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Steroid hormones acutely regulate expression of a nudix protein‐encoding gene in the endometrial epithelium of sheep
Author(s) -
Ing Nancy H.,
Wolfskill Rebecca L.,
Clark Shauna,
deGraauw Jennifer A.,
Gill Clare A.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/mrd.20510
Subject(s) - biology , estrous cycle , endometrium , estrogen , endocrinology , medicine , gene expression , steroid hormone , hormone , andrology , gene , genetics
Steroid hormones regulate endometrial gene expression to meet the needs of developing embryos. Our hypothesis is that steroid hormones transiently induce expression of genes in the endometrial epithelium to make the uterine environment different between the earliest days of pregnancy. We identified one such gene product using differential display‐polymerase chain reactions. The gene product that was strongly induced in ewes between day 3 and 6 of the estrous cycle was cloned and sequenced to identify it as encoding a member of the Nudix family of hydrolase enzymes. Northern blot analyses indicated that NUDT16 mRNA concentrations were elevated 10‐fold in the endometrium of sheep from day 5 to 9 of the estrous cycle and returned to basal levels by day 11. In assays of RNA samples from 15 different tissues from an adult ewe, the concentrations of NUDT16 mRNA were greatest in endometrium. In situ hybridization localized NUDT16 mRNA exclusively to the endometrial epithelial cells of the glands and uterine lumen. In ovariectomized ewes, NUDT16 mRNA was induced by a regimen of alternating estrogen and progesterone therapy designed to mimic the hormonal experiences of a ewe at day 6 of the estrous cycle. The final estrogen treatment in the regimen was critical to the expression of NUDT16 as well as progesterone receptor and estrogen receptor‐β genes. Characterization of the NUDT16 gene identified putative steroid hormone response elements, which can now be investigated to understand its unique pattern of regulation in the earliest days of pregnancy. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 967–976, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.