Premium
Tumor necrosis factor‐α and its receptor in the corpus luteum of pregnant cows
Author(s) -
Sakumoto Ryosuke,
Murakami Shuko,
Kishi Hisashi,
Iga Kosuke,
Okano Akira,
Okuda Kiyoshi
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-2795(200004)55:4<406::aid-mrd8>3.0.co;2-o
Subject(s) - corpus luteum , biology , gestation , receptor , endocrinology , medicine , tumor necrosis factor alpha , fetus , placenta , andrology , pregnancy , ovary , biochemistry , genetics
The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α mRNA and TNF‐α receptors in the bovine corpus luteum (CL) during the gestation period. TNF‐α mRNA and TNF‐α receptors were determined on bovine CL from pregnant cows at three stages: trimester I (fetal crown‐rump length; 6–20 cm), trimester II (25–45 cm) and trimester III (50–80 cm). TNF‐α mRNA was detected by an RT‐PCR analysis in the CL of all stages of gestation. A Scatchard analysis revealed the presence of a high‐affinity binding site (Kd; 5.1–6.9 nM) in the CL membranes collected at each stage of gestation. Furthermore, the concentrations of TNF‐α receptors in the CL of trimesters I (24.0 ± 1.95 pmol/mg protein) and III (21.6 ± 2.39 pmol/mg protein) of gestation were significantly higher than the concentration in trimester II (14.9 ± 2.07 pmol/mg protein) ( P < 0.05). These results indicate that TNF‐α is locally produced and that TNF‐α receptors are present in bovine CL during the gestation period, and suggest that TNF‐α plays one or more roles as a paracrine factor in regulating bovine CL function during the entire gestation period. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 55:406–411, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.