Myometrial maxi-K channel beta1 subunit modulation during pregnancy and after 17beta-estradiol stimulation.
Myometrial maxi-K channels are modulated by beta subunits. We aimed to determine whether beta subunits are modulated to affect uterine excitability during gestation. RNase protection analyses revealed that mouse beta1 subunit transcripts are regulated during gestation with peak expression at day 14 of pregnancy. Immunohistochemical analysis indicates an increase of this subunit during gestation. Upregulation of the beta1 transcript occurs with 4-day exposure to 17beta-estradiol but not progesterone, and acute estradiol exposure has no effect on beta1 transcript expression. These findings verify that beta1 subunit transcript is regulated in mouse myometrium during gestation and estrogens may contribute to this increase.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, 5-660 Bowen Science Building, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
Nancy A
NA
Benkusky
Victoria P
VP
Korovkina
Adam M
AM
Brainard
Sarah K
SK
England
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051036:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009215:Myometrium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010052:Ovariectomy; D024681:Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015854:Up-Regulation
D051036:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels; D024681:Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol