Increase of essential amino acids in the bovine uterine lumen during preimplantation development

Reproduction. 2011 May;141(5):685-95. doi: 10.1530/REP-10-0533. Epub 2011 Mar 7.

Abstract

Amino acids (AAs) are crucial for the developing conceptus prior to implantation. To provide insights into the requirements of the bovine embryo, we determined the AA composition of the uterine fluid. At days 12, 15, and 18 post-estrus, the uteri of synchronized pregnant and non-pregnant Simmental heifers were flushed for the analysis of 41 AAs and their derivatives by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The ipsilateral endometrium was sampled for quantitative PCR. In addition to a pregnancy-dependent increase of the essential AAs (P<0.01), we detected elevated concentrations for most non-essential proteinogenic AAs. Histidine (His) and the expression of the His/peptide transporter solute carrier 15A3 (SLC15A3) were significantly increased at day 18 of pregnancy in vivo. In addition, SLC15A3 was predominantly stimulated by trophoblast-derived interferon-τ in stroma cells of an in vitro co-culture model of endometrial cells. Our results show an increased concentration of AAs most likely to optimally provide the elongating pre-attachment conceptus with nutrients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Transport Systems / genetics
  • Amino Acid Transport Systems / metabolism
  • Amino Acids, Essential / metabolism*
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Biological Transport
  • Blastocyst / metabolism*
  • Cattle
  • Cell Communication
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Embryo Implantation*
  • Estrus
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Interferon Type I / metabolism
  • Linear Models
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Proteins / metabolism
  • Stromal Cells / metabolism
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry
  • Time Factors
  • Trophoblasts / metabolism
  • Up-Regulation
  • Uterus / cytology
  • Uterus / metabolism*

Substances

  • Amino Acid Transport Systems
  • Amino Acids, Essential
  • Interferon Type I
  • Pregnancy Proteins
  • interferon tau