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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 69/4/1432    most recent biolreprod.103.015628v1 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 Thota, C. Articles by Yallampalli, C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Thota, C. Articles by Yallampalli, C. Agricola Articles by Thota, C. Articles by Yallampalli, C.

Changes in the Expression of Calcitonin Receptor-Like Receptor, Receptor Activity-Modifying Protein (RAMP) 1, RAMP2, and RAMP3 in Rat Uterus During Pregnancy, Labor, and by Steroid Hormone Treatments¹

Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology³ Anatomy & Neuroscience,⁴ The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and its related peptide, adrenomedullin (AM), are potent smooth muscle relaxants in a variety of tissues. The CGRP has been reported to play an important role in maintaining uterine relaxation during pregnancy. We have previously reported that CGRP-induced uterine relaxation was gestationally regulated. Calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CRLR), a seven-domain transmembrane protein functions as CGRP-A receptor, in association with receptor activity-modifying protein (RAMP) 1, a single-domain transmembrane protein, whereas CRLR and RAMP2 or RAMP3 constitute a receptor for AM. In the present investigation, we examined the mRNA expression of CRLR, RAMP1, RAMP2, and RAMP3 in rat uterus (n = 8) by reverse transcriptional analysis and polymerase chain reaction to assess the changes in the expression of CGRP-A- and AM-receptor components during pregnancy and labor and by steroid hormone treatments in adult ovariectomized rats. The changes in mRNA are expressed relative to the 18S mRNA in the uterus of rats at various stages: nonpregnant, pregnant on Day 18, spontaneous labor at term, Day 2 postpartum, and in pregnant rats on treatment with RU486. Ovariectomized rats treated for 3 days twice daily s.c. with estradiol-17ß (2.5 µg/injection), progesterone (2 mg/injection), and the combination of estradiol-17ß and progesterone (same doses as above) were also examined for the expression of various receptor components. Results showed that mRNA expression of the receptor components was significantly higher (P < 0.001 for CRLR, P < 0.01 for RAMP1, P < 0.05 for RAMP2, and P < 0.01 for RAMP3) in pregnant compared to nonpregnant rats. Except for RAMP3, expression of all the other three genes decreased significantly (P < 0.05) during labor. A progesterone antagonist, RU486 significantly decreased (P < 0.01 for CRLR, P < 0.05 for RAMP1, RAMP2, and RAMP3) all the receptor components during pregnancy. In adult ovariectomized rats, progesterone caused significant increases in CRLR (P < 0.001), RAMP1 (P < 0.05), and RAMP2 (P < 0.01). Levels of RAMP3 were unaffected by the progesterone treatment. Estradiol-17ß treatment decreased all of the four receptor components significantly (P < 0.01 for CRLR, P < 0.05 for RAMP1, RAMP2, and RAMP3). Our results demonstrate that both CGRP and AM may play a role in uterine quiescence during pregnancy and that their receptor components are regulated by the steroid hormones.

¹ Supported, in part, by NIH through grants HL-72650, HL-58144, and HD-40828.

² Correspondence: Chandrasekhar Yallampalli, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, Texas 77555-1062. FAX: 409 747 0475; chyallam{at}utmb.edu

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