Protease-nexin I as an androgen-dependent secretory product of the murine seminal vesicle.
A search for inhibitors of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) in the male and female murine genital tracts revealed high levels of a uPA ligand in the seminal vesicle. This ligand is functionally, biochemically and immunologically indistinguishable from protease-nexin I (PN-I), a serpin ligand of thrombin and uPA previously detected only in mesenchymal cells and astrocytes. A survey of murine tissues indicates that PN-I mRNA is most abundant in seminal vesicles, where it represents 0.2-0.4% of the mRNAs. PN-I is synthesized in the epithelium of the seminal vesicle, as determined by in situ hybridization, and is secreted in the lumen of the gland. PN-I levels are much lower in immature animals, and strongly decreased upon castration. Testosterone treatment of castrated males rapidly restores PN-I mRNA levels, indicating that PN-I gene expression is under androgen control.
Institute of Histology and Embryology, University of Geneva Medical School, Switzerland.
J D
JD
Vassalli
J
J
Huarte
D
D
Bosco
A P
AP
Sappino
N
N
Sappino
A
A
Velardi
A
A
Wohlwend
H
H
Ernø
D
D
Monard
D
D
Belin
D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015849:Plasminogen Inactivators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D058255:Protease Nexins; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D012669:Seminal Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism*; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D015843:Serpins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000502:physiology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D015849:Plasminogen Inactivators; D058255:Protease Nexins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D015843:Serpins; D013739:Testosterone; D004247:DNA; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator