Department of OBGYN, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakir 21280, Turkey.
Anim Reprod Sci. 2011 May;125(1-4):94-102. doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2011.04.001. Epub 2011 Apr 14.
WNT signaling pathway plays important roles in reproductive events. Aims were to (1) determine presence of WNT genes and their antagonists in equine endometrium; and (2) to evaluate their expression profiles during early pregnancy. Endometrial biopsies were obtained from mares on day of ovulation (d0, n=4) and on days of 14 (P14, n=4), 18 (P18, n=4), 22 (P22, n=4) of early pregnancy. Biopsies were also collected from cyclic mares during late diestrus (LD, on day of 13.5-14, n=4) and after luteolysis in estrus phase (AL, on day of 17.5-18, n=4) of the cycle. PCR was used to detect expression of genes studied and then relative expression levels were quantified using real-time PCR analysis. A mixed model was fitted on the normalized data and least significant difference test (α=0.05) was employed. Eleven WNT genes (WNT2, WNT2B, WNT4, WNT5A, WNT5B, WNT7A, WNT8A, WNT9B, WNT10B, WNT11 and WNT16) and their antagonists (SFRP1, SFRP2, SFRP5, DKK1, DKK2 and WIF-1) were detected in equine endometrium. Compared to d0, WNT2, WNT5B, WNT7A and SFRP1 expressions were downregulated by the pregnancy while DKK1 was upregulated. WNT5A, WNT11 and WIF-1 were upregulated on P14 and P18, but WNT2B increased only on P14. When LD and P14 were compared, level of WNT8A decreased on P14 while increase in WNT4 level on P14 was slightly significant (P<0.06). Levels of WNT7A and SFRP1 decreased while DKK1 and WIF-1 increased by the pregnancy on P18 compared to AL. Moreover, WNT2B, WNT5A, WNT9B, WNT10B, WNT11, WNT16 DKK1 and WIF-1 were upregulated on LD compared to AL whereas WNT4, WNT7A, SFRP1 were downregulated. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that WNT genes and their antagonists appear to be regulated during early pregnancy in equine endometrium possibly due to embryonic factors and/or maternal progesterone.
WNT 信号通路在生殖事件中发挥重要作用。目的是：(1)确定马的子宫内膜中存在 WNT 基因及其拮抗剂；(2)评估它们在早期妊娠期间的表达谱。从排卵日 (d0，n=4)、妊娠第 14 天 (P14，n=4)、第 18 天 (P18，n=4)、第 22 天 (P22，n=4)的母马的子宫内膜中获得子宫内膜活检。还从发情周期的晚期黄体期 (LD，在第 13.5-14 天，n=4)和发情期黄体溶解后 (AL，在第 17.5-18 天，n=4)的循环母马中采集活检。使用 PCR 检测研究基因的表达，然后使用实时 PCR 分析定量相对表达水平。对标准化数据进行混合模型拟合，并用最小显著差异检验 (α=0.05) 进行检验。在马的子宫内膜中检测到 11 个 WNT 基因 (WNT2、WNT2B、WNT4、WNT5A、WNT5B、WNT7A、WNT8A、WNT9B、WNT10B、WNT11 和 WNT16) 和它们的拮抗剂 (SFRP1、SFRP2、SFRP5、DKK1、DKK2 和 WIF-1)。与 d0 相比，妊娠时 WNT2、WNT5B、WNT7A 和 SFRP1 的表达下调，而 DKK1 上调。WNT5A、WNT11 和 WIF-1 在 P14 和 P18 上调，但 WNT2B 仅在 P14 上调。当将 LD 和 P14 进行比较时，WNT8A 的水平在 P14 时下降，而 WNT4 水平在 P14 时略有增加 (P<0.06)。与 AL 相比，妊娠时 WNT7A 和 SFRP1 的水平下降，而 DKK1 和 WIF-1 的水平增加。此外，与 AL 相比，LD 时 WNT2B、WNT5A、WNT9B、WNT10B、WNT11、WNT16、DKK1 和 WIF-1 上调，而 WNT4、WNT7A、SFRP1 下调。总之，结果表明，WNT 基因及其拮抗剂在马的子宫内膜中可能由于胚胎因子和/或母体孕酮的作用而在早期妊娠期间受到调节。
