Carbohydrate Metabolism in Zebuine Cows' Oviduct
Helga Fernandes Gomes1, Angelo J. B. Dias1, Gonçalo A. de Souza Filho2, Beatriz S. Ferreira2 and Carlos Logullo3
LMGA-CCTA-UENF1, LBT-CBB-UENF2,LQFPP-CBB-UENF3, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
Gamete transport, sperm capacitation, fertilization, and early embryo development are all physiological events that occur in the oviduct lumen. These events occur in vivo much more successfully than in vitro. The main energy substrates in oviduct fluid are glucose and pyruvate from blood stream. They are the most commonly investigated substrates because of their importance to spermatozoa and embryo metabolism.
Glycogen synthase Kinase3 (GSK3), a multifunctional serine/threonine kinase found in all eukaryotes, is a well-established component of the Wnt signaling pathway, which is essential for setting up the entire body pattern during embryonic development and also a key component of a large number of cellular processes, such as protein synthesis, cell proliferation and differentiation and diseases, such as Alzheimer and diabetes.
The biochemical measurements of glucose and pyruvate of zebuine cow's oviduct fluid, with or without corpus luteum, were analyzed in this study. We observed a high glucose concentration in anterior portion of oviducts, either with or without corpus luteum, when compared with central and posterior portion. Higher levels of glucose and pyruvate in intact oviduct fluid correlate with the presence of corpus luteum. We demonstrated the presence of GSK 3β in zebuine cows' oviduct cells. Bands with the approximate molecular weight of GSK 3β were detected by Western-blot analysis. Additionally, with the used degenerated primers, corresponding to the conserved Kinase domain, to obtain an expected 600 bp fragment by RT-PCR.
Our results may provide a better understanding on the contribution of glucose metabolism in zebuine cows' oviduct for optimal in vitro fertilization. Furthermore, these findings are intended to improve medium composition parameters used nowadays in in vitro fertilization techniques.
Supported by: FAPERJ, PRONEX, CNPq and CAPES
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