Clinical Unit for Herd Health Management in Ruminants, University Clinic for Ruminants, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Reproduction Centre Wieselburg RCW, Institute for Animal Breeding and Genetics, Department for Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Sci Rep. 2023 Dec 15;13(1):22353. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-49151-9.
Dynamic functional changes in the oviductal microenvironment are the prerequisite for the establishment of pregnancy. The objective of this study was to gain the first insights into oestrous cycle-dependent dynamics of polymorph nuclear neutrophils (PMN) and the mRNA abundance of selected genes and their correlations in the oviduct of living cows. Mini-cytobrush samples were taken from the oviducts of healthy heifers (n = 6) and cows (n = 7) during the follicular (FOL) and luteal phase (LUT) by transvaginal endoscopy. Total RNA was isolated from the samples and subjected to reverse transcription-quantitative PCR for selected pro-inflammatory factors, glycoproteins, and a metabolic marker. The percentage of PMN was determined by cytological examination. The mean PMN percentage was 2.8-fold greater during LUT than FOL. During LUT, significantly greater mRNA abundance of the pro-inflammatory factors IL1B, CXCL1, CXCL3, and CXCL8 was observed. The OVGP1 mRNA abundance was twice as high during FOL than in LUT. Pearson correlation, principal component analysis and heatmap analyses indicated characteristic functional patterns with strong correlations among investigated factors. Using this novel approach, we illustrate complex physiological dynamics and interactions of the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory factors, mucins, OVGP1, and PMN in the oviduct during the oestrous cycle.
输卵管微环境的动态功能变化是妊娠建立的前提。本研究的目的是首次深入了解发情周期中活体奶牛输卵管中多形核中性粒细胞（PMN）的动态变化以及选定基因的 mRNA 丰度及其相关性。通过阴道内窥镜，从小牛（n=6）和奶牛（n=7）的输卵管中采集微型细胞刷样本，分别处于卵泡期（FOL）和黄体期（LUT）。从样品中分离总 RNA，并进行逆转录定量 PCR 以检测选定的促炎因子、糖蛋白和代谢标志物。通过细胞学检查确定 PMN 的百分比。LUT 时 PMN 的百分比平均比 FOL 时高 2.8 倍。在 LUT 期间，观察到促炎因子 IL1B、CXCL1、CXCL3 和 CXCL8 的 mRNA 丰度显著增加。OVGP1 的 mRNA 丰度在 FOL 时是 LUT 时的两倍。Pearson 相关性、主成分分析和热图分析表明，在发情周期中，输卵管中促炎因子、粘蛋白、OVGP1 和 PMN 的 mRNA 表达存在复杂的生理动态和相互作用。使用这种新方法，我们说明了发情周期中 PMN 的复杂生理动态变化以及输卵管中促炎因子、粘蛋白、OVGP1 和 mRNA 表达之间的相互作用。
