title: Pattern of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 messenger ribonucleic acid expression in the ovine uterus during the estrous cycle and pregnancy.
abstract: The present study was designed to examine the pattern and cellular localization of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11 beta-HSD1) gene expression in the ovine uterus during pregnancy and at 3 mo postpartum. High levels of 11 beta-HSD1 mRNA were detected in the endometrium from Days 60 to 143 (term = 145 days), and the levels did not change significantly during that time. The level of 11 beta-HSD1 mRNA in the endometrium was always much higher than that in the myometrium, in which the mRNA was not readily detectable throughout pregnancy; at 3 mo postpartum, 11 beta-HSD1 mRNA became undetectable in both endometrium and myometrium. Within the endometrium, intense immunoreactive 11 beta-HSD1 was localized exclusively to the luminal epithelium, and the intensity of 11 beta-HSD1 immunostaining closely followed the level of 11 beta-HSD1 mRNA. To determine whether the level of endometrial 11 beta-HSD1 mRNA was related to the status of ovarian function, tissues from non-pregnant animals at different stages of their reproductive cycle were also examined. It was found that 11 beta-HSD1 mRNA was undetectable in the endometrium of cycling animals up to Day 9 of the estrous cycle but was detectable thereafter. Taken together, these results demonstrate that within the ovine uterus the endometrium is always the dominant site of 11 beta-HSD1 gene expression in relation to the myometrium. Furthermore, the expression of 11 beta-HSD1 mRNA in the endometrium is closely related to the status of the reproductive cycle. The mRNA for 11 beta-HSD1 is highly expressed only during pregnancy and in non-pregnant animals during the late luteal phase. Since circulating levels of progesterone are elevated during both of these periods, the present findings suggest a progesterone effect on uterine 11 beta-HSD1 gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Lawson Research Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital, Departments of Ob/Gyn & Physiology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada. kyang@julian.uwo.ca
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krkosek
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Challis
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Lamming
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Darnel
mesh_terms: D042842:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D004717:Endometrium / Q000201:enzymology; D004971:Estrus / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics*; D009215:Myometrium / Q000201:enzymology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012756:Sheep; D014599:Uterus / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D042842:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases