ABSTRACT

Members of the IGF gene family participate in cell differentiation and proliferation during pregnancy. We used 35 cats assigned to experimental groups (G) based on pregnancy stages: G1, pre-implantation; G2, implantation; G3, early pregnancy; G4, mid-pregnancy; G5, nonpregnant. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry were used to analyze the expression of the IGF gene family. During pregnancy, expression of IGF-1 gene was significantly greater at implantation sites in the G1 and G2 groups than at placentation sites in G3 and G4 groups. IGF-2 expression was greater in the G2, G3 and G4 groups than in G1. Expression of the IGF-1R gene was significantly greater at placental sites in G3 than in G1 and G4. IGF-2R genes were expressed in all groups. Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) were expressed at intensities that depended on the stage of pregnancy; they were detected in different cell types and at different sites in the uterus. We found that members of the IGF gene family were expressed differentially in the endometrium during pregnancy. Our findings suggest that the IGF family may be a regulatory factor for pregnancy in cats.

摘要

IGF 基因家族的成员在怀孕期间参与细胞分化和增殖。我们使用了根据妊娠阶段分配到实验组 (G) 的 35 只猫：G1，植入前；G2，植入；G3，早孕；G4，怀孕中期；G5，未怀孕。定量聚合酶链反应 (qPCR) 和免疫组织化学用于分析 IGF 基因家族的表达。在妊娠期间，IGF-1 基因在 G1 和 G2 组的着床位点的表达明显高于 G3 和 G4 组的胎盘位点。G2、G3 和 G4 组的 IGF-2 表达高于 G1。IGF-1R 基因在 G3 胎盘位点的表达明显高于 G1 和 G4。IGF-2R基因在所有组中均有表达。胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白 (IGFBP) 的表达强度取决于妊娠阶段；它们在不同的细胞类型和子宫的不同部位被检测到。我们发现 IGF 基因家族的成员在怀孕期间在子宫内膜中的表达存在差异。我们的研究结果表明，IGF 家族可能是猫怀孕的调节因素。