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31 July 2013 In Vitro Mimicking of Estrous Cycle Stages in Porcine Oviduct Epithelium Cells: Estradiol and Progesterone Regulate Differentiation, Gene Expression, and Cellular Function
Shuai Chen, Ralf Einspanier, Jennifer Schoen
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Abstract

Throughout the estrous cycle the oviduct epithelium undergoes dramatic morphological and functional changes. To elucidate cyclic cellular events and associated regulation mechanisms of 17beta estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4), we mimicked estrous cycle stages in vitro using a culture system of primary porcine oviduct epithelium cells (POEC). Cells were polarized in an air/liquid interface and then treated with E2 and P4 for physiological time periods: In experiment 1, high concentration of P4 with low concentration of E2 for 10 days resembled diestrus; in experiment 2, following the previous diestrus, sequential high E2 with low P4 for 2.5 days represented estrus. Histomorphometry and electron microscopy showed cyclic changes in cellular height, cell population, and cilia density under the influence of hormone stimulation. Transepithelial electrical resistance was high in simulated diestrus but reduced in estrus. Thus, E2 and P4 affect cellular polarity, transformation of ciliated and secretory cells, as well as electrical conductivity of oviduct epithelium. Simulation of diestrus led to significant decrease in expression of hormone receptors (PGR and ESR1) and other epithelial markers (MUC16, OVGP1, and HSP90B1), while sequential simulated estrus caused an increase in these markers. The hormonal regulation of some marker genes was clearly time-dependent. Furthermore, POEC showed increased sperm-binding capacity in simulated estrus. In this study, we also present a novel approach based on the AndroVision software, which can be routinely utilized as a parameter for ciliary activity, and for the first time, we showed fluid movement patterns along the epithelium lining in vitro.

Shuai Chen, Ralf Einspanier, and Jennifer Schoen "In Vitro Mimicking of Estrous Cycle Stages in Porcine Oviduct Epithelium Cells: Estradiol and Progesterone Regulate Differentiation, Gene Expression, and Cellular Function," Biology of Reproduction 89(3), (31 July 2013). https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.113.108829
Received: 22 February 2013; Accepted: 1 July 2013; Published: 31 July 2013
KEYWORDS
estrous cycle stages
fluid movement pattern
hormonal stimulation
oviduct epithelium
sperm binding
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