Expression profile of genes related to pregnancy maintenance in Dromedary Camel during the first trimester

So far, few signals involved in embryo-maternal dialogue have been identified in pregnant she-camel. Our objective was to investigate expression profiles of genes relevant to uterine extra-cellular matrix remodeling (ITGB4, SLCO2A1, FOS, and JUN), uterine tissue vascularization, and placental formation (VEGFA, PGF, and PDGFA), embryonic growth and development (IGF1 and PTEN), plus cell death of uterine tissue (BCL2) in early pregnant versus non-pregnant she-camels. Forty genital tracts (20 pregnant and 20 non-pregnant) and blood samples were collected from abattoirs. Total RNA was extracted from uterine tissues and qRT-PCR was conducted for candi-date genes. Serum concentrations of progesterone (P4) and estradiol17-beta (E2) were measured. Expression of ITGB4, FOS, and PGF genes increased (P < 0.001) in the right uterine horn of pregnant versus non-pregnant she-camels. Moreover, JUN, SLCO2A1, VEGFA, and PTEN mRNAs were up-regulated (P < 0.001) in various segments of uterine tissues in pregnant groups. The PDGFA transcript was over-expressed (P < 0.001) in both uterine horns of pregnant groups. Additionally, IGF1 was higher (P < 0.001) in the right horn and the uterine body of pregnant groups, and expression of BCL2 was increased (P < 0.001) in the pregnant uterine body. More-over, serum concentrations of P4 were higher (P < 0.001) and E2 lower (P < 0.05) in pregnant she-camels. Taken together, the fine-tuning of genes related to implantation, matrix formation, vascularization, and placental formation is highly required for successful pregnancy in she-camels.

Automated summary

This study investigated gene expression profiles in pregnant and non-pregnant she-camels and found that relevant genes to uterine extra-cellular matrix remodeling (ITGB4, SLCO2A1, FOS, and JUN), uterine tissue vascularization and placental formation (VEGFA, PGF, and PDGFA), embryonic growth and development (IGF1 and PTEN), as well as cell death of uterine tissue (BCL2), were up-regulated in pregnant she-camels compared to non-pregnant ones. In addition, higher progesterone levels and lower estradiol17-beta levels were observed in pregnant she-camels. This suggests that precise regulation of genes related to implantation, matrix formation, vascularization, and placental formation is crucial for successful pregnancy in she-camels.