Prostaglandins (PGs) mediate cervical ripening leading to parturition. PGs are used successfully to induce cervical ripening. However, the cell type specific expression of PG receptor subtypes and various stromal fact...Prostaglandins (PGs) mediate cervical ripening leading to parturition. PGs are used successfully to induce cervical ripening. However, the cell type specific expression of PG receptor subtypes and various stromal factors important for cervical ripening in human cervix is not known. Our objective was to investigate the expression and localization of PG receptors EP1-4 and FP and localization of stromal factors CTGF (connective tissue growth factor), furin, calgranulin ?B, ALOX12 (arachidonate 12-lipooxy-genase) and ALOX15 in human cervical tissue from pregnant and non-pregnant women. Cervical biopsies were obtained from non-pregnant (NP), term pregnant (TP) and post-partum (PP) women. The mRNA expression was determined with real-time PCR, protein expression and localization with immunohistochemistry. Our results show that the EP2 mRNA level was higher in the PP group as compared to TP, whereas the EP4 mRNA level was lower in the TP group as compared to NP. Concomitantly stromal EP2 and epithelial EP3 immunoreactivity was higher in the TP as compared to the NP group, while the EP4 immunostaining in glands was lower in the TP as compared to the PP group. Immunostaining of endothelial CTGF, smooth muscle furin and ALOX12, were all lower in the TP group as compared to NP, for CTGF also the PP group was lower than NP. Endothelial calgranulin B immunoreactivity was higher in the PP group than the NP group. PG receptors and stromal factors exhibit differential expression in the cervix from women in non-pregnant and pregnant states, implying their involvement in the process of cervical ripening.展开更多
The aim of the present study was to investigate effects of short time treatment with estrogen receptor (ER) selective agonists on ERα, ERβ and G-protein coupled estrogen receptor-1 (GPER) expression in the uterus of...The aim of the present study was to investigate effects of short time treatment with estrogen receptor (ER) selective agonists on ERα, ERβ and G-protein coupled estrogen receptor-1 (GPER) expression in the uterus of ovariectomized rats. The rats were treated with either estradiol (E2), the specific ERα agonist PPT or the specific ERβ agonist DPN for 18 hrs. Uterine weights were higher after E2 or PPT treatment than after DPN or no treatment. ERα mRNA levels decreased significantly in PPT and DPN treated animals as compared to controls. Stromal ERα immunostaining was higher after E2 treatment than in controls. The ERβ mRNA level was lower in the E2 and PPT groups compared with controls. ERβ immunoreactivity was higher in the myometrium after DPN treatment than in controls. The GPER mRNA level was lower in the E2 and DPN groups as compared to the controls, whereas total protein levels did not display any change. The proliferation marker Ki-67 increased after PPT treatment in stroma and myometrium, as compared to controls. Thus, uterine growth and proliferation are predominately regulated via ERα. Also ERβ expression showed regulation via ERα, while GPER expression indicated control via ERβ. This short term treatment did not result in any regulation of the total protein level as determined by Western blot. However, treatment by E2 increased ERα immunostaining in the stroma and DPN augmented ERβ immunostaining in the myometrium. Thus, the estrogen receptors in the rat uterus are differently regulated depending on the ligand and tissue type.展开更多
文摘Prostaglandins (PGs) mediate cervical ripening leading to parturition. PGs are used successfully to induce cervical ripening. However, the cell type specific expression of PG receptor subtypes and various stromal factors important for cervical ripening in human cervix is not known. Our objective was to investigate the expression and localization of PG receptors EP1-4 and FP and localization of stromal factors CTGF (connective tissue growth factor), furin, calgranulin ?B, ALOX12 (arachidonate 12-lipooxy-genase) and ALOX15 in human cervical tissue from pregnant and non-pregnant women. Cervical biopsies were obtained from non-pregnant (NP), term pregnant (TP) and post-partum (PP) women. The mRNA expression was determined with real-time PCR, protein expression and localization with immunohistochemistry. Our results show that the EP2 mRNA level was higher in the PP group as compared to TP, whereas the EP4 mRNA level was lower in the TP group as compared to NP. Concomitantly stromal EP2 and epithelial EP3 immunoreactivity was higher in the TP as compared to the NP group, while the EP4 immunostaining in glands was lower in the TP as compared to the PP group. Immunostaining of endothelial CTGF, smooth muscle furin and ALOX12, were all lower in the TP group as compared to NP, for CTGF also the PP group was lower than NP. Endothelial calgranulin B immunoreactivity was higher in the PP group than the NP group. PG receptors and stromal factors exhibit differential expression in the cervix from women in non-pregnant and pregnant states, implying their involvement in the process of cervical ripening.
文摘The aim of the present study was to investigate effects of short time treatment with estrogen receptor (ER) selective agonists on ERα, ERβ and G-protein coupled estrogen receptor-1 (GPER) expression in the uterus of ovariectomized rats. The rats were treated with either estradiol (E2), the specific ERα agonist PPT or the specific ERβ agonist DPN for 18 hrs. Uterine weights were higher after E2 or PPT treatment than after DPN or no treatment. ERα mRNA levels decreased significantly in PPT and DPN treated animals as compared to controls. Stromal ERα immunostaining was higher after E2 treatment than in controls. The ERβ mRNA level was lower in the E2 and PPT groups compared with controls. ERβ immunoreactivity was higher in the myometrium after DPN treatment than in controls. The GPER mRNA level was lower in the E2 and DPN groups as compared to the controls, whereas total protein levels did not display any change. The proliferation marker Ki-67 increased after PPT treatment in stroma and myometrium, as compared to controls. Thus, uterine growth and proliferation are predominately regulated via ERα. Also ERβ expression showed regulation via ERα, while GPER expression indicated control via ERβ. This short term treatment did not result in any regulation of the total protein level as determined by Western blot. However, treatment by E2 increased ERα immunostaining in the stroma and DPN augmented ERβ immunostaining in the myometrium. Thus, the estrogen receptors in the rat uterus are differently regulated depending on the ligand and tissue type.
