Immunohistochemical distribution of Early Pregnancy Factor in ovary, oviduct and placenta of pregnant gilts

GROSSO MC; BELLINGERI RV; MOTTA C; ALUSTIZA F; PICCO N; VIVAS AB

BIOTECHNIC AND HISTOCHEMISTRY

INFORMA HEALTHCARE

Año: 2014

1052-0295

Early pregnancy factor (EPF) is an immunosuppressant that promotes maternal immune systemtolerance of the allogenic fetus. Little is known about localization of this factor in different tissuesand nothing has been reported about localization in swine reproductive and placental tissues. Wedetermined the concentration of EPF in serum of gilts and porcine placenta conditioned medium(PPCM). We also analyzed the expression of EPF in different reproductive tissues of pregnant giltsat 10, 30, 60 and 90 days of pregnancy. EPF concentration in serum and PPCM was determinedby western blot and densitometry. EPF expression in reproductive tissue was assessed by immunohistochemistry.The highest concentration of EPF was observed at 30 days in serum and PPCM; the concentration was higher in PPCM than in serum at the stages we evaluated. All reproductive tissues from the gestational stages analyzed showed specifi c labeling of EPF, but this labeling did not appear in non-pregnant gilts. At 30 days pregnancy, the EPF expression in the ovary was predominantly in follicular lutein cells, probably owing to its function as a luteotrophic factor. In the oviduct, EPF was expressed in unciliated secretory epithelial cells and in the cilia of ciliated cells. In the placenta, EPF was expressed in the fetal portion (mesoderm chorioallantois and epithelium of endoderm). EPF acts as an autocrine and paracrine growth factor for the trophoblast during the peri-implantation period.