopressin. Type 1 vasopressin receptors may also exist in endometrium predominantly on cells other than stromal, glandular epithelial and luminal epithelial cells, as in previous studies both arginine-vasopressin and lysine-vasopressin stimulated phospholipase C activity in endometrial explants to a similar extent as oxytocin.

Effects of arginine- and lysine-vasopressin on phospholipase C activity, intracellular calcium concentration and prostaglandin F2alpha secretion in pig endometrial cells

Oxytocin and vasopressin are related peptides that have receptors in the uterus. Species from families other than Suidae produce only arginine-vasopressin; in contrast, pigs apparently express both arginine- and lysine-vasopressin. The aim of this study was to determine whether arginine- or lysine-vasopressin would activate phospholipase C, increase intracellular calcium concentration [Ca(2+)](i) and stimulate PGF(2alpha) production in enriched cultures of stromal, glandular epithelial and luminal epithelial cells from pig endometrium. Cells were obtained from gilts on day 16 after oestrus by differential enzymatic digestion and sieve separation. After 96 h in culture, the cells were treated with 0 or 100 nmol arginine- or lysine-vasopressin l(-1). The responses to 100 nmol oxytocin l(-1) and 100 nmol GnRH l(-1) were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. Consistent with previous results, oxytocin stimulated phospholipase C activity (P < 0.05), increased [Ca(2+)](i) (P < 0.05) and promoted PGF(2alpha) secretion (P < 0.05) from stromal and glandular epithelial cells. Activity of phospholipase C, [Ca(2+)](i) and PGF(2alpha) release were also increased (P < 0.05) by arginine-vasopressin in stromal cells, but the responses were less (P < 0.01) than those induced by oxytocin. An oxytocin antagonist attenuated the [Ca(2+)](i) response of stromal cells to both oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin. Sequential treatment of cells with oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin indicated that oxytocin desensitized the response to oxytocin, but arginine-vasopressin did not similarly desensitize the response to oxytocin. In glandular and luminal epithelial cells, arginine-vasopressin did not stimulate phospholipase C activity, [Ca(2+)](i) or PGF(2alpha) secretion. Neither GnRH nor lysine-vasopressin induced phospholipase C activity, increased [Ca(2+)](i) or stimulated PGF(2alpha) production in any endometrial cell type. These results indicate that oxytocin receptors can bind arginine-vasopressin more readily than they bind lysine-vasopressin. Type 1 vasopressin receptors may also exist in endometrium predominantly on cells other than stromal, glandular epithelial and luminal epithelial cells, as in previous studies both arginine-vasopressin and lysine-vasopressin stimulated phospholipase C activity in endometrial explants to a similar extent as oxytocin.

Intracellular free calcium in response to oxytocin in pig endometrial cells

Intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca 2+] i) in response to oxytocin (OT) was studied in stromal, glandular epithelial and luminal epithelial cells obtained from the endometrium of gilts 16 days post-estrus. The amplitude of increased [Ca 2+] i in response to 100 nM OT was greatest in stromal cells, intermediate in glandular epithelial cells and not evident in luminal epithelial cells. During continuous OT administration, stromal cells responded initially with a synchronous spike of [Ca 2+] i that did not require extracellular Ca 2+ and then displayed spontaneous asynchronous [Ca 2+] i spikes that required extracellular Ca 2+. Each cell possessed its own characteristic response. Increasing concentrations of OT induced an increasing percentage of stromal cells responding, with some cells having nearly equal [Ca 2+] i responses at all concentrations and others having graded [Ca 2+] i responses as the concentration of OT increased. These results are consistent with the proposed mechanism of OT action in pig endometrium involving activation of phosphoinositide-Ca 2+ signaling pathway.

Cloning of guinea pig cyclooxygenase-2 and 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase complementary deoxyribonucleic acids: steroid-modulated gene expression correlates to prostaglandin F2 alpha secretion in cultured endometrial cells.

Prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) secretion is lowest at midcycle and highest on day 15 at luteolysis in the cycling guinea pig uterus and is inversely related to serum progesterone levels. An increase in 17-beta estradiol (E2) occurs only towards the end of the cycle. To investigate the effect of steroids on the control of uterine PGF2 alpha metabolism at the level of gene expression we established a primary cell culture model of day 15 cycling guinea pig endometrial cells. We cloned guinea pig cDNAs for cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (PGDH) that converts PGF2 alpha to biologically inactive 13,14-dihydro-15-keto PGF2 alpha (PGFM) and a fragment of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1). They were found to bear 87% and 90% homology at the amino acid level to their human counterparts for COX-2 and PGDH, respectively, retaining all functional sites. Purified epithelial and stromal cell subcultures were primed with medium containing either E2 or medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) for 24 h. They were then treated for a further 4 or 24 h either withdrawing the steroid, maintaining the priming steroid, or supplementing with both steroids, before harvesting conditioned media and RNA. Epithelial cells secreted 30-fold more PGF2 alpha compared with stromal cells (e.g. 7.8 +/- 0.7 vs. 0.26 +/- 0.09 pg/ng DNA.24 h), and PGF2 alpha secretion levels were approximately 15-fold higher than those of PGFM (e.g. 7.8 +/- 0.7 vs. 0.45 +/- 0.16 pg/ng DNA.24 h, for epithelial cells). COX-1 transcripts were low and unaffected by treatment in both cell types. COX-2 transcripts were more abundant in epithelial than stromal cells. Steroid-modulated, COX-2 dependent changes in PGF2 alpha secretion were observed. The addition of MPA to E2 primed cells caused a decrease in PGF2 alpha secretion and COX-2 messenger RNA levels after 4 h. Conversely, the addition of E2 to MPA primed epithelial cells led to an increase in PGF2 alpha secretion and COX-2 messenger RNA levels after 4 and 24 h. The withdrawal of E2 caused a fall in PGF2 alpha secretion and COX-2 transcripts after 24 h. In contrast, PGDH transcripts were more abundant in stromal than epithelial cells and were up-regulated by the addition of MPA to E2 primed cells. These in vitro observations are in keeping with the secretory profile seen in vivo in the cycling guinea pig uterus suggesting that 1) the fall of E2 and the coinciding rise in progesterone seen in the early cycle lead to a reduction in PGF2 alpha levels; and 2) the rise of E2 in the late cycle on a progesterone primed uterus is the stimulus for an increase in uterine PGF2 alpha production. Our findings suggest a differential role for uterine stroma and epithelium in vivo whereby the former acts to remove (via PGDH), and the latter to produce (via COX-2) biologically active prostaglandin.

The 17β-oestradiol dehydrogenase of pig endometrial cells is localized in specialized vesicles

Two monoclonal antibodies against the 17 beta-oestradiol dehydrogenase of pig endometrial cells have been used in localization studies with immunogold electron microscopy. The antibodies attach both to a fraction of dehydrogenase-rich cytoplasmic vesicles isolated from homogenates and to vesicles of similar appearance in cells. The vesicles are filled with electron-dense material. Their tagging intensity indicates a high degree of specialization. Endometrial cells from mature animals contain a host of dehydrogenase vesicles, and cells from prepubertal animals only a few. Functional aspects of the novel organelle are discussed.

Ultrastructural changes in guinea pig endometrial cells during the estrous cycle.

In the guinea pig, the estrous cycle is characterized by a constant measurable level of plasma progesterone with two peaks: the first one associated with the peak of plasma estradiol-17 beta occurring at proestrus and the second, during diestrus, more pronounced at the time at which the level of estradiol-17 beta is undetectable. The progesterone receptor content is the highest on day 1 and the lowest on day 10 of the estrous cycle, which lasts 16.3 +/- 1.5 days (n = 37; mean +/- SD). There is a positive correlation between the plasma level of estradiol-17 beta and the progesterone receptors detected immunocytochemically in both endometrial epithelial and stromal cells. The general morphology of the endometrium during proestrus and estrus is consistent with an estrogenic stimulation, i.e., a smooth and regular surface of the endometrium and the presence of numerous microvilli on the cell surface. However, a moderate secretory activity also occurs in proestrus and estrus. During postestrus, the glandular cells display an increase in characteristic secretory features which parallels the rise of progesterone in the plasma.

Superinduction of c-fos gene expression by estrogen in cultured guinea- pig endometrial cells requires priming by a cycloheximide-dependent mechanism

The c-fos gene expression is rapidly induced by various mitogenic agents and protein synthesis inhibitors in many cell types. Estradiol-17 beta can induce c-fos gene expression in breast cancer cell lines and in the uterus in vivo, but not in cultured guinea-pig endometrial cells. Using this model, we investigated whether a protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide, could induce the c-fos gene and permit a superinduction by estrogens. In the presence of cycloheximide (10 micrograms/ml), protein synthesis was inhibited at 95% within the first hour. From 190 min after the addition of estradiol-17 beta or diethylstilbestrol (10(-8) M) and cycloheximide (10 micrograms/ml), there was a significant increase (ranging from 3- to 5-fold) of the c-fos messenger RNA level (2.2 kilobase in size), compared with the level in cells treated with cycloheximide alone. Nonestrogenic steroid hormones and estradiol-17 alpha were unable to induce c-fos gene expression in the presence of cycloheximide. The effect of estradiol-17 beta observed in the presence of cycloheximide was completely abolished by 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen or by Ly 156758 or by ICI 164384 (10(-6) M). The c-fos mRNAs were rather stable in cells treated with cycloheximide for 2 h (half-life = 51 +/- 6 min) and there was no further increase in the c-fos messenger RNA stability after the addition of cycloheximide plus estradiol-17 beta (half-life = 40 +/- 3 min). The overall results suggest a response at the transcriptional level. In conclusion, cycloheximide transmits activating signals to the c-fos gene which act as priming elements to allow the estrogen action in cultured guinea-pig endometrial cells.

Pig endometrial cells in primary culture: morphology, secretion of prostaglandins and proteins, and effects of pregnancy

Luminal epithelial, glandular epithelial, and stromal cells were isolated from pig endometrium by enzymatic dispersion and sieve filtration. The three cell types, maintained in primary culture, showed distinctly different morphologies when viewed by light and scanning electron microscopy. Immunocytochemical staining indicated that luminal and glandular epithelial cells were positive for both cytokeratin and vimentin. However, stromal cells were positive only for vimentin. Acid phosphatase activity was detected in the culture medium of glandular cells and increased (P less than .05) when progesterone (.1 microM) was included in the culture medium. The secretion of uteroferrin by glandular cells was also indicated by one-dimensional PAGE and Western blot analysis. Stromal cells produced more (P less than .01) prostaglandin E (PGE) than prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), whereas glandular cells secreted more (P less than .01) PGF2 alpha than PGE. Pregnancy status affected prostaglandin secretion in that stromal cells secreted less (P less than .01) PGE and PGF2 alpha and glandular cells secreted less (P less than .05) PGF2 alpha when they were harvested from pregnant vs cyclic pigs. Furthermore, the PGE:PGF2 alpha ratio in medium from stromal cells was greater (P less than .01) for cells collected from pregnant pigs. This culture system provides an in vitro model for studying the hormonal regulation of the endometrium and potentially may be useful for studying interactions between endometrial cells and embryos in the pig.

EGF receptor binding studies in endometrial cell culture.

Guinea pig endometrial cells were isolated and maintained in cell culture. Our investigation of these cultures for the presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF) binding activity demonstrated that these cells possess EGF receptors. Upon the addition of EGF to growing cell cultures, an increase in the rate of cell growth resulted along with a higher saturation density. The binding of EGF to these cells is saturable at 40-50 ng/ml., and the receptors demonstrate "down-regulation" in response to hormonal challenge at 37 degrees C.