Factors Affecting the Induction of Ovalbumin mRNA in Primary Cultures of Oviductal Cells in the Chicken

Abstract

The present study was conducted to clarify some factors affecting ovalbumin mRNA induction to improve conditions of the primary culture system of oviductal cells. In experiment 1, responsiveness to steroid administration was compared in cells derived from laying hens and steroid-stimulated immature chicks. In experiment 2, the effect of supplementing a culture medium with various compounds on the responsiveness to steroid treatment was examined. In experiment 3, genetic background of chickens was compared whether or not there was a difference in the responsiveness to steroid hormones. The results indicated that the oviductal cells from immature chicks had clear induction of ovalbumin mRNA by steroid treatment, but those from laying hens had no induction. Ascorbate addition increased the steroid responsiveness to a great extent, and fetal calf serum addition had modest, and long-lasting induction of ovalbumin mRNA. Genetic background of chicks selected for high- and low-egg albumen contents affected the responsiveness to the steroid hormones, showing greater induction of ovalbumin mRNA in the high-albumen line than the low-albumen line.