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PKC isozymes in pregnant and nonpregnant uterine arteries of sheep
Author(s) -
Zhang Hongying,
Zhang Lubo
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.5.a1173-b
Subject(s) - protein kinase c , isozyme , cytosol , uterine artery , medicine , endocrinology , biology , circulatory system , andrology , phenylephrine , pregnancy , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , enzyme , gestation , biochemistry , kinase , blood pressure , genetics
PKC activation shows opposite effects on phenylephrine‐induced contractions in pregnant (PUA) and nonpregnant (NPUA) uterine arteries. We hypothesize that expression of PKC isozymes in NPUA and PUA is different. Uterine arteries were isolated from nonpregnant and near term pregnant ewes. PKC isozymes in the whole tissue lysis and cytosolic and membrane particulate fractions were determined by Western analyses. PKCα, βI, βII, δ, ε and ζ were expressed in both NPUA and PUA. Total PKCβII and ζ in the whole tissue lysis were significant higher in PUA compared to NPUA, but total PKCα, βI, δ and ε were similar. Compared to NPUA, the membrane/cytosolic (m/s) ratio of PKC isozyme was significantly lower for PKCδ and ε, similar for PKCα, βI, βII, and ζ in PUA. The results suggest that, in the uterine artery, total and relative distribution of PKC isozymes in cytosol and membrane are differentially regulated during pregnancy, and suggest that PUA has relatively lower basal activity of PKCδ and ε compared with NPUA. The differential regulation of PKC isozymes in the uterine artery may play an important role in the adaptation of uterine artery contractility to pregnancy. (Supported in part by NIH grants HL57787 and HD 31226)