Title
Changes in mucins and matrix metalloproteases in the endometrium of early pregnant alpacas (Vicugna pacos)
Date Issued
01 July 2018
Access level
metadata only access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Publisher(s)
Elsevier GmbH
Abstract
South American Camelids (SAC) have unique reproductive features, one of which is that 98% of the pregnancies develop in the left uterine horn. Furthermore, early pregnancy is an uncharacterized process in these species, especially in regard to the ultrastructural, biochemical and genetic changes that the uterine epithelial surface undergoes to allow embryo implantation. The present study describes the uterine horn luminal surface and the characteristics of the mucinous glycocalyx in non-pregnant and early pregnant (15 days) female alpacas. In addition, the relative abundance of Mucin 1 and 16 genes (MUC1 and MUC16) was determined, as well as the relative mRNA abundance of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that could be involved in MUC shedding during early pregnancy. Noticeable changes were detected in the uterine luminal epithelium and glycocalyx of pregnant alpacas in comparison to non-pregnant ones, as well as presence of MUCs and MMPs in the endometrial environment. The decrease in glycocalyx staining and in the relative abundance of MUC 1 and MUC 16 transcripts in pregnant females would allow embryo attachment to the luminal epithelium and its subsequent implantation, as has been described in other mammals. These results suggest a crucial role of MUC1 and MUC16 and a possible role of MMPs in successful embryo implantation and survival in alpacas.
Start page
438
End page
445
Volume
120
Issue
5
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
BioquÃmica, BiologÃa molecular
BiologÃa reproductiva
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85047080631
PubMed ID
Source
Acta Histochemica
ISSN of the container
00651281
Sponsor(s)
This research was partially supported by BID-PICT 2013-1495 and BID-PICT 2012-2701 (ANPCyT) and PIUNT D 525. The authors would like to thank Dr. F. Bonilla from Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Argentina; Dr. D. Lombardo from Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina and Dr. G. Medina from CIP La Raya-UNA, Puno, Peru; for their collaboration.
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción CientÃfica
Scopus