Role of resistin in the porcine uterus: effects on endometrial steroidogenesis

Marlena Gudelska; Kamil Dobrzyn; Marta Kiezun; Edyta Rytelewska; Ewa Zaobidna; Katarzyna Kisielewska; Grzegorz Kopij; Tadeusz Kaminski; Nina Smolinska

doi:10.1071/RD24097

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Contents Vol 37(3)

Role of resistin in the porcine uterus: effects on endometrial steroidogenesis

Marlena Gudelska

^A ^* , Kamil Dobrzyn ^B , Marta Kiezun

^C , Edyta Rytelewska ^D , Ewa Zaobidna ^E , Katarzyna Kisielewska ^A , Grzegorz Kopij ^C , Tadeusz Kaminski

^C and Nina Smolinska

^C

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Department of Human Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland.

^B Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland.

^C Department of Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland.

^D Laboratory of Physiology and Toxicology of Reproduction, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Krakow, Poland.

^E Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland.

^* Correspondence to: marlena.gudelska@uwm.edu.pl

Handling Editor: Gilles Charpigny

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 37, RD24097 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD24097

Submitted: 25 June 2024 Accepted: 9 December 2024 Published online: 9 January 2025

Abstract

Context

The adipose tissue produces adipokines – hormones essential to many biological functions, including reproduction.

Aims

We hypothesised that resistin, one of the adipokines, is present in the blood plasma, uterine luminal flushings (ULF) and uterus of pigs during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy, and that resistin influences uterine steroidogenesis.

Methods

This study aimed to determine the expression of resistin in the porcine endometrium and myometrium during the cycle and pregnancy by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot (WB). The adipokine concentrations in blood plasma and ULF were defined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The impact of resistin on progesterone (P₄) and oestradiol (E₂) secretion and steroidogenic enzyme proteins’ expression were determined by radioimmunoassay and WB, respectively. The effect of resistin on protein kinase B (Akt) protein phosphorylation was determined by WB.

Key results

The study’s results identified the resistin gene and protein expression in the porcine endometrium and myometrium. Moreover, the expression of adipokine in the uterus, its concentrations in the blood plasma and ULF, and its impact on the endometrial P₄ and E₂ production, are dependent on the hormonal milieu related to the phase of the cycle and/or period of pregnancy. Furthermore, resistin enhances the phosphorylation of the Akt signaling pathway.

Conclusions

The current findings suggest that resistin may control the steroidogenesis process in the porcine endometrium and could be an important regulator of pig reproduction.

Implications

In the long-term perspective, the results obtained in this study may help improve farm animal breeding.

Keywords: gestation, oestrous cycle, pig, reproduction, resistin, steroidogenesis, steroids, uterus.

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