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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Livestock Bio-Systems » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #135724
Title: ORGANIZATION AND CHROMOSOMAL LOCATION OF PORCINE PLATELET-ACTIVATING FACTOR RECEPTOR (PAFR) GENE AND TEMPORAL EXPRESSION OF PAFR AND ESTROGEN RECEPTOR ALPHA (ER) GENES IN PIG REPRODUCTIVE TISSUES

Author
item YANG, W - CLEMSON UNIVERSITY, SC
item DIEHL, JOHN - CLEMSON UNIVERSITY, SC
item YERLE, M - INRA, FRANCE
item Ford, Johny
item Christenson, Ronald
item ROUDEBUSH, WILLIAM - REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY ASSO
item PLUMMER, W - CAL POLY SLO, CA

Submitted to: Biology of Reproduction Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2002
Publication Date: 12/20/2002
Citation: Yang, W., Diehl, J.R., Yerle, M., Ford, J.J., Christenson, R.K., Roudebush, W.E., Plummer, W.E. 2002. Organization and chromosomal location of porcine platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFr) gene and temporal expression of PAFr and estrogen receptor alpha (ER) genes in pig reproductive tissues [abstract]. Biology of Reproduction. 66 (Supplement 1):245. (Abstract # 363)

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Functions of platelet-activating factor (PAF) are mediated via its receptor. In this study, the platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFr) gene was mapped by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The structure of this gene was studied using a 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) technique. Temporal expression of PAFr and estrogen receptor a (ER) genes, and distribution of the PAFr gene in porcine tissues on days 0, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 were examined using appropriate DNA competitors and RT-PCR. The PAFr gene was mapped to SSC6q26-27. Alternative splicing of the PAFr gene yields two different transcripts. Transcript 1 was expressed in all tissues and cells, and transcript 2 was detected in all tissues but white blood cells. The temporal expression of the PAFr gene in pregnant endometrial (P>0.05) and embryonic (P<0.05) tissues increased from day 10 to day 16 when the PAF concentration increased in endometrium but decreased in embryos. Therefore PAF via PAFr may play an essential role in endometrial preparation for and during implantation in addition to embryo development. The temporal expression of the ER gene in pregnant endometrial tissues decreased from day 10 to day 18 (P<0.05). ER gene expression was detectable in 20-60% of the embryonic tissue samples analyzed and generally decreased from day 10 to day 18. The highest level of ER transcripts on day 10 in pregnant endometrium appear to make it possible for higher level of E2 found in uterine luminal fluids (ULF) on day 12 to initiate a maternal recognition of pregnancy. Given an important role of E2 in embryo development, the decrease in ER transcripts in both endometrium and embryos from day 10 to day 18 suggests that the role of E2 in embryo development might shift to other factors and/or hormones found in ULF. PAF might be such an important factor involved in late peri-implantation embryo development. Put together, the results of the present study indicate that PAG is as an important factor in establishing porcine pregnancy. (USDA Grant 99-35208-8163)