Department of Animal Physiology and Endocrinology, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. Mickiewicza 21, 31-120 Krakow, Poland.
Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Krakow, Poland.
Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Dec 3;24(23):17074. doi: 10.3390/ijms242317074.
In recent years, vitamin D has been revealed as an important regulator of reproductive processes in humans and livestock; however, its role in the female reproductive system of poultry is poorly known. The aim of this study was to examine vitamin D receptor (VDR and PDIA3) and metabolic enzyme (1α-hydroxylase and 24-hydroxylase) mRNA transcript and protein abundances, and protein localization within the hen ovary, oviductal shell gland, pituitary, liver, and kidney. We demonstrated, for the first time, the patterns of the relative mRNA and protein abundances of examined molecules in the ovary, dependent on follicle development and the layer of follicle wall, as well as in other examined organs. Immunohistochemically, PDIA3, 1α-hydroxylase, and 24-hydroxylase are localized in follicular theca and granulosa layers, luminal epithelium and tubular glands of the shell gland, pituitary, liver, and kidney. These results indicate that reproductive tissues have both receptors, VDR, primarily involved in genomic action, and PDIA3, probably participating in the rapid, non-genomic effect of vitamin D. The finding of 1α-hydroxylase and 24-hydroxylase expression indicates that the reproductive system of chickens has the potential for vitamin D synthesis and inactivation, and may suggest that locally produced vitamin D can be considered as a significant factor in the orchestration of ovarian and shell gland function in hens. These results provide a new insight into the potential mechanisms of vitamin D action and metabolism in the chicken ovary and oviduct.
近年来，维生素 D 已被揭示为人类和家畜生殖过程的重要调节剂；然而，其在禽类雌性生殖系统中的作用知之甚少。本研究旨在研究维生素 D 受体 (VDR 和 PDIA3) 和代谢酶 (1α-羟化酶和 24-羟化酶) mRNA 转录本和蛋白丰度，以及在母鸡卵巢、输卵管壳腺、垂体、肝脏和肾脏中的蛋白定位。我们首次证明了在卵巢中，受卵泡发育和卵泡壁层影响的所研究分子的相对 mRNA 和蛋白丰度模式，以及在其他检查器官中。免疫组织化学分析表明，PDIA3、1α-羟化酶和 24-羟化酶定位于卵泡的膜层和颗粒层、壳腺的腔上皮和管状腺、垂体、肝脏和肾脏。这些结果表明，生殖组织既有受体 VDR（主要参与基因组作用），又有 PDIA3（可能参与维生素 D 的快速非基因组作用）。发现 1α-羟化酶和 24-羟化酶的表达表明，鸡的生殖系统具有维生素 D 合成和失活的潜力，并且可能表明局部产生的维生素 D 可以被认为是协调母鸡卵巢和壳腺功能的重要因素。这些结果为维生素 D 在鸡卵巢和输卵管中的作用和代谢的潜在机制提供了新的见解。
