Cellular localisation of the pregnancy-associated glycoprotein family (PAGs) in the synepitheliochorial placenta of the European bison

Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2008 Jan 15;155(2):422-31. doi: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2007.07.008. Epub 2007 Aug 8.

Abstract

This paper describes the cellular immuno-localisation of the PAG family in synepitheliochorial (cotyledonary) placenta of the European bison (Eb). Uteri were harvested from pregnant wild Eb (n=4; 45-150 days post coitum-dpc); and additionally from cattle (30, 45 dpc) and pigs (42 dpc)--both domestic species were used as positive controls for cellular PAG immunodetection. Placentas were sectioned, fixed, dehydrated and subjected to double fluorescent immunohistochemistry (dF-IHC) with the use of Alexa 488 fluorochrom (A488) and propidium iodide (PI). Native positive EbPAG signals were detected by heterologous (ht; cross-species) dF-IHC with primary rabbit anti-PAG polyclonals against native or recombinant porcine PAG antigens (anti-pPAG); then visualised with secondary anti-rabbit goat immunoglobulins--conjugated to A488. Our htdF-IHC indicated an unequivocal localisation to the mono- and bi-nuclear trophectoderm (chorionic epithelium) cells expressing the PAGs (A488-green) among all placental cells, in which PI (red) stained nuclei. This is the first paper reporting the EbPAG family expression examined by htdF-IHC at the feto-maternal interface in wild Pecoran species. The cross-reactivity of anti-pPAG polyclonals with the EbPAGs suggests that shared epitopes are present in these molecules. It seems that the EbPAG family, which is robustly expressed in mono- and bi-nucleated trophectoderm cells, is associated with events taking place during placenta development. Our study also provided a proficient ht-system to identify various PAGs that could be useful as prenatal protein markers for pregnancy diagnoses, which is essential for effective reproductive management of endangered mammals.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • Bison / metabolism*
  • Cattle
  • Chorion / cytology
  • Chorion / enzymology*
  • Epithelial Cells / enzymology
  • Female
  • Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Maternal-Fetal Exchange / physiology
  • Placenta / enzymology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Proteins / metabolism*
  • Tissue Distribution

Substances

  • Glycoproteins
  • Pregnancy Proteins
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases