title: Epidermal growth factor family in rhesus monkey uterus during the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy.
abstract: This study examines immunohistochemically the presence of EGF, TGFalpha, HB-EGF, AR, and EGFR, members of the EGF family in the monkey uterus during the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy. EGF, TGFalpha, HB-EGF, AR, and EGFR were mainly localized in glandular and luminal epithelium. TGFalpha, HB-EGF, and AR staining were stronger in the glandular epithelium closer to the myometrium than in that closer to the luminal epithelium. The level of EGF, TGFalpha, HB-EGF, AR, and EGFR staining was low on days 1 and 6, and began to increase on day 9 of the menstrual cycle. A high level of EGF, and EGFR staining was maintained on days 16, 20, and 25 of the menstrual cycle. The highest levels of TGFalpha, AR, and HB-EGF staining were seen on days 16 and 20 of the menstrual cycle. In early pregnancy, a low level of EGF, TGFalpha, HB-EGF, AR, and EGFR staining appeared on days 1 and 2 of pregnancy, and then gradually increased from day 3 of pregnancy. The highest levels of EGF, TGFalpha, HB-EGF, and EGFR were detected on days 9, and 11 of pregnancy. Our data suggest that the EGF family may play a role in monkey implantation. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 55:164-174, 2000.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Z P
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.forename: Z M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Harper
mesh_terms: D066258:Amphiregulin; D000818:Animals; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000378:metabolism*; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D066258:Amphiregulin; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006133:Growth Substances; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors