The concentrations of catecholamines and oxytocin receptors in the oviduct and its contractile activity in cows during the estrous cycle

Kotwica, Genowefa; Kurowicka, Beata; Franczak, Anita; Grzegorzewski, Waldemar; Wróbel, Michał; Mlynarczuk, Jarosław; Kotwica, J.

doi:10.1016/s0093-691x(03)00086-4

Cited by 34 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…ACh has been shown to have a vasodilatory effect on oviductal arteries and seems to be indirectly involved in the genesis and maintenance of the oviductal fluid (Garcia-Pascual et al 1996). In recent studies it has been shown that this molecule is able to stimulate contractions of ampullar and isthmic smooth muscle cells in defined cycle stages of cow and human probably via muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (Kotwica et al 2003;Jankovic et al 2004a, b). The here presented result, that the oviductal epithelium contains ChAT and is able to synthesize ACh, is not only a further evidence for the ubiquitous abundance of ACh in non-neuronal cells as described previously (Wessler et al , 2001a.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The mammalian oviduct is another tissue with scanty cholinergic innervation (Garcia-Pascual et al 1996), yet cholinergic influences on oviductal functions are reported. For example, ACh is able to stimulate oviductal contractions in follicular and early-luteal phases of cyclic cows (Kotwica et al 2003). To test the hypothesis that non-neuronal ACh is expressed in the oviduct, we performed ChAT immunohistochemistry and Western blot experiments in different oviductal segments of cyclic and pregnant pigs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Non-neuronal acetylcholine and choline acetyltransferase in oviductal epithelial cells of cyclic and pregnant pigs

et al. 2006

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Certain female reproductive tissues are known to express the non-neuronal cholinergic system. Using different experimental approaches, we tested the hypothesis that acetylcholine (ACh) in the porcine oviduct may also be derived from non-neuronal structures. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect acetylcholine synthesizing enzyme choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in different segments of the oviduct of cyclic and pregnant sows. Immunohistochemical experiments revealed strong immunoexpression of ChAT in the entire oviductal epithelium at metoestrus. Thereby, a particular pronounced staining was found in the supranuclear region of almost all epithelial cells. Immunostaining of ChAT decreased markedly during dioestrus and prooestrus stages, respectively. At prooestrus, ChAT immunoreactivity was confined to ciliated cells. Furthermore, we found elevated level of staining intensity of ChAT in the pregnant oviduct at day 13. Using the same ChAT antibody for Western blot analyses, we detected immunoreactive bands of MW 69,000 and 46,000 mainly in ampulla, while MW 58,000 and 30,000 forms were present mainly in infundibulum and isthmus. Furthermore ACh was detected by HPLC and fluorimetric methods in oviductal epithelium. In conclusion, we show expression of ChAT in oviductal epithelial cells at different stages of the oestrus cycle and pregnancy, indicating that these cells can synthesize ACh in a cycle-dependent manner. These results suggest as yet unexplored roles of epithelial ACh in the oviduct.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Non-neuronal acetylcholine and choline acetyltransferase in oviductal epithelial cells of cyclic and pregnant pigs

et al. 2006

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“…(1) the powerful inner layer of circular muscle in the oviduct isthmus, richly endowed with a network of nerves and adrenergic terminals (Brundin, 1969), (2) the opposing influences of oestradiol and progesterone, respectively, in potentiating a-and b-adrenergic receptors in the myosalpinx (Hunter, 1977), (3) the much-enhanced contractions of the myosalpinx close to the time of ovulation (Seckinger, 1923;Wislocki and Guttmacher, 1924;Battalia and Yanagimachi, 1979), (4) the fact that sperm cells have specific catecholamine receptors and respond to various preparations of catecholamines Cornett et al, 1979;Fraser and Adeoya-Osiguwa, 2006), (5) the presence of catecholamines in oviduct luminal fluid (Khatchandourian et al, 1987;Way et al, 2001;Kotwica et al, 2003).…”

Section: Catecholamine and Ca 2þ Ionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sperm release from oviduct epithelial binding is controlled hormonally by peri‐ovulatory graafian follicles

Hunter

2007

Molecular Reproduction Devel

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To avoid inappropriate conclusions being drawn from the extensive use of in vitro preparations of sperm-oviduct epithelial binding, it is recalled that events in the genital tract of mammals are regulated by the gonads, primarily by their changing secretion of steroid hormones. Key observations from in vivo models are used to emphasise the dynamic interactions between viable sperm cells and the caudal (distal) portion of the oviduct isthmus, the site of the functional sperm reservoir. These include (1) preovulatory arrest and epithelial binding of intact sperm cells and thereby suppression of completion of capacitation, (2) peri-ovulatory activation and release from binding of discrete sub-populations of competent spermatozoa, and (3) post-ovulatory liberation of large numbers of spermatozoa. These observations underline the influence of endocrine regulation of sperm binding and release by peri-ovulatory Graafian follicles, a point brought out by the enhanced sperm release prompted by diverse treatments with solutions of progesterone. In the light of this evidence, the suitability of in vitro preparations for clarifying physiological events should be questioned, especially if myosalpingeal catecholamines diffusing out of the autonomic nervous system contribute to sperm activation and/or release. None of this is to infer that sperm cells themselves are without influence on their epithelial binding reaction(s). Nor is it to suggest that in vitro models of sperm-oviduct binding are without relevance to the development of sperm evaluation technologies. However, pre-ovulatory sperm-epithelial binding and a regulated peri-ovulatory release should be seen as vital tactics in the overall strategy of achieving successful monospermic fertilisation. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 167-174, 2008.

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“…Waves of oviductal contraction and relaxation then facilitate transportation to the site of fertilization, the lower portion of the ampulla (Garcia-Pascual et al 1996, Talbot et al 2003. Several hormones have been identified that can affect oviductal contractility, including oxytocin, catecholamines (Kotwica et al 2003), angiotensin II, prostaglandins (PGs), and endothelin-1 (Sakamoto et al 2001, Wijayagunawardane et al 2001a, however, the precise physiological mechanism regulating oviductal function and gamete transportation remains unclear.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endothelin-2 induces oviductal contraction via endothelin receptor subtype A in rats

Al-Alem¹,

Bridges²,

Su³

et al. 2007

Journal of Endocrinology

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Proper function of the oviduct is critical to reproductive success with regulated contraction and relaxation facilitating transportation of the germ cells to the site of fertilization. Endothelin-2 (EDN2) is a potent vasoconstrictor produced by granulosa cells of the preovulatory follicle at the time of ovulation; however, whether this gonadotropin surge-induced peptide played a role in facilitating germ cell transportation by inducing oviductal contraction was unknown. The objectives of these experiments were (1) to determine whether the endothelin receptor system was present in the oviduct, (2) to test the hypothesis that EDN2 induces oviductal contraction via a specific endothelin receptor subtype, (3) to determine, as a possible alternate source of the ligand, whether mRNA for EDN2 was expressed in cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) within the oviduct, and (4) to determine whether EDN2 could overcome prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 )-induced oviductal relaxation. Microarray and real-time PCR analysis indicated that mRNA for both the endothelin receptor subtypes (ET A and ET B ) was present in the oviduct, whereas immunohistochemical examination revealed that ET A protein was the dominant isoform, present in the luminal epithelial cells of the oviduct. Real-time PCR analysis demonstrated that mRNA for EDN2 was expressed in COCs after ovulation. Isometric tension analysis indicated that EDN2 was a potent oviductal constrictor and that the contractile effect of EDN2 was mediated by the ET A and not the ET B receptor subtype. The oviductal contraction induced by EDN2 also reversed oviductal relaxation induced by PGE 2 . In summary, ET A receptor-specific EDN2-induced contraction as a facilitator of oviductal function suggests a novel pathway involved in germ cell transport and hence mammalian fertility.

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The concentrations of catecholamines and oxytocin receptors in the oviduct and its contractile activity in cows during the estrous cycle

Cited by 34 publications

References 31 publications

Non-neuronal acetylcholine and choline acetyltransferase in oviductal epithelial cells of cyclic and pregnant pigs

Non-neuronal acetylcholine and choline acetyltransferase in oviductal epithelial cells of cyclic and pregnant pigs

Sperm release from oviduct epithelial binding is controlled hormonally by peri‐ovulatory graafian follicles

Endothelin-2 induces oviductal contraction via endothelin receptor subtype A in rats

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