Identification of genes expressed in the epithelium of porcine oviduct containing early embryos at various stages of development

As a first step toward elucidation of the action of factors secreted by the epithelium of oviduct, differential display reverse transcription-polymera se chain reaction (DDRT-PCR) was used in this study to identify transcripts of such oviductal factors in gifts carrying various stages of early embryo development post hormone-induced ovulation. A total of 13 differentially e xpressed transcripts were identified between 50 and 120 hr post-hCG injecti on (between 1-and 8-cell embryonic stages). Twelve of these transcripts wer e found to be initially expressed at 96 hr post-hCG injection (at 4-cell em bryonic stage) and beyond. Three of such genes were shown by sequence analy sis to be the porcine transforming growth factor-alpha, the porcine transfo rming growth factor-beta-binding protein II and a porcine astral natriureti c factor receptorlike transcript. Only one differentially expressed gene wa s detected between 50-60 and 85 hr post-hCG injection, and this gene turned out to be the porcine follicle-stimulating hormone receptor. The remaining eight transcripts detected by DDRT-PCR were novel. Moreover, most of these newly expressed genes were found to be turned on at a time coincidental wi th that of the 4-cell block of porcine embryos cultured in vitro. Our resul ts demonstrate that DDRT-PCR is a feasible approach for rapid identificatio n of genes that are differentially expressed in oviductal epithelium. Some of the genes thus identified may be important for unhindered development of embryos in the oviduct. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 56:331-335, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley -Liss, Inc.