238. Claudins and occludin in the rat endometrium

2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 94
Author(s):  
M. D. O. Nicholson ◽  
C. R. Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Tight Junctions ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Immunofluorescence Microscopy ◽  
Ovarian Hormones ◽  
Cellular Distribution ◽  
Luminal Epithelium ◽  
Uterine Lumen ◽  
Uterine Glands ◽  
Ovariectomised Rats

Regulation of the uterine luminal environment is important for the successful attachment and implantation of the blastocyst. Tight junctions regulate the paracellular pathway between epithelial cells lining the uterine lumen and the uterine glands. The aims of this present study was firstly to establish the presence and cellular distribution of claudins and occludin in the luminal epithelia during early pregnancy using immunofluorescence microscopy and deconvolution, and secondly to determine the influence of ovarian hormones on their expression. Occludin and claudins -1, -3, and -4 were present in luminal epithelium. Occludin and claudin-4 showed increased expression in luminal epithelium at the time of implantation, whereas claudin-1 and -3 expression remained the same throughout early pregnancy. In ovariectomised rats administered ovarian hormones, occludin and claudin-4 showed increased expression in luminal epithelium in progesterone-dominant regimes and decreased expression when administered oestrogen alone. Expression of claudin-1 and -3 in luminal epithelium was not effected by ovarian hormones. Claudin-2 was not expressed during early pregnancy nor in ovariectomised rats. In conclusion, these results show that occludin and claudins -1, -3 and -4 are present in luminal and glandular epithelium, and provide the permeability properties needed to separate the luminal and the stromal environment at the time of implantation. Furthermore, occludin and claudin-4 expression is controlled by ovarian hormones being upregulated by progesterone.

237. Aquaporins in rat uterine epithelial cells during early pregnancy and in response to progesterone

2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 93
Author(s):  
L. A. Lindsay ◽  
C. R. Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Water Movement ◽  
Immunogold Electron Microscopy ◽  
Apical Plasma Membrane ◽  
Uterine Lumen ◽  
Epithelial Barriers ◽  
Luminal Epithelial Cells ◽  
Ovariectomised Rats

Implantation of the rat blastocyst is a highly regulated process, involving transformation of the uterine environment into one which is receptive to an implanting blastocyst. At the time of implantation, in response to progesterone, there is a dramatic decrease in the amount of uterine luminal fluid leading to close apposition between the luminal epithelium and trophoblastic cells. The rat blastocyst also always implants at the antimesometrial pole of the uterine lumen and currently mechanisms regulating this process are unknown. Aquaporins, a family of transmembrane water channels, are involved in the regulation of water movement across epithelial barriers. We investigated several aquaporins in the rat uterus during early pregnancy using reverse transcriptase PCR. Immunofluorescence and immunogold electron microscopy techniques were then used to investigate the localisation of particular aquaporins including AQP5 in the uterine epithelium during early pregnancy and in ovariectomised rats treated with progesterone. There was an increase in AQP5 molecules in the apical plasma membrane of luminal epithelial cells at the time of implantation, with a greater increase at the mesometrial compared to antimesometrial pole. A similar result was seen in luminal epithelial cells from ovariectomised rats treated with progesterone, however there was no differential concentration between mesometrial and antimesometrial poles, as there was during early pregnancy. It is suggested that the increase in AQP5 protein expression in the apical plasma membrane of luminal epithelial cells is involved in reabsorption of luminal fluid at the time of implantation. Furthermore, the differential concentration of AQP5 on luminal epithelial cells at the time of implantation could lead to the establishment of a fluid gradient within the uterine lumen and hence lead to the asymmetrical implantation position of the rat blastocyst.

Change in distribution of cytoskeleton-associated proteins, lasp-1 and palladin, during uterine receptivity in the rat endometrium

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
pp. 1482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leigh Nicholson ◽  
Laura Lindsay ◽  
Christopher R. Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Focal Adhesion ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Cytoskeletal Proteins ◽  
Initial Contact ◽  
Luminal Epithelium ◽  
Uterine Receptivity ◽  
Uterine Lumen ◽  
Associated Proteins

The epithelium of the uterine lumen is the first point of contact with the blastocyst before implantation. To facilitate pregnancy, these uterine epithelial cells (UECs) undergo morphological changes specific to the receptive uterus. These changes include basal, lateral and apical alterations in the plasma membrane of UECs. This study looked at the cytoskeletal and focal adhesion-associated proteins, lasp-1 and palladin, in the uterus during early pregnancy in the rat. Two palladin isoforms, 140 kDa and 90 kDa, were analysed, with the migration-associated 140-kDa isoform increasing significantly at the time of implantation when compared with the time of fertilisation. Lasp-1 was similarly increased at this time, whilst also being located predominantly apically and laterally in the UECs, suggesting a role in the initial contact between the UECs and the blastocyst. This is the first study to investigate palladin and lasp-1 in the uterine luminal epithelium and suggests an importance for these cytoskeletal proteins in the morphological changes the UECs undergo for pregnancy to occur.

Mucin 15 is lost but mucin 13 remains in uterine luminal epithelial cells and the blastocyst at the time of implantation in the rat

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Connie E. Poon ◽  
Laura Lecce ◽  
Margot L. Day ◽  
Christopher R. Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Apical Cell ◽  
Cell Signalling ◽  
Ovarian Hormones ◽  
Hormonal Control ◽  
Luminal Epithelium ◽  
Uterine Receptivity ◽  
Molecular Weights ◽  
Luminal Epithelial Cells ◽  
Adhesive Capacity

The glycocalyx of the uterine luminal epithelium in the rat undergoes considerable reduction before implantation. In particular, the reduction of some mucins is necessary to facilitate blastocyst adhesion and subsequent implantation. The present study investigated the localisation, abundance and hormonal control of two mucin proteins, Muc13 and Muc15, in rat uterine epithelial cells during early pregnancy to determine whether they are likely to play a role in uterine receptivity for implantation. Muc13 and Muc15 are localised to the uterine luminal epithelium but show a presence and an absence, respectively, at the apical cell surface at the time of implantation. This localisation corresponds to changes in the molecular weights of Muc13 and Muc15, as shown with western blotting analysis. Furthermore, the localisation of Muc13 and Muc15 was shown to be controlled by the ovarian hormones, oestrogen and progesterone, and they were also localised in preimplantation rat blastocysts. Our results suggest that Muc15 may operate in an anti-adhesive capacity to prevent implantation while Muc13 potentially functions in either an adhesive or cell-signalling role in the events of implantation.

Prominin-1 glycosylation changes throughout early pregnancy in uterine epithelial cells under the influence of maternal ovarian hormones

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 1194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samson N. Dowland ◽  
Romanthi J. Madawala ◽  
Connie E. Poon ◽  
Laura A. Lindsay ◽  
Christopher R. Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Core Protein ◽  
Apical Plasma Membrane ◽  
Apical Region ◽  
Uterine Epithelial Cells ◽  
Oestrogen Treatment ◽  
Extracellular Loops ◽  
Progesterone Treatment ◽  
Ovariectomised Rats

In preparation for uterine receptivity, the uterine epithelial cells (UECs) exhibit a loss of microvilli and glycocalyx and a restructuring of the actin cytoskeleton. The prominin-1 protein contains large, heavily glycosylated extracellular loops and is usually restricted to apical plasma membrane (APM) protrusions. The present study examined rat UECs during early pregnancy using immunofluorescence, western blotting and deglycosylation analyses. Ovariectomised rats were injected with oestrogen and progesterone to examine how these hormones affect prominin-1. At the time of fertilisation, prominin-1 was located diffusely in the apical domain of UECs and 147- and 120-kDa glycoforms of prominin-1 were identified, along with the 97-kDa core protein. At the time of implantation, prominin-1 concentrates towards the APM and densitometry revealed that the 120-kDa glycoform decreased (P < 0.05), but there was an increase in the 97-kDa core protein (P < 0.05). Progesterone treatment of ovariectomised rats resulted in prominin-1 becoming concentrated towards the APM. The 120-kDa glycoform was increased after oestrogen treatment (P < 0.0001), whereas the 97-kDa core protein was increased after progesterone treatment (P < 0.05). Endoglycosidase H analysis demonstrated that the 120-kDa glycoform is in the endoplasmic reticulum, undergoing protein synthesis. These results indicate that oestrogen stimulates prominin-1 production, whereas progesterone stimulates the deglycosylation and concentration of prominin-1 to the apical region of the UECs. This likely presents the deglycosylated extracellular loops of prominin-1 to the extracellular space, where they may interact with the implanting blastocyst.

THE EFFECTS OF AN INTRA-UTERINE DEVICE ON UTERINE CELL DIVISION AND EPITHELIAL MORPHOLOGY DURING EARLY PREGNANCY IN THE MOUSE

1970 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 347-NP ◽  
Author(s):  
L. MARTIN ◽  
C. A. FINN
Keyword(s):  
Cell Division ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Luminal Epithelium ◽  
Mitogenic Effect ◽  
Oestrogen Treatment ◽  
Uterine Lumen ◽  
Epithelial Morphology ◽  
Suppressive Action

SUMMARY Intra-uterine silk threads in mice prevented the development of a normal progestational epithelium and closure of the uterine lumen on day 5 of pregnancy. It seems likely that either of these effects would prevent implantation. The intra-uterine device (IUD) produced an abnormal type of luminal epithelium resembling somewhat the hyperplastic type produced by oestrogen treatment, and characterized by increased cytoplasmic basophilia and irregularly placed, swollen nuclei with prominent nucleoli. The IUD also increased the numbers of mitoses in the luminal epithelium. This mitogenic effect was not due simply to inhibition of the suppressive action of progesterone since mitosis was increased on day 3 when progesterone is probably not involved. All these effects were seen in regions of the uterus remote from the site of the IUD, which suggests that they are caused by factors released into the uterine lumen. In contrast, the effects of the IUD on the glands and stroma appeared to be restricted to the immediate vicinity of the IUD. It is suggested that IUD's might prevent implantation by stimulating the production of substances which antagonize the actions of progesterone on the uterine luminal epithelium.

Tight Junctions of Human Uterine Epithelial Cells Change during the Menstrual Cycle: A Morphometric Study

1992 ◽  
Vol 144 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.R. Murphy ◽  
P.A.W. Rogers ◽  
M.J. Hosie ◽  
J. Leeton ◽  
L. Beaton
Keyword(s):  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Tight Junctions ◽  
Morphometric Study ◽  
Uterine Epithelial Cells
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