title: Expression of pluripotent stem cell markers in mouse uterine tissue during estrous cycle.
abstract: It was assumed that uterine stem cells are responsible for the unique regenerative capacity of uterine. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of the pluripotent stem cell markers in the mice uterine tissue during different stages of estrous cycles. Twelve virgin female NMRI mice (6 to 8 weeks old) were considered at proestrus, estrus, metestrus and diestrus according to the cell types observed in the vaginal smear and underwent hysterectomy operation. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemical staining for pluripotent stem cell markers (SOX2, OCT4, KLF4, and NANOG) were performed. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that expression and localization of the pluripotency markers SOX2, OCT4, KLF4, and NANOG at the protein level were not different throughout estrous cycle. Also, mRNA of pluripotency markers was detected in all tested samples. However, there were no significant differences in their genes expression at each stage and during the estrous cycle. Different hormonal profile during the estrous cycle could not affect expression of pluripotent stem cell markers in uterine tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran.
authors.forename: Kolsum
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Choobineh
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran; ; Institute of Biological Sciences, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zavareh
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mojdeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salehnia
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran; ; Institute of Biological Sciences, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohamad Taghi
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Ghorbanian
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran; ; Institute of Biological Sciences, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Hassan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Paylakhi
keywords: Estrous Cycle; Mice; Pluripotent Stem Cells; Uterine Tissue