Genes regulating biochemical pathways of oxygen metabolism in porcine oviductal epithelial cells during long-term IVC

Oxygen metabolism has an important role in the normal functioning of reproductive system, as well as the pathogenesis of female infertility. Oxidative stress seems to be responsible for the initiation or development of reproductive organ diseases, including polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, preeclampsia, etc. Given the important role of maintaining balance between the production of ROS and antioxidant defence in the proper functioning of reproductive system, in the present study we aimed to analyse the expression of genes related to oxygen metabolism in porcine oviductal epithelial cells during long-term in vitro culture. The oviducts were collected from 45 crossbred gilts at the age of approximately nine months that displayed at least two regular oestrous cycles. The oviductal endothelial cells were isolated by enzymatic digestion to establish long-term primary cultures. Gene expression changes between 7, 15 and 30 daysof culturewere analysed with the use ofwhole transcriptome profiling by Affymetrix microarrays. The most of the “cellular response to oxidative stress” genes were upregulated. However, we did not observe any main trend in changes within the “cellular response to oxygen-containing compound” ontology group, where the gene expression levels were changed in various manner.

Running title: Oxygen metabolism in porcine oviductal epithelial cells