title: Expression of Cystatin C in the rat endometrium during the peri-implantation period.
abstract: Endometrial receptivity for embryo implantation in the rat is a transient state occurring on day 5 of pregnancy or pseudopregnancy and is controlled by estrogen and progesterone. To identify genes potentially involved in receptivity, a uterine cDNA library was screened. An interesting pattern for Cystatin C (Cst3) expression was discovered with a peak in abundance just prior to embryo implantation (day 4 of pregnancy) followed by a significant drop the following day when implantation is initiated. Histology localized Cst3 mRNA and CST3 protein to the glandular epithelium on day 4 of pregnancy suggesting that it is secreted into the uterine lumen at this time. In ovariectomized rats endometrial Cst3 mRNA levels decreased within 3h of treatment with estradiol; this effect was inhibited by the anti-estrogen, ICI 182, 780. The data suggest that the endometrial expression of the cysteine protease inhibitor, Cst3, is modulated by estrogen during the peri-implantation period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ont., Canada N6A 5C1.
authors.forename: Claire E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: Thomas G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055316:Cystatin C; D015891:Cystatins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D000077267:Fulvestrant; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015723:Gene Library; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: C525032:Cst3 protein, rat; D055316:Cystatin C; D015891:Cystatins; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000077267:Fulvestrant; D004958:Estradiol