Lee Kai-Fai, Xu Jia-Sen, Lee Yin-Lau, Yeung William S B
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Center of Reproduction, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
Endocrinology. 2006 Jan;147(1):79-87. doi: 10.1210/en.2005-0596. Epub 2005 Oct 20.
In mammals, fertilization and early preimplantation embryo development occur in the oviduct. We hypothesized that interaction exists between the developing embryos and the maternal genital tract, such that the embryos modulate the physiology and gene expression of the oviduct so that it is conducive to their development. By comparing the gene expression patterns in mouse oviducts containing transferred preimplantation embryos with those of oviducts containing oocytes, we report here the characterization of demilune cell and parotid protein (Dcpp), which was up-regulated in the embryo-containing oviduct. Dcpp mRNA was highly expressed in the oviductal epithelium at the estrus stage. The Dcpp gene codes for a protein of 150 amino acids and contains a signal peptide suggestive of secretory function. The Dcpp mRNA level was maintained in the oviductal epithelium of pregnant females but decreased continuously in those of pseudopregnant mice. Exogenous estrogen stimulated the expression of Dcpp mRNA and protein in ovariectomized mice. The effect was abolished by an estrogen antagonist, ICI 182,780. Dcpp protein was present in mouse oviductal fluid but not in uterine fluid. More importantly, Dcpp immunoreactivity was found in embryos recovered from the oviduct but not in mature oocytes from the ovary. Supplementation of Dcpp to culture medium stimulated the development of mouse embryos to the blastocyst stage. Anti-Dcpp antibody decreased the beneficial effect of Dcpp on implantation of two-cell mouse embryos transferred to the oviducts of the foster mothers. In summary, our data demonstrated that Dcpp is highly expressed in the oviductal lumen in the presence of preimplantation embryos. It stimulates the growth of preimplantation embryos and may play an important role in embryo-maternal dialogue.
在哺乳动物中，受精和植入前胚胎的早期发育在输卵管中进行。我们推测，发育中的胚胎与母体生殖道之间存在相互作用，使得胚胎调节输卵管的生理功能和基因表达，从而有利于其发育。通过比较含有移植的植入前胚胎的小鼠输卵管与含有卵母细胞的输卵管中的基因表达模式，我们在此报告半月细胞和腮腺蛋白（Dcpp）的特征，其在含有胚胎的输卵管中上调。Dcpp mRNA在发情期的输卵管上皮中高度表达。Dcpp基因编码一种由150个氨基酸组成的蛋白质，并含有一个提示分泌功能的信号肽。Dcpp mRNA水平在怀孕雌性的输卵管上皮中维持，但在假孕小鼠的输卵管上皮中持续下降。外源性雌激素刺激去卵巢小鼠中Dcpp mRNA和蛋白质的表达。雌激素拮抗剂ICI 182,780消除了这种作用。Dcpp蛋白存在于小鼠输卵管液中，但不存在于子宫液中。更重要的是，在从输卵管中回收的胚胎中发现了Dcpp免疫反应性，但在卵巢中的成熟卵母细胞中未发现。向培养基中添加Dcpp可刺激小鼠胚胎发育至囊胚阶段。抗Dcpp抗体降低了Dcpp对移植到代孕母体输卵管中的二细胞小鼠胚胎着床的有益作用。总之，我们的数据表明，在存在植入前胚胎的情况下，Dcpp在输卵管腔中高度表达。它刺激植入前胚胎的生长，并可能在胚胎与母体的对话中发挥重要作用。
