title: Growth-differentiation factor-8 (GDF-8) in the uterus: its identification and functional significance in the golden hamster.
abstract: Transforming growth factor-beta superfamily regulates many aspects of reproduction in the female. We identified a novel member of this family, growth-differentiation factor 8 (GDF-8) in the 72 h post coital uterine fluid of the golden hamster by proteomic techniques. Uterine GDF-8 mRNA decreased as pregnancy progressed while its active protein peaked at 72 h post coitus (hpc) and thereafter stayed at a lower level. At 72 hpc, the GDF-8 transcript was localized to the endometrial epithelium while its protein accumulated in the stroma. Exogenous GDF-8 slowed down proliferation of primary cultures of uterine smooth muscle cells (SMC) and endometrial epithelial cells (EEC). In addition, GDF-8 attenuated the release of LIF (leukaemia inhibiting factor) by EEC. As for the embryo in culture, GDF-8 promoted proliferation of the trophotoderm (TM) and hatching but discouraged attachment. Our study suggests that GDF-8 could regulate the behavior of preimplantation embryos and fine-tune the physiology of uterine environment during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, PR China. chun_lung_wong@yahoo.com.hk
authors.forename: Chun Lung
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Ya Yu
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Wing Kei
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Hong Kit
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Poon
authors.forename: Pui Lai
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Wai Sum
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: O
authors.forename: Pak Ham
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Chow
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D006224:Cricetinae; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009215:Myometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D055435:Myostatin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D040901:Proteomics; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D055435:Myostatin