Gene expression pattern and hormonal regulation of small proline-rich protein 2 family members in the female mouse reproductive system during the estrous cycle and pregnancy.
Small proline-rich proteins (SPRR) are known to construct the cornified cell envelope (CE) in the stratified squamous epithelial cell. Their functions in the simple epithelium such as the uterine epithelium are not clear hitherto. In the present study, the mRNA expression patterns of sprr2 family members in the mouse uterus and vagina during the estrous cycle and pregnancy as well as their regulation by steroids were investigated. Using semi-quantitative RT-PCR, it was revealed that the transcripts of sprr2b, 2e and 2g genes were up-regulated in the proestrous and estrous uteri, and sprr2d was up-regulated only in the estrous uterus. In the vagina, transcription of sprr2a, 2b, 2d, 2e and 2k genes were up-regulated at the metestrous stage. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that the overall expression of sprr2 was highly up-regulated in the estrous uterus and the metestrous vagina. During pregnancy, the sprr2 mRNA in the uterus was sharply repressed from day 3 postcoitus on, and began to be induced around labor time. In situ hybridization showed that the sprr2 transcripts were localized in uterine luminal and glandular epithelial cells as well as vaginal stratified epithelial cells. In ovariectomized mice, the expression of sprr2a, 2d, 2e and 2f genes in the uterus were induced by estrogen, and the effect of estrogen on sprr2d and 2e expression could be partly abolished by progesterone. The data indicate that the sprr2 genes have unique regulation patterns in different reproductive tissues under different physiological conditions, and the encoded proteins might play diverse functions in the female reproductive system.
Tan
Yin-fei
YF
State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, China.
Sun
Xiao-yang
XY
Li
Fei-xue
FX
Tang
Shuang
S
Piao
Yun-shang
YS
Wang
Yan-ling
YL
D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern / Q000662:veterinary; D055233:Cornified Envelope Proline-Rich Proteins; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000378:metabolism*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014599:Uterus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D014621:Vagina / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
D055233:Cornified Envelope Proline-Rich Proteins; D004967:Estrogens; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C491091:Sprr2a1 protein, mouse; D011374:Progesterone