HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Idris, N. Articles by Carraway, K. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Idris, N. Articles by Carraway, K. L. Agricola Articles by Idris, N. Articles by Carraway, K. L.

Sialomucin Complex (Muc4) Expression in the Rat Female Reproductive Tract¹

^a Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33101

Previous studies in our laboratory demonstrated the presence of sialomucin complex (SMC)/Muc4 covering the rat uterine luminal epithelium. SMC/Muc4 expression in the uterus is regulated by estrogen and progesterone and lost at the time of receptivity. In contrast to this hormonal regulation at the uterine luminal surface, SMC/Muc4 in the uterine glandular epithelium, oviduct, cervix, and vagina was constitutively expressed at all stages of the estrous cycle. Furthermore, SMC was expressed in the cervix and vagina of the ovariectomized rat, even though it is not found in the uterine luminal epithelium. Both soluble and membrane-bound forms of SMC were present in these tissues. Immunohistochemical analyses showed distinctive localization patterns of SMC in the various tissues during the estrous cycle. Moreover, the previously unreported expression of SMC/Muc4 in the isthmus, ampulla, and infundibulum of the oviduct suggests potential functions in gamete development. These results indicate that SMC/Muc4 is expressed in most tissues of the female reproductive tract, in which it may have multiple functions. However, hormonal regulation appears to be restricted to the uterine luminal epithelium.

¹ This research was supported by grant HD35472 from the National Institutes of Health and by the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center of the University of Miami School of Medicine.

² Correspondence: Kermit L. Carraway, Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy (R-124), University of Miami School of Medicine, PO Box 016960, Miami, FL 33101. FAX: 305 243 4431; kcarrawa{at}mednet.med.miami.edu

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. Chaturvedi, A. P. Singh, and S. K. Batra Structure, evolution, and biology of the MUC4 mucin FASEB J, April 1, 2008; 22(4): 966 - 981. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Perez, R. Barco, I. Fernandez, S. A. Price-Schiavi, and K. L. Carraway PEA3 Transactivates the Muc4/Sialomucin Complex Promoter in Mammary Epithelial and Tumor Cells J. Biol. Chem., September 19, 2003; 278(38): 36942 - 36952. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Argueso, S. Spurr-Michaud, A. Tisdale, and I. K. Gipson Variation in the Amount of T Antigen and N-Acetyllactosamine Oligosaccharides in Human Cervical Mucus Secretions with the Menstrual Cycle J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2002; 87(12): 5641 - 5648. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Ameen, Y Figueroa, and P. Salas Anomalous apical plasma membrane phenotype in CK8-deficient mice indicates a novel role for intermediate filaments in the polarization of simple epithelia J. Cell Sci., January 2, 2001; 114(3): 563 - 575. [Abstract] [PDF]