Generation of an equine oviductal epithelial cell line for the study of sperm-oviduct interactions

• Published in: Theriogenology 1999-10, Vol.52 (5), p.875-885
• Main Authors: Dobrinski, I., Jacob, J.R., Tennant, B.C., Ball, B.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming - genetics; binding; Cell Line, Transformed; cell lines; Cell Polarity; cell ultrastructure; Cells, Cultured; Epithelial Cells - cytology; Epithelial Cells - physiology; epithelium; Fallopian Tubes - cytology; Fallopian Tubes - physiology; Female; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I - analysis; horse; Horses; Keratins - analysis; longevity; Male; oviduct; oviducts; plasmid vectors; Simian virus 40 - genetics; sperm binding; spermatozoa; Spermatozoa - cytology; Spermatozoa - physiology; SV40; transfection
• ISSN: 0093-691X; 1879-3231
• DOI: 10.1016/S0093-691X(99)00179-X

Equine oviductal epithelial cells (OEC) were transformed with simian virus 40 large T antigen (SV 40 T-ag) to create a cell line for the study of the interaction of equine spermatozoa with oviductal epithelium. One cell line was established based on the expression of the S V 40 Tag and extended lifespan in culture. Immortalized equine OEC retained the characteristics of differentiated OEC such as the formation of monolayers with characteristic epithelial morphology and cell polarization as well as expression of cytokeratin and equine major histocompatibility complex I. Monolayers of immortalized equine OEC retained their functional competence to bind equine spermatozoa in a dose-dependent manner comparable to that of primary equine OEC cultures. This immortalized cell line of equine OEC provides a uniform, readily available system for sperm-OEC co-cultures, and may be a useful model for the study of sperm-oviduct interactions in the horse.