Expression and cyclic change of betaglycan in the rat oviduct.
Although the fallopian tube provides a sufficient environment for fertilization and early embryo development, the mechanism by which it does this is unclear. It is known that the transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) superfamily plays important roles in various reproductive functions. Betaglycan, originally characterized as a TGF beta type III receptor lacking a clearly identifiable signaling motif, has been shown to be important for the high-affinity binding of TGF betas to the type II receptor. To our knowledge, there has been no study showing expression of betaglycan in the rat oviduct. Therefore, in this study, we examined the distribution of betaglycan in various rat tissues and its expression patterns in the oviduct during the estrous cycle. Northern blot analysis of various rat tissues showed that the adrenal gland, ovary and oviduct contained abundant amounts of 6.4-kb betaglycan mRNA. Furthermore, the mRNA level of betaglycan was highest after the LH surge that induced ovulation. The betaglycan protein, detected using immunohistochemistry, was especially abundant in the epithelium of the oviduct. Furthermore, in pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) primed-rats, the expression of betaglycan was increased significantly by stimulation with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). RT-PCR analysis showed co-localization of other TGF beta family receptors (TGF beta types I and II, activin receptor types Ia and Ib and activin receptor types IIa and IIb) with betaglycan in the oviduct. Since betaglycan along with other TGF beta family receptors is abundantly expressed in the epithelium of the oviduct and its expression changes during estrous, it may also play an important role in the oviduct.
Kubota
Kazuko
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Gunma University, Gunma, Japan.
Omori
Yuki
Y
Ikeda
Sadatomo
S
Minegishi
Takashi
T
D029404:Activin Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011974:Receptors, LH / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D011509:Proteoglycans; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011974:Receptors, LH; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; C071736:betaglycan; D029404:Activin Receptors