PAF receptor and PAF acetylhydrolase expression in the endosalpinx of the human Fallopian tube: possible role of embryo-derived PAF in the control of embryo transport to the uterus.
BACKGROUND
Prostaglandin-E(2) and platelet-activating factor (PAF) are embryonic-derived signals that time embryo passage into the uterus in the mare and hamster respectively. PAF-like activity is detectable in the spent media of preimplantation human embryos and it has been suggested that PAF may be the embryonic signal that controls embryo transport to the uterus in our species. The actions of PAF are regulated at the level of its synthesis and degradation as well as the expression of a specific cell surface receptor (PAFr). The enzyme PAF acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) degrades PAF. This study was undertaken to examine whether or not PAFr and PAF-AH are expressed in the human Fallopian tube and to identify the cell types in which they are expressed.


METHODS
The presence of PAFr mRNA in tissue extracts was investigated using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. We amplified the predicted amplicon for PAFr mRNA from RNA samples extracted from Fallopian tubes. The expression of PAF-AH was detected by Western blot and the localization of PAFr and PAF-AH proteins was detected by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
Utilizing antibodies against PAFr and PAF-AH, co-localization of the two proteins in the epithelium and stromal cells were demonstrated.


CONCLUSIONS
These observations show that the human Fallopian tube expresses PAFr and PAF-AH at a location compatible with the proposed paracrine role of early embryo-derived PAF.
Velasquez
L A
LA
Laboratorio de Inmunología de la Reproducción, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago, Chile. lvelasqu@lauca.usach.cl
Maisey
K
K
Fernandez
R
R
Valdes
D
D
Cardenas
H
H
Imarai
M
M
Delgado
J
J
Aguilera
J
J
Croxatto
H B
HB
D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000502:physiology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000502:physiology*; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D014599:Uterus
D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; C039351:platelet activating factor receptor; D010741:Phospholipases A; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase