Anti-EDN2 (full length) polyclonal antibody

Endothelin (EDN) is a possible regulating factor of oviductal motility, which is important for the transport of gametes and embryo. To clarify the factors that control the secretion of EDN in the bovine oviduct, the expression of EDNs, EDN-converting enzymes (ECEs) and EDN receptors (EDNRs) were investigated. All isoforms of EDN (EDN1-3), ECE (ECE1 and ECE2) and EDNR (EDNRA and EDNRB) were immunolocalised in the epithelial cells of the ampulla and the isthmus. EDNRs were also immunolocalised in smooth-muscle cells. ThemRNAexpression of EDN2 and ECE2 was higher in cultured ampullary oviductal epithelial cells than in isthmic cells. The expression of EDN1, EDN2 and ECE2 in the ampullary tissue was highest on the day of ovulation. Oestradiol-17 beta increased EDN2 and ECE1 expression, while progesterone increased only ECE1 expression in cultured ampullary epithelial cells. These results indicate that EDNs are produced by epithelial cells and their target site is smooth-muscle and epithelial cells, and suggest that ovarian steroids are regulators of endothelin synthesis in ampullary oviductal epithelial cells.

Endothelins (EDNs) and their receptors (EDNRs) are reported to be involved in the regulation of many physiological/pathological processes, such as cardiovascular development and functions, pulmonary hypertension, neural crest cell proliferation, differentiation and migration, pigmentation, and plumage in chickens. However, the functionality, signaling, and tissue expression of avian EDN-EDNRs have not been fully characterized, thus impeding our comprehensive understanding of their roles in this model vertebrate species. Here, we reported the cDNAs of three EDN genes (EDN1, EDN2, EDN3) and examined the functionality and expression of the three EDNs and their receptors (EDNRA, EDNRB and EDNRB2) in chickens. The results showed that: 1) chicken (c-) EDN1, EDN2, and EDN3 cDNAs were predicted to encode bioactive EDN peptides of 21 amino acids, which show remarkable degree of amino acid sequence identities (91-95%) to their respective mammalian orthologs; 2) chicken (c-) EDNRA expressed in HEK293 cells could be preferentially activated by chicken EDN1 and EDN2, monitored by the three cell-based luciferase reporter assays, indicating that cEDNRA is a functional receptor common for both cEDN1 and cEDN2. In contrast, both cEDNRB and cEDNRB2 could be activated by all three EDN peptides with similar potencies, indicating that both receptors can function as common receptors for the three EDNs and share functional similarity. Moreover, activation of three EDNRs could stimulate intracellular calcium, MAPK/ERK, and cAMP/PKA signaling pathways. 3) qPCR assay revealed that cEDNs and cEDNRs are widely, but differentially, expressed in adult chicken tissues. Taken together, our data establishes a clear molecular basis to uncover the physiological/pathological roles of EDN-EDNR system in birds and helps to reveal the conserved actions of EDN-EDNR signaling across vertebrates.