Project description:Most cartilaginous fishes live in seawater (SW), but a few exceptional elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) are euryhaline and can acclimate to freshwater (FW) environments. The plasma of elasmobranchs is high in NaCl and urea concentrations, which constrains osmotic water loss. However, these euryhaline elasmobranchs maintain high levels of plasma NaCl and urea even when acclimating to low salinity, resulting in a strong osmotic gradient from external environment to body fluid. The kidney consequently produces a large volume of dilute urine to cope with the water influx. In the present study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of dilute urine production in the kidney of Japanese red stingray, Hemitrygon akajei, transferred from SW to low-salinity environments. We showed that red stingray maintained high plasma NaCl and urea levels by reabsorbing more osmolytes in the kidney when transferred to low salinity. RNA-seq and qPCR analyses were conducted to identify genes involved in NaCl and urea reabsorption under the low-salinity conditions, and the upregulated gene expressions of Na+-K+-Cl- cotransporter 2 (nkcc2) and Na+/K+-ATPase (nka) were found in the FW-acclimated individuals. These upregulations occurred in the early distal tubule (EDT) in the bundle zone of the kidney, which coils around the proximal and collecting tubules to form the highly convoluted structure of batoid nephron. Considering the previously proposed model for urea reabsorption, the upregulation of nkcc2 and nka not only causes the reabsorption of NaCl in the EDT, but potentially also supports enhanced urea reabsorption and eventually the production of dilute urine in FW-acclimated individuals. We propose advantageous characteristics of the batoid-type nephron that facilitate acclimation to a wide range of salinities, which might have allowed the batoids to expand their habitats.
Project description:Whole-transcriptome profiles of individual human placental villi samples from twenty-five (25) Indian women with normal pregnancies during 6- to 8-weeks of gestation were examined using human whole genome expression arrays (NimbleGen 135K). The present study focused on the whole-transcriptome profiling using NimbleGen135K (070925_HG18_exp__12X135K) human whole genome expression arrays of individual human placental villi samples obtained from twenty-five (25) proven-fertile women bearing normal pregnancies voluntarily terminated between 6- and 8-weeks of gestation. Gestational age was estimated from menstrual history, physical and ultrasonographic evaluation. No case of complicated pregnancy from infection, and other significant fetal and maternal clinical indications was included. These twenty five (25) samples include biological replicates of 6, 7 and 8 weeks placental villi samples.
Project description:These data include the genome wide occupancy of histone modifications and transcription factors by ChIP sequencing in mouse villi cells and in mouse ISCs. Immuno-precipitation of formaldehyde cross-linked chromatin prepared from wild type Villi cells and wild type and Ring1a Ring1b dKO ISCs using specific antibody against different target protein/modification.
Project description:Uterine glands and, by inference, their secretions impact uterine receptivity, blastocyst implantation, stromal cell decidualization, and placental development. Changes in gland function across the menstrual cycle are impacted by steroid hormones, estrogen and progesterone, as well as stroma-derived factors. Using an endometrial epithelial organoid (EEO) system, transcriptome and proteome analyses identified distinct responses of the EEO to steroid hormones and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Notably, steroid hormones and PGE2 modulated the basolateral secretion of EEO proteins, where cystatin C (CST3) was significantly increased by progesterone and PGE2. CST3 treatment of decidualizing stromal cells significantly decreased the decidualization markers PRL and IGFBP1. The attenuation of stromal cell decidualization via CST3 suggests a role for uterine gland-derived proteins in controlling the extent of decidualization. These findings provide evidence that uterine gland-derived factors directly impact stromal cell decidualization, which has strong implications for better understanding pregnancy establishment and female fertility in humans.
Project description:Factors delivered to offspring in colostrum within two days of birth support neonatal porcine uterine development. The uterine mRNA transcriptome is affected by age and nursing during this period. Whether uterine microRNA (miRNA) expression is affected similarly is unknown. Objectives were to: 1) determine effects of age and nursing on porcine uterine miRNA expression between birth and postnatal day (PND) 2 using small RNA sequencing (smRNA-Seq) and; 2) define affected miRNA-mRNA interactions and associated biological processes using integrated target prediction analysis.