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Expression of transforming growth factor-ß isoforms and their receptors in utero-vaginal junction of hen oviduct in presence or absence of resident sperm with reference to sperm storage

Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8528, Japan

Correspondence should be addressed to Y Yoshimura; Email: yyosimu{at}hiroshima-u.ac.jp

Our goal was to determine whether transforming growth factor ß (TGFß) isoforms were involved in the process of sperm survivability in the sperm-storage tubules (SST) in the utero-vaginal junction (UVJ) of hen oviduct. The birds were artificially inseminated. The mRNA expressions of three types of TGFß isoforms (TGFß2, TGFß3, and TGFß4) and three types of receptors (TßR1, TßR2, and TßR3) were examined in the presence or in the absence of resident sperm in SST by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR. The mRNA expression of TGFßs and TßRs in sperm was also examined. Immunocytochemistry and western blot were performed for TßR2 to confirm its localization in UVJ. The sperm were observed at least 10 days after insemination by histology. The mRNA expressions of TGFßs and TßRs were significantly increased in UVJ in the presence of resident sperm in SST. The mRNA expressions of TGFßs and TßRs were also observed in sperm. Immunohistochemistry revealed that TßR2 were located in lymphocytes in UVJ and SST cells. The presence of TßR2 in UVJ was also confirmed by western blot. These results suggest that enhanced expressions of TGFßs and TßRs in UVJ may protect sperm in SST, probably by suppressing anti-sperm immunoreactions.

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