著者

Khoi X. Hoang Mei Matsuzaki Tetsuya Kohsaka Tomohiro Sasanami

出版者

Japan Poultry Science Association

雑誌

The Journal of Poultry Science (ISSN:13467395)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.60, no.2, pp.2023025, 2023 (Released:2023-10-04)

参考文献数

24

---

The relaxin (RLN) gene is expressed in the reproductive tracts, such as the ovary and uterus, of mammalian species. Although RLN expression is detected in the chicken ovary, detailed clarification of the physiological role of RLN has not yet been reported. To address this issue, in the present study we aimed to examine the spatiotemporal expression and hormonal control of RLN in Japanese quail. By performing semi-quantitative and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis, we found that RLN mRNA was mainly expressed in the granulosa and theca layers of the ovary. The expression level in the granulosa layer increased with the stage of follicular development. Results from granulosa layer culture experiments revealed that RLN mRNA expression increased with the addition of estradiol-17β, whereas the addition of progesterone suppressed RLN transcription. More detailed analysis indicated that RLN expression was highest in the stigma region of the follicle but significantly decreased as the time of the expected luteinizing hormone (LH) surge approached. Together, our findings demonstrated that the granulosa cells in the mature preovulatory follicles constitute the main source of RLN in the Japanese quail. Because RLN expression was highest in the stigma region and the expression dramatically decreased following the LH surge, the results further suggest that RLN may be related to tissue remodeling for the ovulation process in birds.

著者

Mei Matsuzaki Tomohiro Sasanami

出版者

Japan Poultry Science Association

雑誌

The Journal of Poultry Science (ISSN:13467395)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.59, no.1, pp.1-7, 2022 (Released:2022-01-25)

参考文献数

50

被引用文献数

4

---

Sperm drastically change their flagellar movement in response to the surrounding physical and chemical environment. Testicular sperm are immotile; however, they gain the competence to initiate motility during passage through the male reproductive tract. Once ejaculated, the sperm are activated and promptly initiate motility. Unlike mammals, ejaculated sperm in birds are stored in specialized tubular invaginations referred to as sperm storage tubules (SSTs), located between the vagina and uterus, before fertilization. The resident sperm in the SSTs are in a quiescent state and then re-activated after release from the SSTs. It is thought that avian sperm can undergo motility change from quiescent to active state twice; however, the molecular mechanism underlying sperm motility regulation is poorly understood. In this short review, we summarize the current understanding of sperm motility regulation in male and female bird reproductive tracts. We also describe signal transduction, which regulates sperm motility, mainly derived from in vitro studies.

著者

Norio Kansaku Shin Wakui Tomohiro Sasanami Takeshi Ohkubo

出版者

Japan Poultry Science Association

雑誌

The Journal of Poultry Science (ISSN:13467395)

巻号頁・発行日

pp.0220023, (Released:2022-06-25)

被引用文献数

2

---

Difference of onset of increase of PRL content in the anterior pituitary gland and plasma PRL concentration during the late stage of chicken embryogenesis is well known. To investigate the disagreement, changes in PRL content and PRL mRNA levels, and the effects of vasoactive intestinal polypeptides (VIP) on PRL release and PRL mRNA expression were examined using western blot analysis and real-time PCR quantification. Changes in SPRL content were strongly correlated with PRL mRNA levels. The increase in PRL content on day 17 of incubation may be caused by the increase in PRL mRNA levels on day 16 of incubation. Additionally, the effects of VIP on PRL release from the embryonic anterior pituitary gland were not observed until day 18 of embryogenesis. These results suggest that increased levels of PRL mRNA and PRL content in the anterior pituitary gland are closely correlated. However, the increased expression of PRL mRNA observed on day 17 and the initiation of PRL release from the anterior pituitary gland on day 19 were differentially regulated. According to the results of western blot analysis, the proportion of glycosylated PRL (G-PRL) and non-glycosylated PRL (NG-PRL) in the anterior pituitary gland at the end stage of development differed from the proportion of PRL released from the anterior pituitary gland. According to the results of two-dimensional western blot analysis, no isoforms with different isoelectric points were detected in the culture medium on days 19 and 20. These data suggest that the peptide chains of G-PRL and NG-PRL were not modified. In conclusion, the differentiation of PRL-producing cells and the maturation of the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary gland were completed at the end stage of incubation, and that different factors regulated the initiation of PRL mRNA expression before day 18 of incubation.