Steroidal regulation of Ihh and Gli1 expression in the rat uterus.
Ovarian steroid hormones, progesterone (P4), and estradiol (E2) strictly regulate the endometrial tissue remodeling required for successful embryo implantation. Indian hedgehog (Ihh) is up-regulated by P4 and critically mediates uterine receptivity in the mouse. However, the regulation of Ihh expression during the implantation period still remains unclear. The present study was conducted to elucidate the mechanism of the steroidal regulation in the expression of Ihh and Gli1, the mediator of the Ihh pathway. Ihh mRNA was expressed in the rat uterus on 3.5-5.5 days post-coitus (dpc), while Gli1 expression transiently increased at 3.5 dpc but decreased significantly on 5.5 dpc (P < 0.001). In delayed implantation, the expression of Ihh was induced by the implantation-induced E2 treatment in the primed rat uterus. In contrast, expression of Gli1 was significantly decreased by E2 treatment (P = 0.016). In the case of ICI182.780 (ICI) treatment, Ihh expression was eliminated by ICI, whilst Gli1 expression increased. These results suggest that Ihh expression is maintained at a high level until the initiation of implantation, while the expression of Gli1 is decreased just prior to the initiation of implantation depending on the E2 action. This observation aids in the understanding of the Ihh signaling pathway mediating uterine remodeling for implantation.
Department of Animal and Marine Bioresource Sciences, Graduate School Kyushu University, 6-10-1 Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8581, Japan.
Kaiyu
K
Kubota
Nobuhiko
N
Yamauchi
Kazuki
K
Yamagami
Sho
S
Nishimura
Takafumi
T
Gobaru
Ken-ichi
K
Yamanaka
Chris
C
Wood
Tomoki
T
Soh
Masashi
M
Takahashi
Masa-aki
MA
Hattori
D000818:Animals; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D000077267:Fulvestrant; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013256:Steroids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071676:Zinc Finger Protein GLI1
C498521:Gli1 protein, rat; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; C550919:Ihh protein, rat; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013256:Steroids; D000071676:Zinc Finger Protein GLI1; D000077267:Fulvestrant; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol