Expressions of TLR4, MyD88, IRAK4 and NF- κΒ in the oviduct of Chinese brown frog (Rana dybowskii)

In this study, we continued to investigate the localizations and expression levels of cytokines including toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and its related factors, myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF- κΒ) in the oviduct ofRana dybowskiiduring the breeding period and pre-hibernation. Morphological results showed that there were significant differences in oviductal weight and pipe diameter with significantly higher values in pre-hibernation than those of the breeding period. Strong immunostaining of TLR4, MyD88, IRAK4 and NF- κΒ were observed in the pre-hibernation. These proteins levels had no significant difference between these two periods except MyD88 which was significantly higher in the pre-hibernation. The mRNA expression levels of MyD88 and NF-κΒ were obviously higher in pre-hibernation than those of the bree ding period. These findings suggested that TLR4/MyD88 signal pathway might participate in the oviductal functions ofRana dybowskiiduring the breeding period and pre-hibernation.
Source: European Journal of Histochemistry - Category: Biomedical Science Source Type: research