TY - JOUR
T1 - Immunolocalization of the hyaluronan receptor CD44 in the reproductive tract of the mare
AU - Rodriguez Hurtado, I.
AU - Stewart, A. J.
AU - Wolfe, D. F.
AU - Caldwell, F. J.
AU - Harrie, M.
AU - Whitley, E. M.
PY - 2011/1/15
Y1 - 2011/1/15
N2 - Hyaluronan (HA), a glycosaminoglycan, is a major component of the pericellular matrix which envelopes mammalian cells. Binding of hyaluronan to one of its specific receptors, CD44, modulates transduction of intracellular signals which direct a variety of processes, including embryogenesis, wound healing, inflammation, and neoplasia. Since regulation of these processes is critical to equine reproductive success, localization of constitutive CD44 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemical methods in ovarian, oviductal, and uterine tissues from healthy mares. Ovarian stroma contained thecal cells with varying CD44 immunopositivity. Follicular and granulosa cells of some antral and atretic follicles were positive for CD44. In the oviduct, the luminal epithelium was variably positive for CD44, with overall decreasing intensity of immunostaining from the infundibulum to the isthmus. The CD44 molecule was expressed strongly by surface epithelial cells of the uterine endometrium, but was present only rarely among cells of uterine glands. In addition, CD44 was expressed by smooth muscle cells of vascular walls, oviduct, and uterus. Since CD44 is known to modulate cell movement and differentiation, and was present at multiple sites in the reproductive tract of normal mares, we inferred there may be an important role for the HA-CD44 signaling pathway in reproductive function and inflammation.
AB - Hyaluronan (HA), a glycosaminoglycan, is a major component of the pericellular matrix which envelopes mammalian cells. Binding of hyaluronan to one of its specific receptors, CD44, modulates transduction of intracellular signals which direct a variety of processes, including embryogenesis, wound healing, inflammation, and neoplasia. Since regulation of these processes is critical to equine reproductive success, localization of constitutive CD44 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemical methods in ovarian, oviductal, and uterine tissues from healthy mares. Ovarian stroma contained thecal cells with varying CD44 immunopositivity. Follicular and granulosa cells of some antral and atretic follicles were positive for CD44. In the oviduct, the luminal epithelium was variably positive for CD44, with overall decreasing intensity of immunostaining from the infundibulum to the isthmus. The CD44 molecule was expressed strongly by surface epithelial cells of the uterine endometrium, but was present only rarely among cells of uterine glands. In addition, CD44 was expressed by smooth muscle cells of vascular walls, oviduct, and uterus. Since CD44 is known to modulate cell movement and differentiation, and was present at multiple sites in the reproductive tract of normal mares, we inferred there may be an important role for the HA-CD44 signaling pathway in reproductive function and inflammation.
KW - CD44
KW - Horse
KW - Hyaluronan receptor
KW - Ovary
KW - Oviduct
KW - Uterus
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U2 - 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2010.08.014
DO - 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2010.08.014
M3 - Article
C2 - 20932561
AN - SCOPUS:78650249321
SN - 0093-691X
VL - 75
SP - 276
EP - 286
JO - Theriogenology
JF - Theriogenology
IS - 2
ER -