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Effects of agmatine on secretion of interferon tau and catecholamines and expression of genes related to production of polyamines by ovine trophectoderm cells

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Abstract

Embryonic survival requires histotrophic nutrition, including molecules secreted or transported into the uterine lumen by uterine epithelia. l-Arginine (Arg) is a common substrate for synthesis of nitric oxide, ornithine, proline, glutamate, creatinine, urea, polyamines and agmatine. Agmatine (Agm) is a product of arginine decarboxylation and it is a substrate for agmatinase for synthesis of putrescine and other polyamines in the ovine conceptus. Polyamines are essential for conceptus development. Therefore, this study compared effects of Arg and Agm on the behavior of ovine trophectoderm (oTr1) cells cultured in vitro. Arg, but not Agm, increased proliferation and migration of oTr1 cells, but neither Arg nor Agm affected cell adhesion. The total amount of IFNT in culture medium of oTr1 cells was increased by Arg, but Agm increased the IFNT production per oTr1 cell. Arg and Agm plus Arg decreased secretion of dopamine and norepinephrine by oTr1 cells. Agm upregulates expression of mRNAs SLC7A1, agmatinase and OAZ2 while the combination of Arg and Agm decreased expression of mRNAs for ODC1, SLC7A1, OAZ1 and OAZ3 by oTr1 cells. Although Agm does not stimulate proliferation, migration or adhesion of oTr1 cells or their secretion of catecholamines, Agm did increase transcription of SLC7A1, agmatinase and OAZ2 genes which would increase the capacity of oTr1 cells to produce polyamines. Collectively, our findings suggest a role for Arg and Agm in the regulation of transport of basic amino acids (including Arg), polyamine synthesis, and secretion of catecholamines by oTr1 cells.

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Abbreviations

ADC:

Arginine decarboxylase

AGMAT:

Agmatinase

Arg:

l-Arginine

Agm:

Agmatine

OAZ:

Antienzyme

CM:

Complete medium

FBS:

Fetal bovine serum

IFNT:

Interferon tau

NO:

Nitric oxide

ODC1:

Ornithine decarboxylase

oTr1:

Ovine trophectoderm primary cell line

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Sustainability Strategy 2013–2014, from CODI University of Antioquia (UdeA), Medellín, Colombia Scholarship “Becas Doctorado UdeA 2014” (to YYL; PhD student in Veterinary Science, Faculty of Agrarian Science, Antioquia University) and by Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants (2011-67015-20028 and 2015-67015-23276) from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (to FWB and GW). Yasser Lenis is also a Research Fellow in the Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University.

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Author notes

  1. Xiaoqiu Wang

    Present address: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-2471, USA

    Yasser Y. Lenis, Xiaoqiu Wang, Wanjin Tang, Guoyao Wu & Fuller W. Bazer

  2. Center for Animal Biotechnology and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA

    Yasser Y. Lenis, Xiaoqiu Wang, Wanjin Tang, Guoyao Wu & Fuller W. Bazer

  3. Centauro Research Group, Faculty of Agrarian Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad de Antioquia, Calle 70 No. 52-21, Medellín, Colombia

    Yasser Y. Lenis

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  1. Yasser Y. Lenis
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Correspondence to Fuller W. Bazer.

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This study involved an established cell line and did not require the use of animals.

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Lenis, Y.Y., Wang, X., Tang, W. et al. Effects of agmatine on secretion of interferon tau and catecholamines and expression of genes related to production of polyamines by ovine trophectoderm cells. Amino Acids 48, 2389–2399 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-016-2216-1

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