Expression of P450-aromatase in the goat placenta throughout pregnancy.
The enzyme P450-aromatase (P450-Aro) is essential for the conversion of androgens to estrogens. The objective was to study the expression and distribution of P450-Aro in goat placentae throughout pregnancy. For this purpose, we used reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with primers derived from the ovarian cDNA sequence found by our group. The expression of P450-Aro mRNA was first detected by in vitro RT-PCR in cotyledons at 4 months and was still present at term. Based on in situ RT-PCR, cotyledon microvilli expressed P450-Aro mRNA early in pregnancy; the signal was detected in the syncytiotrophoblast and in non-fused cytotrophoblasts inside the microvilli, but was scarce in the interstitial cells of the villous core. In the last 2 months of pregnancy (including at term), the expression of P450-Aro mRNA was still detected in the syncytiotrophoblast. However, P450-Aro was never detected in the caruncule (regardless of stage of pregnancy). In conclusion, P450-Aro was expressed in the goat placenta microvilli starting early in pregnancy; the expression and distribution of the enzyme increased throughout pregnancy and was still present at term.
Mondragon
J A
JA
Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, CINVESTAV, México, DF, México.
Ocadiz-Delgado
R
R
Miranda
C
C
Valencia
J
J
Rosales
A M
AM
Gariglio
P
P
Romano
M C
MC
D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006651:Histocytochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D010920:Placenta / Q000201:enzymology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D001141:Aromatase