Endometrial expression of progesterone receptor and uteroglobin genes during early pregnancy in the rabbit.
Mol Reprod Dev
; 34(3): 244-9, 1993 Mar.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-8471245
The progesterone receptor (PR) plays a pivotal role in the maturation process of the secretory endometrium, implantation and maintenance of pregnancy in rabbits. To determine the dynamics of PR gene expression and its physiological significance, the endometrial expression of PR and PR mRNA were evaluated and compared with the expression of the progesterone-regulated uteroglobin (UG) gene during 0-5 days post-coitus in rabbits. The results of immunoblot experiments indicated the presence of PR in endometrial cell extracts from days 1-4 of pregnancy with maximum PR immunostaining on day 2, followed by a marked diminution until its complete disappearance on day 5. When endometrial PR mRNA content was assessed by Northern blots, the results were similar to those of PR immunostaining, with maximal concentrations on the second day after mating. However, PR mRNA levels were still high on day 3, despite the concomitant decrease in immunostainable PR. Endometrial UG gene expression, on the other hand, exhibited a different time sequence. Thus, the UG content in uterine flushings progressively increased from day 3 after mating, reaching maximal levels on the fifth day. The endometrial UG mRNA content presented a similar profile, as its maximum concentration occurred on days 4-5. The overall results indicate that endometrial PR is down-regulated at both the mRNA and protein levels, possibly by endogenous progesterone during early pregnancy. The striking observation that maximal expression of endometrial UG gene products occurred when PR and its mRNA are no longer detectable suggests an important role for this progesterone-binding uterine protein during the preimplantation period.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Uteroglobina
/
Receptores de Progesterona
/
Desenvolvimento Embrionário
/
Endométrio
Limite:
Animals
/
Pregnancy
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Mol Reprod Dev
Assunto da revista:
BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR
/
MEDICINA REPRODUTIVA
Ano de publicação:
1993
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
México
País de publicação:
Estados Unidos