Journal of Cell Science, Vol 108, Issue 3 1017-1032, Copyright © 1995 by Company of Biologists

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Gap junction regulation in the uterus and ovaries of immature rats by estrogen and progesterone

B Risek, FG Klier, A Phillips, DW Hahn and NB Gilula
Department of Cell Biology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.

The effects of estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P) were examined on the expression levels of multiple gap junction (GJ) gene products (alpha 1 = Cx43, beta 1 = Cx32, beta 2 = Cx26) in the uterus and ovaries of immature rats by immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy and northern blot analysis. E2 induced the expression of alpha 1 connexin in the uterus (specifically in the myometrium and in endometrial stroma proximal to luminal epithelium) and ovaries. The E2-induced alpha 1 expression was completely suppressed by P in the uterus, but only partly in ovaries. Steroid hormones also modulated the quantity, size, and distribution of beta 1 and beta 2 containing junctional plaques along lateral cell borders in polarized luminal and glandular uterine epithelia. Small GJs were detected at basolateral regions in proliferative luminal epithelium following administration of E2. In contrast, large GJs were localized at subapical-lateral cell borders of the secretory epithelium following P-treatment. The co-administration of E2 + P had a synergistic effect on beta 1 and beta 2 expression in the luminal epithelium, but an inhibitory effect on beta 2 expression in glandular epithelium. Myometrial GJs were detected in freeze-fracture replicas as aggregates containing regularly arranged particles with particle free zones. In contrast, GJs in secretory epithelium contained particles which were arranged in a non-crystalline fashion. These GJs contained domains of mixed and segregated beta 1 and beta 2 antigens within a single plaque as revealed by laser scanning confocal microscopy analysis of immuno-double-labeled secretory epithelium. The demonstration of segregated antigens within a single GJ plaque indicates the possibility of multiple channel populations formed by homo-oligomeric connexons. These results suggest that different connexins can be differentially regulated by steroid hormones in different cell types, and that the same steroid hormone can have different effects on the same connexin in different cell types.
CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				W. Yan, P. L Ryan, F. F Bartol, and C. A Bagnell Uterotrophic effects of relaxin related to age and estrogen receptor activation in neonatal pigs. Reproduction, May 1, 2006; 131(5): 943 - 950. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Houdeau, M. Larauche, R. Monnerie, L. Bueno, and J. Fioramonti Uterine motor alterations and estrous cycle disturbances associated with colonic inflammation in the rat Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, March 1, 2005; 288(3): R630 - R637. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Dogan, D. A. Deshpande, M. S. Kannan, and T. F. Walseth Changes in CD38 Expression and ADP-Ribosyl Cyclase Activity in Rat Myometrium During Pregnancy: Influence of Sex Steroid Hormones Biol Reprod, July 1, 2004; 71(1): 97 - 103. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. C. SAEZ, V. M. BERTHOUD, M. C. BRANES, A. D. MARTINEZ, and E. C. BEYER Plasma Membrane Channels Formed by Connexins: Their Regulation and Functions Physiol Rev, October 1, 2003; 83(4): 1359 - 1400. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Plante, M. Charbonneau, and D. G. Cyr Decreased gap junctional intercellular communication in hexachlorobenzene-induced gender-specific hepatic tumor formation in the rat Carcinogenesis, July 1, 2002; 23(7): 1243 - 1249. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Bolamba, A. A. Floyd, J. J. McGlone, and V. H. Lee Epidermal Growth Factor Enhances Expression of Connexin 43 Protein in Cultured Porcine Preantral Follicles Biol Reprod, July 1, 2002; 67(1): 154 - 160. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Mitchell and S. J. Lye Differential Expression of Activator Protein-1 Transcription Factors in Pregnant Rat Myometrium Biol Reprod, July 1, 2002; 67(1): 240 - 246. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Fritz, L. Kunz, N. Dimitrijevic, R. Grunert, C. Heiss, and A. Mayerhofer Muscarinic Receptors in Human Luteinized Granulosa Cells: Activation Blocks Gap Junctions and Induces the Transcription Factor Early Growth Response Factor-1 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 2002; 87(3): 1362 - 1367. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. L. Vitale, J. Cardin, N. B. Gilula, M. Eloísa Carbajal, and R.-M. Pelletier Dynamics of Connexin 43 Levels and Distribution in the Mink (Mustela vison) Anterior Pituitary Are Associated with Seasonal Changes in Anterior Pituitary Prolactin Content Biol Reprod, February 1, 2001; 64(2): 625 - 633. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				H.-I Yeh, H.-M. Chang, W.-W. Lu, Y.-N. Lee, Y.-S. Ko, N. J. Severs, and C.-H. Tsai Age-related Alteration of Gap Junction Distribution and Connexin Expression in Rat Aortic Endothelium J. Histochem. Cytochem., October 1, 2000; 48(10): 1377 - 1390. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. A. Lenhart, P. L. Ryan, K. M. Ohleth, and C. A. Bagnell Expression of Connexin-26, -32, and -43 Gap Junction Proteins in the Porcine Cervix and Uterus During Pregnancy and Relaxin-Induced Growth Biol Reprod, December 1, 1999; 61(6): 1452 - 1459. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				R. Grümmer, O. Traub, and E. Winterhager Gap Junction Connexin Genes cx26 and cx43 Are Differentially Regulated by Ovarian Steroid Hormones in Rat Endometrium Endocrinology, June 1, 1999; 140(6): 2509 - 2516. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				G. Giannelli, A. Pozzi, W. G. Stetler-Stevenson, H. A. Gardner, and V. Quaranta Expression of Matrix Metalloprotease-2-Cleaved Laminin-5 in Breast Remodeling Stimulated by Sex Steroids Am. J. Pathol., April 1, 1999; 154(4): 1193 - 1201. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. G. Bevans and A. L. Harris Direct High Affinity Modulation of Connexin Channel Activity by Cyclic Nucleotides J. Biol. Chem., February 5, 1999; 274(6): 3720 - 3725. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. G. Bevans, M. Kordel, S. K. Rhee, and A. L. Harris Isoform Composition of Connexin Channels Determines Selectivity among Second Messengers and Uncharged Molecules J. Biol. Chem., January 30, 1998; 273(5): 2808 - 2816. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]