Summary
The establishment of a monolayer culture of cells derived from the girdle region of a 34-day-old donkey conceptus is described. These cells have had over 100 repeated passages in culture. Low levels of pregnant mares' serum gonadotrophin (PMSG, eCG) could be detected in the cells by indirect immunofluorescence using some monoclonal anti-eCG antibodies, but the cells did not secrete eCG as measured by radioimmunoassay or inhibition of haemagglutination. There was marked nuclear polymorphism with binucleate and occasional multinucleate cells. The cells were strongly reactive with wheatgerm agglutinin and concanavalin A suggesting the synthesis of many glycosylated products. Some cells were reactive with antisera to prekeratin, others with antisera to vimentin. The cells also contained actin (showing peculiar intercellular communications), α-actinin and tubulin. They were able to metabolize certain steroid precursors, but there was no definitive evidence for the presence of aromatase or Δ5-3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in these cells. This cell line appears to resemble trophectodermal girdle epithelium at a stage of development prior to the onset of eCG production, and may be useful in studies on the control of expression of this substance.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allen WR (1969) A quantitative immunological assay for pregnant mare serum. J Endocrinol 43:581–591
Allen WR, Moor RM (1972) The origin of the equine endometrial cups. I. Production of PMSG by fetal trophoblast cells. J Reprod Fertil 29:313–316
Allen WR, Hamilton DW, Moor RM (1973) The origin of equine endometrial cups. II. Invasion of the endometrium by trophoblast. Anat Rec 177:485–502
Antzac DF, Volsen SG, Allen WR (1986) Monoclonal antibodies to equine trophoblast antigens. In: Miller R (ed) Proceedings of the Tenth International Rochester Trophoblast Conference, New York. Abstract (in press)
Badley RA, Lloyd CW, Woods A, Carruthers C, Allcock C, Rees DA (1978) Mechanisms of cellular adhesion. III. Preparation and preliminary characterisation of adhesions. Exp Cell Res 117:231–244
Bergh J, Nilsson K, Dahl D, Andersson L, Virtanen L, Lehto V (1984) Expression of intermediate filaments in established human lung cancer cell lines. An indication of differentiation and derivation. Lab Invest 51:307–316
Gadsby JE, Heap RB, Burton RD (1980) Oestrogen production by blastocyst and early embryonic tissue of various species. J Reprod Fertil 60:409–417
Heap RB, Hamon M, Allen WR (1982) Studies on oestrogen synthesis by the preimplantation equine conceptus. J Reprod Fertil [Suppl] 32:343–352
Heath JP (1983) Direct evidence for microfilament mediated capping of surface receptors on crawling fibroblasts. Nature 302:532–534
Starger JM, Goldman RD (1977) Isolation and preliminary characterisation of 10 nm filaments from Baby Hamster Kidney (BHK-21) cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 71:2268–2272
Urwin V (1983) Use of heterologous radioimmunoassay for the measurement of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone concentrations in horse and donkey serum. J Endocrinol 99:199–209
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Dr. S. Kellie is now at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund Laboratories, Lincoln Inn's Fields, London
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Whyte, A., Ockleford, C.D., Wooding, F.B.P. et al. Characteristics of cells derived from the girdle region of the pre-implantation blastocyst of the donkey. Cell Tissue Res. 246, 343–352 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00215896
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00215896