title: The expression of Wnt4 is regulated by estrogen via an estrogen receptor alpha-dependent pathway in rat pituitary growth hormone-producing cells.
abstract: Wnt signaling is important in many aspects of cell biology and development. In the mouse female reproductive tract, Wnt4, Wnt5a, and Wnt7a show differential expression during the estrus cycle, suggesting that they participate in female reproductive physiology. Although the pituitary is a major gland regulating reproduction, the molecular mechanism of Wnt signaling here is unclear. We elucidated the subcellular distribution of Wnt4 in the pituitary of estrogen-treated ovariectomized female rats. Expression of Wnt4 mRNA increased dramatically, particularly in proestrus compared with estrus and metestrus. Wnt4 protein was observed in the cytoplasm of almost all growth hormone (GH)-producing cells and in only a few thyroid-stimulating hormone beta (TSHbeta)-producing cells. In rat GH-producing pituitary tumor (MtT/S) cells, estrogen-induced expression of Wnt4 mRNA was completely inhibited by estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780 in vitro. Thus, rat pituitary GH cells synthesize Wnt4 and this is induced by estrogen mediated via an estrogen receptor alpha-dependent pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyakoshi
authors.forename: Hanako
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kajiya
authors.forename: Katsuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyajima
authors.forename: Mao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takei
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tobita
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takekoshi
authors.forename: Robert Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Osamura