The genes regulating maintenance of cellular protein location are differentially expressed in porcine epithelial oviductal cells during longterm in vitro cultivation

The oviduct is a part of female reproductive tract that is essential for successful fertilization and early embryo development. It is lined with epithelium consisting of two types of cells: ciliated and secretory. The primary function of ciliated oviductal epithelial cells (OECs) is to support the transport of gametes and embryos through the ovary, whereas secretory OECs produce components of the oviductal fluid. Undoubtedly, the oviductal epithelium plays a major part in the early aspects of pregnancy development, from providing an optimal environment for gametes and embryos to supporting fertilization. Therefore, our aim was to gain a better insight into the genetic changes underlying function of these cells. We have harvested OECs from crossbred gilts (n=45), at the age of about nine months and which displayed two regular estrous cycles, and established long-term primary culture of porcine OECs. Microarray analysis was utilized to determine differentially expressed genes during day 1, 7, 15 and 30 of cultivation, with our results revealing54 differentially expressed genes belonging to three ontology groups: „maintenance of location”, „maintenance of protein location” and „maintenance of protein location in cell”. Since the biochemistry and morphology of epithelial cells may change during long term cultivation, we conclude that our results are a reflection of these changes and help to shed a light on porcine OECs properties in in vitro environment.

Running title: Maintenance of cellular protein location in porcine epithelial oviductal cells