Transcriptomic profile of the porcine oviductal epithelial cells during the peri-conceptional period.

The optimal environment in the oviduct is created by adjusting its ultrastructure and secretory activity to serve the most suitable protection of gametes and to support embryo development. Through gametes/embryo's presence inside the oviduct, the oviductal transcriptomic profile may be altered, and these changes may be caused by DNA methylation. The results of the present study documented that in the epithelial cells of the ampulla and isthmus of the oviducts collected from pigs during the peri-conceptional period, the most differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were down-regulated.

Peri-conceptional nutritional restriction alters transcriptomic profile in the peri-implantation pig embryos.

Restricted nutritional consumption during the peri-conceptional period affects the potential for DNA methylation and alters endometrial transcriptomic profile during the peri-implantation period. The restricted diet fed to females during the peri-conceptional period may affect the transcriptomic profile in peri-implantation embryos. In the present study, the transcriptome of embryos of normal-diet-fed gilts was determined and compared with that in embryos of restricted-diet-fed gilts during the peri-implantation period.

Transcriptomic analysis of the oviduct of pigs during the peri-conceptional period.

The optimal environment in the oviduct is created by adjusting its ultrastructure and secretory capacity to protect gametes and embryos. It was hypothesized that direct contact between the isthmic epithelium and 2- and 4-cell-stage embryos would alter the transcriptomic profile of the isthmus in pigs. Microarray analysis was performed to determine the alterations in gene expression of the isthmus on Days 2-3 of pregnancy in pigs (after natural mating) during embryo presence in the oviduct.

Synthesis of steroid hormones in the porcine oviduct during early pregnancy.

Past studies of the oviducts have documented oviductal steroid production during the oestrous cycle in pigs. The present study examined whether the pig oviducts are the source of steroid hormones during early pregnancy. In the ampulla and isthmus, the expression of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3βHSD) and aromatase cytochrome P450 (CYP19) mRNA by real-time PCR, cellular localization and quantities of the studied proteins by immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis, and concentration of steroid hormones in oviductal flushings by radioimmunoassay, were studied.