Authors: THUMDEE, PATAMA¹; PONSUKSILI, SIRILUCK²; MURANI, EDUARD²; NGANVONGPANIT, KORAKOT¹; GEHRIG, BERNHARD³; TESFAYE, DAWIT¹; GILLES, MARKUS¹; HOELKER, MICHAEL¹; JENNEN, DANYEL¹; GRIESE, JOSEF¹; SCHELLANDER, KARL¹; WIMMERS, KLAUS²

Source: Gene Expression, Volume 13, Numbers 4-5, 2006 , pp. 283-297(15)

Publisher: Cognizant Communication Corporation

Abstract:

We investigated the expression of prion protein gene both on mRNA and protein levels in bovine and ovine female reproductive organs during gestation and various tissues of their fetuses. The fetal tissues of both species included brain, cotyledon, heart, intestine, kidney, liver, lung, and muscle. In cattle, prion protein gene (PRNP) transcripts were detected by semiquantitative RT-PCR in reproductive tissues such as ovary, oviduct, endometrium, myometrium, follicles, and granulosa cells. In various tissues of 2-month-old fetuses, higher expression levels were found in brain and cotyledon compared to the other tissues. To detect the expression of the gene transcript in in vivo preimplantation embryos and 1-month-old fetuses, real-time PCR was performed showing that the level of gene expression in zygote stage was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) than that of the other stages. Sheep were categorized as resistant (R1) or high susceptible (R5) to scrapie according to their PRNP genotype. In both genotype groups, the PRNP mRNA was detectable in all tissues studied including ovary, oviduct, endometrium, myometrium, and caruncle of ewes and all tissues of 2-month-old fetuses of both groups. Comparison between reproductive organs demonstrates the highest expression level in caruncle tissue of R1 ewes, whereas the level was high in brain and low in liver of both R1 and R5 fetuses. In addition, real-time RT-PCR was performed in immature oocytes, mature oocytes, in vivo embryos at morula stage, and 1-month-old fetuses. The results showed that the relative expression levels of the ovine PRNP mRNA in mature oocytes and morula stage embryos were significantly lower than those in immature oocytes and 1-month-old fetuses (p ≤ 0.05). Western blot analyses revealed the immunoreactive bands corresponding to the cellular prion protein (PrPc) in all maternal and fetal tissues examined of both cattle and sheep. Moreover, immunohistochemical staining implicated localization of the PrPc in ovarian cortex and ovarian medulla of both species. However, PrPc was not detected in oocyte, granulosa cells, theca cells, and corpus luteum in this study.

Keywords: Prion protein gene (PRNP); Cellular prion protein (PrPc); Prion; Preimplantation embryo; Reproductive organs; Pregnancy; Fetus

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Institute of Animal Science, Animal Breeding and Husbandry Group, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany 2: Research Institute for the Biology of Farm Animals, Dummerstorf, Germany 3: Institute of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Hygiene, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany

Publication date: 2006-04-01

More about this publication?

• The Molecular and Cellular Biology area of Gene Expression covers all aspects of the gene including it structure, functions, and regulation in prokaryotes, eukaryotes, and viruses; molecular and cell biological aspects of cell growth and development, chromatin structure and function. These include topics such as DNA replication, DNA repair, gene transcription, transcriptional control, RNA processing, posttranscriptional control, oncogenes, molecular mechanisms of action of hormones, molecular mechanism of cellular differentiation, growth and development, protein synthesis, and posttranslational control.
  The Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience area of Gene Expression covers all aspects of gene expression as described but is devoted exclusively to the nervous system in health and disease. Topics include studies of neurogenesis, development, aging, and neurodegeneration. Complex neural systems, motor control, special senses, and higher cortical function, when viewed from the perspective of gene expression, are appropriate for the journal. Research related to molecular mechanisms of drug tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal are solicited. Manuscripts on state-of-the-art methods and protocols for molecular profiling of neuronal structure and function are welcome.

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• By this author: THUMDEE, PATAMA ;  PONSUKSILI, SIRILUCK ;  MURANI, EDUARD ;  NGANVONGPANIT, KORAKOT ;  GEHRIG, BERNHARD ;  TESFAYE, DAWIT ;  GILLES, MARKUS ;  HOELKER, MICHAEL ;  JENNEN, DANYEL ;  GRIESE, JOSEF ;  SCHELLANDER, KARL ;  WIMMERS, KLAUS

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