EXPRESSION OF UROKINASE-TYPE PLASMINOGEN ACTIVATOR RECEPTOR (u-PAR) IN BOVINE OVIDUCT

GARCÍA, DANIELA C.; ROLDÁN-OLARTE, MARIELA; GARCÍA, E. VANESA ; MICELI, DORA C.

Tafi del Valle, Tucumán

Jornada; XXVI JORNADAS CIENTÍFICAS DE LA ASOCIACIÓN DE BIOLOGÍA DE TUCUMÁN; 2009

ASOCIACIÓN DE BIOLOGÍA DE TUCUMÁN

The plasminogen activators are serino-proteases that activate plasminogen into plasmin, the active enzyme. The urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) participates in the remodeling of the extracellular matrix during the reproductive process. U-PA can bind to its receptor(u-PAR) in the plasmatic membrane; focusing its proteolytic activity in the surroundings of the cell and activating intracellular signal pathways. It is known that u-PA is expressed in the oviduct of mammals and that it is active in the oviductal fluid. The aim of this work was to study the presence of u-PAR in the bovine oviduct. Oviducts from cows in the diestrus stage of the estrous cycle were obtained from local slaughterhouse. Total RNA from the oviductal mucosa and muscle of ampulla and isthmus regions were isolated and u-PAR gene expression was analyzed by RT-PCR. The amplified fragments were visualizated in 1,5 % agarose gels dyed by Sybr Safe. The expression levels of u-PAR were compared with a constitutive expression gene, beta-actin. The results showed that u-PAR is expressed in both the epithelium and the muscular cells of ampulla and isthmus regions. The presence of u-PAR in the oviductal epithelium suggests the possible interaction of u-PA/u-PAR, which would be involved in the transduction of intracellular signals during the reproductive events that occur in the oviduct.