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Hormonal control of protein expression and mRNA levels of the MaxiK channel α subunit in myometrium
Author(s) -
Song Min,
Zhu Ning,
Olcese Riccardo,
Barila Bruna,
Toro Ligia,
Stefani Enrico
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(99)01394-0
Subject(s) - myometrium , immunocytochemistry , messenger rna , endocrinology , ribonuclease , blot , biology , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , rna , uterus , biochemistry , gene
Large conductance voltage‐dependent and Ca 2+ ‐modulated K + channels play a crucial role in myometrium contractility. Western blots and immunocytochemistry of rat uterine sections or isolated cells show that MaxiK channel protein signals drastically decrease towards the end of pregnancy. Consistent with a transcriptional regulation of channel expression, mRNA levels quantified with the ribonuclease protection assay correlated well with MaxiK protein levels. As a control, Na + /K + ‐ATPase protein and RNA levels do not significantly change at different stages of pregnancy. The low numbers of MaxiK channels at the end of pregnancy may facilitate uterine contraction needed for parturition.