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 My Folders Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Passavant, C. Articles by Mead, R.A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Passavant, C. Articles by Mead, R.A. Agricola Articles by Passavant, C. Articles by Mead, R.A.

Changes in Uterine Expression of Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor Gene During Pregnancy and Its Up-Regulation by Prolactin in the Western Spotted Skunk¹

^a Department of Biological Sciences, WSU/UI Center for Reproductive Biology, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844-3051 ^b Departments of Molecular and Integrative Physiology and ^c Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ralph L. Smith Research Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160-7338

ABSTRACT

The multifunctional cytokine leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is presumed to participate in preparing the uterus for blastocyst implantation. Increased production of LIF is positively correlated with termination of embryonic diapause and preparation for implantation in the spotted skunk. This study examined changes in the expression, localization, and hormonal regulation of LIF receptor (LIFRß) gene expression in the uterus of the skunk. Changes in the uterine concentration of LIFRß mRNA during pregnancy or in response to hormones after ovariectomy were determined by Northern hybridization analysis and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. The skunk uterus produces two LIFRß transcripts, the levels of which increase in concentration when the blastocysts resume their development but then decline somewhat during the latter stage of blastocyst activation. Ovariectomy significantly reduced uterine LIFRß expression. Estradiol and/or progesterone failed to significantly elevate LIFRß mRNA levels in ovariectomized animals. Prolactin significantly increased uterine concentrations of LIFRß mRNA to greater than those of ovariectomized controls, but these levels were not comparable to those observed during preimplantation. The LIFRß mRNA was predominately localized to stromal cells surrounding the uterine glands and in yolk sac endoderm, syncytiotrophoblast, and cytotrophoblast of postimplantation embryos.

FOOTNOTES

First decision: 3 February 2000.

¹ Supported in part by NICHD grants HD34247 and DHHS/NIH RR11833 to R.A.M. and HD 12304 and HD29968 to S.K. Dey

² Correspondence. FAX: 208 885 7905; rmead{at}uidaho.edu

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Wanggren, P.G. Lalitkumar, F. Hambiliki, B. Stabi, K. Gemzell-Danielsson, and A. Stavreus-Evers Leukaemia inhibitory factor receptor and gp130 in the human Fallopian tube and endometrium before and after mifepristone treatment and in the human preimplantation embryo Mol. Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2007; 13(6): 391 - 397. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Sato, T. Tsubota, T. Komatsu, G. Watanabe, K. Taya, T. Murase, I. Kita, and T. Kudo Changes in Sex Steroids, Gonadotropins, Prolactin, and Inhibin in Pregnant and Nonpregnant Japanese Black Bears (Ursus thibetanus japonicus) Biol Reprod, October 1, 2001; 65(4): 1006 - 1013. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]