Increase in neurokinin B expression and in tachykinin NK(3) receptor-mediated response and expression in the rat uterus with age.
We analyzed tachykinin NK(3) receptor (NK(3)R) gene expression by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in uteri from young (3-month-old) and old (30-month-old) rats. In addition, we characterized the expression of the preprotachykinin-B (TAC-3) gene, which encodes neurokinin B (NKB), the preferred endogenous agonist of NK(3)R. Compared with young rats, NK(3)R messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were about 45-fold higher in uteri from old animals. TAC-3 mRNA was expressed in the rat uterus, and its levels were about 2.5-fold higher in old than in young rats. The contractile effect of the selective tachykinin NK(3)R agonist [MePhe(7)]-NKB in uteri from young and old animals was investigated by using conventional organ bath technique. A marked correlation was observed between the magnitude of the contraction elicited by [MePhe(7)]-NKB and the level of expression determined by RT-PCR for the NK(3)R. These observations are consistent with a role for the NKB/NK(3)R ligand-receptor pair in regulating uterine functions and support the existence of a link between estrogen and the NK(3)R/NKB activation pathway.
Cintado
C G
CG
Institute of Chemical Research, Scientific Research Center Isla de La Cartuja, Sevilla, Spain.
Pinto
F M
FM
Devillier
P
P
Merida
A
A
Candenas
M L
ML
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D015287:Neurokinin B / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018042:Receptors, Neurokinin-3 / Q000502:physiology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism*
D018042:Receptors, Neurokinin-3; D015287:Neurokinin B