Panel C: Immunolocalization of Polypeptide Growth Factors in Estradiol-17β- Mediated Oviductal Proliferation and Differentiation in the Mediterranean Gecko, Hemidactylus turcicus
Description/Abstract
Estrogens are essential for normal growth and differentiation of the vertebrate oviduct. The observation that estradiol-17β (E2) initiated little or no response in isolated mammalian uterine cells has led to the hypothesis that paracrine growth factors mediate E2-induced proliferation and differentiation of uterine cells. Polypeptide growth factors such as insulin-like growth-factor I (IGF-1), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) have been implicated in this process. In a preliminary morphometric study in reptiles, Mediterranean geckos, Hemidactylus turcicus, were ovariectomized and implanted with E2, IGF-1, or control-pellets. After a fourteen-day treatment period, the oviductal tissues were processed histologically. Morphometrical data analysis demonstrated a significantly higher endometrial gland circumference in both E2- and IGF-1-treated animals compared to control animals. These data support the hypothesis that the E2-induced changes observed in the vertebrate oviduct are mediated by growth factors. The purpose of this study was to use immunohistochemistry to localize IGF-1 and EGF in the oviduct of ovariectomized geckos treated with E2. Using prepared slides from this preliminary study, we stained the oviductal tissues using polyclonal antibodies (anti-IGF-1 and anti-EGF) and a VECTASTAIN® Universal Quick-Kit, an avidin/biotin based horseradish-peroxidase amplification-system, to localize the growth factors. Preliminary analysis of the slides demonstrated the presence of IGF-1 throughout the endometrium and myometrium. The presence of EGF was inconclusive and requires further analysis. Our novel experiment provides further evidence that E2-induced cyclic oviductal changes in reptiles are mediated, in part, by IGF-1. Further research is needed to examine the role of additional growth factors in this process.
Panel C: Immunolocalization of Polypeptide Growth Factors in Estradiol-17β- Mediated Oviductal Proliferation and Differentiation in the Mediterranean Gecko, Hemidactylus turcicus
Nesbitt 3202
Estrogens are essential for normal growth and differentiation of the vertebrate oviduct. The observation that estradiol-17β (E2) initiated little or no response in isolated mammalian uterine cells has led to the hypothesis that paracrine growth factors mediate E2-induced proliferation and differentiation of uterine cells. Polypeptide growth factors such as insulin-like growth-factor I (IGF-1), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) have been implicated in this process. In a preliminary morphometric study in reptiles, Mediterranean geckos, Hemidactylus turcicus, were ovariectomized and implanted with E2, IGF-1, or control-pellets. After a fourteen-day treatment period, the oviductal tissues were processed histologically. Morphometrical data analysis demonstrated a significantly higher endometrial gland circumference in both E2- and IGF-1-treated animals compared to control animals. These data support the hypothesis that the E2-induced changes observed in the vertebrate oviduct are mediated by growth factors. The purpose of this study was to use immunohistochemistry to localize IGF-1 and EGF in the oviduct of ovariectomized geckos treated with E2. Using prepared slides from this preliminary study, we stained the oviductal tissues using polyclonal antibodies (anti-IGF-1 and anti-EGF) and a VECTASTAIN® Universal Quick-Kit, an avidin/biotin based horseradish-peroxidase amplification-system, to localize the growth factors. Preliminary analysis of the slides demonstrated the presence of IGF-1 throughout the endometrium and myometrium. The presence of EGF was inconclusive and requires further analysis. Our novel experiment provides further evidence that E2-induced cyclic oviductal changes in reptiles are mediated, in part, by IGF-1. Further research is needed to examine the role of additional growth factors in this process.