[P3-18] Analysis of WNT/β-catenin pathway in Bovine Endometrial Cells In Vitro
It is reported that the WNT/β-catenin pathway is important for endometrial remodeling and embryo implantation. The present study aimed to analyze the WNT/β-catenin pathway in the bovine endometrial cells. Gene expression of potential WNT/β-catenin pathway components in bovine endometrial epithelial cells (BEE) and stromal cells (BES) were analyzed by RT-PCR. Then, BEE was treated with WNT/β-catenin pathway agonist AMBMP in vitro. The β-catenin protein level was measured by western blotting and the amounts of downstream genes were analyzed by qPCR. WNT/β-catenin pathway ligands Wnt2 was detected in both BEE and BES, Wnt3 was not detected in both types of cells, and Wnt7A was only detected in BEE. WNT/β-catenin pathway receptors LRP5, LRP6, FZD1, FZD4, and FZD7 were detected in both cells. The mRNA for the potential WNT7A-specific receptor FZD5 was expressed only in BEE. Treatment of AMBMP significantly increased the amount of β-catenin protein in BEE. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that the BEE process a functional WNT/β-catenin pathway in vitro. The amounts of downstream genes in the WNT/β-catenin pathway are currently being analyzed.