title: Expression of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) in the bovine uterus during the estrous cycle.
abstract: Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) has been proposed as a novel regulatory peptide in the reproductive tract. We previously demonstrated that GRP immunoreactivities are found predominantly in the uterine gland epithelial cells of nonpregnant and pregnant cows. The present study focused on the distribution of GRP immunoreactivity and the expression of GRP mRNA in the bovine endometrium during the estrous cycle. Tissues were collected from 21 uterine horns and bodies during the estrous cycle. RT-PCR showed the expected GRP mRNA fragments (284 bp) in the tissues from all stages of the cycle. In situ hybridization results ascertained the expression of the GRP mRNA in the uterine gland epithelial cells and superficial epithelial cells of the endometrium. Positive staining of GRP immunoreactivity in the uterine gland epithelial cells was detected in both the uterine horn and body from all stages of the cycle. In metestrus and diestrus stages, GRP was also detected in the superficial epithelial cells of horn, but not in the body. The degrees of GRP mRNA expression and intensities of GRP immunoreactivity in the endometrium increased from proestrus to diestrus stages. These findings suggest that GRP may be important both in the endometrial remodeling during the estrous cycle and in the implantation and development of blastocysts.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Anatomy, Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan. s04199@st.obihiro.ac.jp
authors.forename: Teguh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Budipitojo
authors.forename: Motoki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Shigenori
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsuzaki
authors.forename: Maria Bella C
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Cruzana
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwanaga
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kitamura
authors.forename: Junzo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yamada
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D010455:Peptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide