title: The c-Abl expression in uterine epithelium during the mouse estrus cycle.
abstract: The epithelial cells of the mouse endometrium comprises the recurring physiologic changes such as proliferation and apoptosis induced by the reproductive hormones throughout the estrus cycle. The c-Abl is a protein tyrosine kinase, localized in the different cellular compartments such as nucleus, cytoplasm, mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum, interacts with different cellular proteins, including signaling adaptors, kinases, phosphatases, cell-cycle regulators, transcription factors and cytoskeletal proteins. Our hypothesis is that the c-Abl expression in the mouse uterine epithelium shows cyclic changes during the estrus cycle that is involved in regulation of the endometrial epithelial cells. The regulation of c-Abl gene and protein expression in the uterus of intact animals in the different cycle phases was investigated using immunohistochemistry, western blot and semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The immunohistochemistry results revealed that the luminal and the glandular epithelium (LE) and (GE), respectively, showed gradually increase in the expression of c-Abl from the proestrus (P) to the metestrus and followed by a decrease in the diestrus (D). c-Abl immunoreactivity was detected in the both LE and GE cells, especially the LE showed diminished the c-Abl protein expression on the D phase and the minimal value was detected on the P day. The c-Abl protein level in the LE was increased during the M, presenting a high correlation with the hormonal level of this cell type. The result of c-Abl RT-PCR analysis was compatible with pattern of c-Abl protein expression. In conclusion, the stage-specific protein pattern of the mammalian c-Abl tyrosine kinase presented a good correlation with the mouse estrus cycle and may have a regulative function during the uterine remodeling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Istanbul Bilim University Faculty of Medicine, 34394 Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: A Yaba
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Ucar
authors.forename: U A
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Kayisli
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Demir
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011506:Proteins; D016315:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016315:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl