The present study was undertaken to identify changes of plasminogen activators (PAs) in porcine oviductal epithelial cells (POECs) during the estrous cycle classified with post-ovulatory stages (Post-Ov), early to mid-luteal stages (Early-mid L) and pre-ovulatory (Pre-Ov) stages. The urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) was only observed on day 5 and day 7 of culture in the POECs on all the estrous cycles and gradually increased according to increasing culture times, but not Early-mid L. In POECs-conditioned medium, uPA, tissue-type (tPA) and tPA-PA inhibitor (tPA-PAI) activity were observed at all culture times during estrous cycles. The uPA activity of POECs-conditioned medium on Post-Ov stage were significantly (p<0.05) decreased during prolonged cultures. On the other hand, the tPA activity of POECs-conditioned medium at Post-Ov stage was significantly (p<0.05) higher on day 5 than compared to the other days. Although was higher on day 1 at Post-Ov stage, the tPA-PAI activity of POECs-conditioned medium was significantly (p<0.05) higher on day 7 at all stage than that of day 5 of the culture. Taken together, these results suggest that uPA, tPA and tPA-PAI are produced by POECs, and the variations of the PAs activity are regulated in the different stages of the estrous cycle.

ABSTRACT   INTRODUCTION   MATERIALS AND METHODS   RESULTS   DISCUSSION   REFERENCES

• Mi-Young Shin(College of Animal Life Sciences and School of Veterinary Medicine, Kangwon National University, Hamchoon women's Clinic)
• Tae-Shin Kim(College of Animal Life Sciences and School of Veterinary Medicine, Kangwon National University)
• Eun-Hye Kwon(Korea Basic Science Insititute Chuncheon Center, Kangwon National University)
• Soo-Bong Park(National Institute of Animal Science)
• Chun-Keun Park(College of Animal LIfe Sciences and School of Veterinary Medicine,Kangwon National University) Corresponding author
• Dong-Seok Lee(College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University) Corresponding author