The expression of mucin genes and the presence of mucin gene products in the equine endometrium

In the equine reproductive tract, little is known about mucin gene expression and the role of mucins in barrier function and host-cell interaction. The aims of the study were to identify equine orthologs of mammalian mucin genes using available equine sequence data, to profile expression of equine orthologous mucin genes in the endometrium using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), to determine spatial expression patterns of mucin genes using in situ hybridisation, and to confirm the presence of mucin gene products using Western blotting and equine-specific mucin antibodies during oestrus and dioestrus. While the mucin gene expression pattern in equine endometrium is similar to that of other mammals, several mucins appear to be uniquely expressed in this tissue (eqMUC3B, 7, 18, and 20) and one is hormonally regulated (eqMUC3B).