Immunolocalization of steroidogenic enzymes in the vaginal mucous of Galea spixii during the estrous cycle

Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology

Research

Amilton Cesar dos Santos¹  Antônio Chaves de Assis Neto¹  Diego Carvalho Viana¹  Gleidson Benevides Oliveira²  Moacir Franco de Oliveira²  Alan James Conley³ 

[1] Department of Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87 ZC 05508-270, São Paulo, Brazil;Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal Rural do Semiárido, 59625-900, Mossoró, Brazil;Population Health & Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, 95616, Davis, USA;

关键词: Androgens;    Cytochrome P450;    Estrogens;    Estrous cycle;    Vaginal epithelium;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12958-017-0248-3

 received in 2017-02-11, accepted in 2017-04-18,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe synthesis of sex steroids is controlled by several enzymes such as17α-hydroxylase cytochrome P450 (P450c17) catalyzing androgen synthesis and aromatase cytochrome P450 (P450arom) catalyzing estrogen synthesis, both of which must complex with the redox partner NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (CPR) for activity. Previous studies have identified expression of steroidogenic enzymes in vaginal tissue, suggesting local sex steroid synthesis. The current studies investigate P450c17, P450aromatase and CPR expression in vaginal mucosa of Galea spixii (Spix cavy) by immuno-histochemical and western immunoblot analyses.MethodsStages of estrous cyclicity were monitored by vaginal exfoliative cytology. After euthanasia, vaginal tissues were retrieved, fixed and frozen at diestrus, proestrus, estrus and metestrus. The ovaries and testis were used as positive control tissues for immunohistochemistry.ResultsData from cytological study allowed identification of different estrous cycle phases. Immunohistochemical analysis showed different sites of expression of steroidogenic enzymes along with tissue response throughout different phases of the estrous cycle. However, further studies are needed to characterize the derived hormones synthesized by, and the enzymes activities associated with, vaginal tissues.ConclusionCurrent results not only support the expression of enzymes involved in sex steroid synthesis in the wall of the vagina, they also indicate that expression changes with the stage of the cycle, both the levels and types of cells exhibiting expression. Thus, changes in proliferation of vaginal epithelial cells and the differentiation of the mucosa may be influenced by local steroid synthesis as well as circulating androgens and estrogens.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017