Changes in the expression of interleukin-1β and lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF factor in the oviduct of laying hens in response to artificial insemination

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the physiological significance of interleukin-1b (IL1B) and lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF factor (LITAF) in the fate of sperm in the oviduct of laying hens after artificial insemination (AI ). Laying hens were inseminated with fresh semen, PBS or seminal plasma and tissues from different oviductal segments were collected to observe the general histology, changes in the mRNA expression of IL1B and LITAF and the localization of positive cells expressing immunoreactive IL1B (irIL1B). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to observe the changes in mRNA expression of these molecules in the infundibulum, uterus, utero-vaginal junction (UVJ), and vagina after insemination. Intact sperm in the lumen and between the primary or secondary folds of the vagina were found until 6 h after insemination but were degraded at 12 h. The mRNA expression of IL1B and LITAF was significantly increased in the vagina until 6 h after AI but remained unchanged in the other oviductal segments. In the tissue of the vagina and UVJ, irIL1B was localized in the mucosal stroma. The number of irIL1B-positive cells was increased in the vagina but almost unchanged in UVJ after insemination with semen. Significant changes were not observed in the mRNA expression and irIL1B-positive cells in the vagina after PBS or seminal plasma insemination. The increase of IL1B and LITAF in the vagina may lead to sperm degradation and elimination by cilia of surface epithelium, whereas their lower levels in UVJ may permit sperm to survive in sperm storage tubules.

Seminal Influence of the Oviduct : Mating and/or semen components induce gene expression changes in the pre-ovulatory functional sperm reservoir in poultry and pigs

“…A backflow post-mating also occurs in chicken and eliminates >80% of the spermatozoa (Bakst, 2011). Those left in the vagina are thought to be eliminated by the temporal (1-3 h) overexpression of IL1B and LITAF (Das et al, 2009). The pro-inflammatory SF-proteins and cytokines found in Paper II are therefore possibly involved in stimulating infiltration of immunocompetent cells largely distributed in the vagina of laying hens, compared to immature, un-mated hens (Zheng et al, 1998;Zheng and Yoshimura 1999).…”

“…The latest two decades of research have shown that the introduction of semen into the female genitalia changes the nature of the innate and acquired local immunity in the female reproductive tract of chicken (Das et al, 2005;Das et al, 2006;Abdel-Mageed et al, 2008;Das et al, 2009) and pigs (Rozeboom et al, 1998;Robertson, 2007;Schuberth et al, 2008;Rodríguez-Martínez et al, 2009). The SF/SP signaling proteins and peptides -i.e.…”

“…For instance, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) studies revealed that cytokine expression in the female reproductive tract is modified by mating or artificial insemination (AI) in poultry (Das et al, 2006;Das et al, 2009) and pigs (O'Leary et al, 2004;Jiwakanon et al, 2010). For instance, AI of hens increased mRNA levels of interleukin-1β and lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF factor (LITAF) in vaginal tissues as early as 1-6 hours post insemination, while such changes were not evident in other segments of the oviduct (Das et al, 2009). The authors suggested that an increase of these cytokines might lead to the degradation of those spermatozoa that fail to enter the SST and are, therefore, eliminated.…”

“…Semen deposition elicits gene expression shifts in the female genital tract in mouse (Fazeli et al, 2004) and chicken (Das et al, 2006;Das et al, 2008Das et al, & 2009. This further calls for the identification of the pertinent signals involved, including components of the SF/SP-proteome that could be related to sperm survival and immunomodulation.…”

“…This further calls for the identification of the pertinent signals involved, including components of the SF/SP-proteome that could be related to sperm survival and immunomodulation. Determination of gene expression changes in post-mated or post-AI oviducts, especially their sperm reservoirs have indicated roles of the poultry UVJ for sperm storage and survival (Das et al, 2006;AbdelMageed et al, 2008;Das et al, 2009;Huang et al, 2016). Use of holistic screening approaches such as microarray analysis of gene expression are yet scarce in chicken and in pig.…”