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Title: Arginine decarboxylase (ADC) and agmatinase (AGMAT): an alternative pathway for synthesis of polyamines in pig conceptuses and uteri

Author
item SUN, YONGFENG - Texas A&M University
item ZHU, XIAOLING - Texas A&M University
item JOHNSON, GREGORY - Texas A&M University
item DUNLAP, KATHRIN - Texas A&M University
item DU, LIYIN - Inner Mongolian Agriculture University
item Vallet, Jeff
item BAZER, FULLER - Texas A&M University

Submitted to: Biology of Reproduction Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2014
Publication Date: 7/19/2014
Citation: Sun, Y., Zhu, X., Johnson, G.A., Dunlap, K., Du, L., Vallet, J.L., Bazer, F.W. 2014. Arginine decarboxylase (ADC) and agmatinase (AGMAT): an alternative pathway for synthesis of polyamines in pig conceptuses and uteri [abstract]. In: Society for the Study of Reproduction, 47th annual meeting, 19-23 July 2014, Grand Rapids, MI. Abstract 96.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Arginine, a precursor for the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) and polyamines, is critical for implantation and development of the conceptus. We first reported that the arginine decarboxylase (ADC)/agmatinase(AGMAT) pathway as an alternative pathway for synthesis of polyamines in the ovine conceptuses and uterus. This study was to test the hypothesis that the ADC/AGMAT pathway for production of polyamines exists in porcine conceptuses and uteri. To test this hypothesis, we used quantitative real-time PCR and western blot analyses to detect expression of ADC and AGMAT mRNAs and proteins in pig conceptuses and endometria from Days of 11, 13, 15 and 17 of the estrous cycle and pregnancy. All experiments and measures were repeated three times. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s multiple range test. The ADC and AGMAT mRNAs were expressed in conceptus trophectoderm. The qRT-PCR results revealed that expression of ADC and AGMAT mRNAs increased between Days 11 and 17 of the estrous cycle and pregnancy in pig endometria; however, there were no significant differences in expression of either ADC or AGMAT mRNAs between cyclic and pregnant gilts (P>0.05). In uterine endometria of pregnant gilts, ADC mRNA expression on Day 13 was greater than on Days 11 and 17 (P<0.05), and AGMAT mRNA expression was lower on Day 11, than on Days 13, 15 and 17 (P<0.05). The presence of ADC and AGMAT proteins was investigated using western blotting with rabbit anti-human ADC and AGMAT polyclonal antibodies. Specific bands of the correct molecular weights for ADC (50 kDa) and AGMAT (38 kDa) proteins were detected in proteins extracted from the conceptuses of pregnant gilts and endometria of pregnant and cyclic gilts. Using immunohistochemistry, ADC and AGMAT proteins were localized to trophectoderm of conceptuses and uterine luminal and glandular epithelia of cyclic and pregnant gilts. The results indicate that arginine is likely metabolized via the classical arginase/ornithine decarboxylase/polyamine pathway, as well as the ADC/AGMAT/polyamine pathway to enhance production of polyamines required for survival, growth and development of porcine conceptuses.