title: Expression of galectin-1 mRNA in the mouse uterus is under the control of ovarian steroids during blastocyst implantation.
abstract: Galectin-1 is a member of beta-galactoside-binding lectins expressed in a variety of mammalian tissues. We report here that galectin-1 mRNA is abundantly expressed in the mouse reproductive organs such as the uterus and ovary. Uterine expression of galectin-1 mRNA is specifically regulated in the embryonic implantation process. Its expression increased at a high level on the fifth day post coitum (dpc 5) when embryos hatched into the endometrial epithelial cells. In the absence of embryos, however, galectin-1 expression in the mouse uterus decreased on dpc 5. In the delayed implantation mice, galectin-1 mRNA levels was augmented by the termination of the delay of implantation. Ovarian steroids progesterone and estrogen differentially regulated galectin-1 mRNA level in uterine tissues. Treatment with RU486, a progesterone receptor antagonist, blocked progesterone-induced galectin-1 mRNA level in uterine tissues of ovariectomized mouse. ICI182780, a pure estrogen receptor antagonist, clearly blocked the estrogen effect. Taken together, galectin-1 gene expression in the uterine tissues was regulated by ovarian steroids and this regulation correlated with the implantation process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Korea.
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000502:physiology*; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D010065:Embryo Implantation, Delayed; D004958:Estradiol / Q000502:physiology*; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D037483:Galectin 1; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D011374:Progesterone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D037483:Galectin 1; D006388:Hemagglutinins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol