Summary
The localization and release of uteroglobin (UGL) were investigated immunohistologically in the oviducts and uteri of female rabbits from oestrus through the 7th day post coitum and the blastocyst on the 7th day post coitum.
UGL was detected within Fallopian tube cells even during oestrus. Granules of UGL appeared toward the bases of these cells. Subsequently, the cells became almost entirely filled with UGL. Drop-like protrusions of the apical cytoplasm suggest a mechanism of apocrine extrusion. All stages of filling and extrusion were visible during the entire preimplantation period.
During oestrus, synthesis of UGL within uterine cells becomes sufficiently advanced so that extrusion has either already begun or is about to begin. UGL positive material first appears in the supranuclear regions. Later the entire cytoplasm shows a positive reaction. An uneven distribution of UGL cells is observed in the endometrium. Since only the glands adjacent to the myometrium and cells of the cavum epithelium contain UGL, a striking mosaic of UGL positive and negative cells results.
The present report is the first detecting UGL in single cells of the blastocyst. Both entodermal and ectodermal cells proved to be UGL positive. The synthesis and section of UGL in the oviduct and uterus and the possible origins of UGL in the blastocyst are discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arthur, A.T., Chang, M.C.: Induction of blastokinin by oral contraceptive steroids: Implications for fertility control. Fertil. and Steril. 25, 217–221 (1974)
Arthur, A.T., Cowan, B.D., Daniel, J.C., Jr.: Steroid binding to blastokinin. Fertil. and Steril. 23, 85–92 (1972)
Arthur, A.T., Daniel, J.C., Jr.: Progesterone regulation of blastokinin production and maintenance of rabbit blastocysts transferred into uteri of castrate recipients. Fertil. and Steril. 23, 115–122 (1972)
Beato, M., Baier, R.: Binding of progesterone to the proteins of the uterine luminal fluid. Identification of uteroglobin as the binding protein. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 392, 346–356 (1975)
Beier, H.M.: Biochemisch-entwicklungsphysiologische Untersuchungen am Proteinmilieu für die Blastocystenentwicklung des Kaninchens (Oryctolagus cuniculus) Zool. Jb. Anat. 85, 72–190 (1968a)
Beier, H.M.: Uteroglobin: A hormone-sensitive endometrial protein involved in blastocyst development. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 160, 289–291 (1968b)
Beier, H.M.: Hormonal stimulation of protease inhibitor activity in endometrial secretion during early pregnancy. Acta endocr. (Kbh.) 63, 141–149 (1970)
Beier, H.M.: Oviducal and uterine fluids. J. Reprod. Fertil. 37, 221–237 (1974)
Beier, H.M., Kühnel, W.: Pseudopregnancy in the rabbit after stimulation by human chorionic gonadotropin. Hormone Res. 4, 1–27 (1973)
Beier, H.M., Maurer, R.R.: Uteroglobin and other proteins in rabbit blastocyst fluid after development in vivo and in vitro. Cell Tiss. Res. 159, 1–10 (1975)
Beier, H.M., Petry, G., Kühnel, W.: Sekretion des Endometriums und frühe Keimesentwicklung. Hoppe-Seylers Z. physiol. Chem. 351, 432 (Abstract) (1970)
Bhatt, B.M., Bullock, D.W.: Binding of oestradiol to rabbit blastocyst and its possible rôle in implantation. J. Reprod. Fertil. 39, 65–70 (1974)
Bullock, D.W., Connell, K.M.: Occurrence and molecular weight of rabbit uterine “blastokinin”. Biol. Reprod. 9, 125–132 (1973)
Daniel, J.C., Jr.: Comparison of electrophoretic patterns of uterine fluid from rabbits and mammals having delayed implantation. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 24, 297–299 (1968)
Daniel, J.C., Jr.: Uterine proteins and embryonic development. Advanc. Biosci. 6, 191–203 (1971)
Daniel, J.C., Jr.: Local production during implantation in the rabbit. J. Reprod. Fertil. 31, 303–306 (1972)
Dies, R.: Hormonale Beeinflussung des Sekretproteinmusters und der Keimentwicklung im Genitaltrakt von Oryctolagus cuniculus. Zool. Jb. Physiol. 77, 360–441 (1973)
El-Banna, A.A., Daniel, J.C., Jr.: Stimulation of rabbit blastocysts in vitro by progesterone and uterine proteins in combination. Fertil. and Steril. 23, 101–104 (1972a)
El-Banna, A.A., Daniel, J.C., Jr.: The effect of protein fractions from rabbit uterine fluids on embryo growth and uptake of nucleic acid and protein precursors. Fertil. and Steril. 23, 9 (1972b)
Feigelson, M., Kay, E.: Protein patterns of rabbit oviducal fluid. Biol. Reprod. 6, 244–252 (1972)
Garcea, N., Porcelli, G., Caruso, A., Campo, S., Bompiani, A.: Characterization and comparison of rabbit blastokinin produced under various physiological and experimental conditions. Int. J. Fertil. 19, 73–79 (1974)
Gulyas, B.J., Daniel, J.C., Jr., Krishnan, R.S.: Incorporation of labelled nucleosides in vitro by rabbit and mink blastocysts in the presence of blastokinin or serum. J. Reprod. Fertil. 20, 255–262 (1969)
Hamana, K., Hafez, E.S.E.: Disc electrophoretic patterns of uteroglobin and serum proteins in rabbit blastocoelic fluid. J. Reprod. Fertil. 21, 557–560 (1970)
Haour, F., Saxena, B.B.: Detection of a gonadotropin in rabbit blastocyst before implantation. Science 185, 444–445 (1974)
Huff, R.L., Eik-Nes, K.B.: Metabolism in vitro of acetate and certain steroids by six-day old rabbit blastocysts. J. Reprod. Fertil. 11, 57–63 (1966)
Johnson, M.H.: The protein composition of secretions from pregnant and pseudopregnant rabbit uteri with and without a copper intrauterine device. Fertil. and Steril. 23, 123–130 (1972a)
Johnson, M.H.: The distribution of a blastokinin-like uterine protein studied by immune fluorescence. Fertil. and Steril. 23, 929–939 (1972b)
Kay, E., Feigelson, M.: An oestrogen modulated protein in rabbit oviducal fluid. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 271, 436–441 (1972)
Kirchner, C.: Untersuchungen an uterusspezifischen Glykoproteinen während der frühen Gravidität des Kaninchens (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Wilhelm Roux' Archiv 164, 97–133 (1969)
Kirchner, C.: Immune histologic studies on the synthesis of a uterine-specific protein in the rabbit and its passage through the blastocyst coverings. Fertil. and Steril. 23, 131–136 (1972)
Krishnan, R.S., Daniel, J.C., Jr.: “Blastokinin”: Inducer and regulator of blastocyst development in the rabbit uterus. Science 158, 490–492 (1967)
Krishnan, R.S., Daniel, J.C., Jr.: Composition of “blastokinin” from rabbit uterus. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 168, 579–582 (1968)
Mayol, R.F., Longenecker, D.E.: Development of a radioimmunoassay for blastokinin. Endocrinology 95, 1534–1542 (1974)
McGaughey, R.W., Murray, F.A.: Properties of blastokinin: Amino acid composition, evidence for subunits, and estimation of isoelectric point. Fertil. and Steril. 23, 399–404 (1972)
Murray, F.A., Daniel, J.C., Jr.: Synthetic pattern of proteins in rabbit uterine flushings. Fertil. and Steril. 24, 692–697 (1973)
Murray, F.A., McGaughey, R.W., Yarus, M.J.: Blastokinin: Its size and shape, and an indication of the existence of subunits. Fertil. and Steril. 23, 69–77 (1972)
Petzoldt, U.: Micro-disc electrophoresis of soluble proteins in rabbit blastocyst. J. Embryol. exp. Morph. 31, 479–487 (1974a)
Petzoldt, U.: Autoradiographic studies on the origin of rabbit blastocyst fluid proteins. Cytobiologie 9, 401–406 (1974b)
Petzoldt, U., Dames, W., Gottschewski, G.H.M.: Das Proteinmuster in frühen Entwicklungsstadien des Kaninchens. Cytobiologie 5, 272–280 (1972)
Sacco, A.G., Shivers, C.A.: Localisation of tissue-specific antigens in the rabbit ovary, oviduct and uterus by the fluorescent antibody technique. J. Reprod. Fertil. 32, 415–420 (1973)
Schwick, H.G.: Chemisch-entwicklungsphysiologische Beziehungen von Uterus zu Blastocyste des Kaninchens (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Wilhelm Roux' Arch. 156, 283–343 (1965)
Shapiro, S.S., Jentsch, J.P., Yard, A.S.: Protein composition of rabbit oviducal fluid. J. Reprod. Fertil. 24, 403–408 (1971)
Urzua, M.A., Stambaugh, R., Flickinger, G., Mastroianni, L., Jr.: Uterine and oviduct fluid protein patterns in the rabbit before and after ovulation. Fertil. and Steril. 21, 860–865 (1970)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by Grant Ki 154/5-6 of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
I am indebted to Ms. Gudrun Jeuthner for her excellent technical assistance
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kirchner, C. Uteroglobin in the rabbit. Cell Tissue Res. 170, 415–424 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219420
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219420