Gap junctional connexin mRNA expression in the ovine uterus and placenta: Effects of estradiol-17 β-treatment, early pregnancy stages and embryo origin

Gap junctions play a major role in direct, contact-dependent cell-cell communication, and they have been implicated in the regulation of cellular metabolism and the coordination of cellular functions during growth and differentiation of organs and tissues. Gap junctional channels, composed of connexin (Cx) proteins, have been detected and shown to be influenced by hormones (e.g. estrogen and /or progesterone) in uterine and placental tissues in several species. We hypothesized that 1) the mRNA for Cx26, Cx32, Cx37 and Cx43 is expressed in the uterus of ovariectomized sheep treated with estradiol-17 β (E2) and in ovine placenta during early pregnancy, 2) E2-treatment of OVX ewes would cause time-specific changes in Cx26, Cx32, Cx37 and/or Cx43 mRNA expression (Experiment 1), and 3) expression of these four Cx would vary across the days of early pregnancy (Experiment 2) and will be affected by embryo origin (i.e., after application of assisted reproductive technologies [ART]; Experiment 3).

Source: Domestic Animal Endocrinology - October 10, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: M.L. Johnson, D.A. Redmer, L.P. Reynolds, A.T. Grazul-Bilska Source Type: research