Changes in the Density of Immunoreactive Avian β-Defensin-3 and-11 in the Hen Uterus in Response to Lipopolysaccharide Inoculation

The aim of this study was to examine the changes in the density of immunoreactive avian beta-defensins (ir-av beta Ds) -3 and -11 in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Healthy laying hens were intravenously injected with LPS (1 mg/kg of body weight) at 0, 3, 6 and 12 h (n=4) before tissue collection, which was uniformly 6 h after oviposition. Their uterus tissues were fixed in formalin-PBS and processed for paraffin sections. Immunohistochemistry was then performed using polyclonal antibodies for av beta D-3 and -11. Immunoreactive av beta D-3 was localized in the supranuclear cytoplasm of the surface epithelial cells, whereas ir-av beta D-11 was observed in the apical cytoplasm of those cells. The density of the immunoreaction products of av beta D-3 showed a significant decrease at 3 h after LPS injection compared to Oh group, and then returned to the original level by 6 h. On the other hand, the density of the immunoreaction products of av beta D-11 was significantly higher at 3 h and 12 h after LPS injection compared to the Oh group. These results suggest that av beta D-3 protein was secreted, and av beta D-11 was synthesized and stored in the mucosal epithelial cells in response to LPS injection. These two types of av beta Ds may play a significant role in the innate host defense in the hen uterus.