Potential role of interleukin-1 at the peri-ovulation stage in a species of placental viviparous reptile, the three-toed skink, <it>Chalcides chalcides </it>(squamata: scincidae)

• Main Authors: Bigliardi Elisa (Author), Guarino Fabio M (Author), Cateni Chiara (Author), Romagnoli Roberta (Author), Paulesu Luana (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: BMC, 2003-09-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

<p>Abstract</p> <p>We recently showed that interleukin-1 (IL-1) is secreted by the placenta of a species of squamate reptile, the three-toed skink, <it>Chalcides chalcides</it>. In this study, we used immunohistochemical techniques to investigate the expression of IL-1 (in the two isoforms, IL-1α and IL-1β) and its specific membrane receptor IL-1 RtI in uterine oviduct during the peri-implantation period. We found that both IL-1 and its receptor were expressed in uterine tissues before and after ovulation (in the pre-ovulatory stage, even before the yolk had formed in the ovary). However, while IL-1α was mostly localized in the uterine mesenchyme tissue, IL-1β and IL-1RtI were present in the uterine epithelium. Our data provide a further comparison between the reproduction of mammals and squamate reptiles.</p>

Item Description

10.1186/1477-7827-1-60
1477-7827