Calcium ATPase expression in the oviducts of the skink, Lampropholis guichenoti.
Lampropholis guichenoti is an oviparous lizard that lays eggs with a calcareous outer shell. We used immunofluorescence microscopy to describe the occurrence and distribution of Ca2+ ATPase pumps in the uterus of L. guichenoti at different stages of the reproductive and egg-shelling cycles. Ca2+ ATPase pumps were not demonstrated by immunofluorescent techniques in any uterine tissue until egg-shelling had commenced and at least partly calcified eggs were in the uterus. During egg-shelling, Ca2+ ATPase pumps occur on the apical and baso-lateral surfaces of uterine epithelial cells, and those of associated shell glands in the stroma of the uterus. We conclude that Ca2+ ATPase pumps provide a major mechanism for deposition of the calcareous eggshell of L. guichenoti and that the pumps are up-regulated when required in the reproductive cycle. Furthermore, it is likely that specific calcium glands in the stroma of the uterus are involved in the rapid transport required for egg-shelling, but the differential contribution of luminal and glandular epithelial cells is not known.
Thompson
Michael B
MB
Integrative Physiology Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, Heydon-Laurence Building (A08), The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. Mike.Thompson@bio.usyd.edu.au
Lindsay
Laura A
LA
Herbert
Jacquie F
JF
Murphy
Christopher R
CR
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008116:Lizards / Q000378:metabolism*; D010057:Oviducts / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D010063:Ovum / Q000201:enzymology
D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases