Plasminogen Activators in Porcine Oviduct: mRNA Levels in Ephitelial Cell Cultures Under Sexual Steroids Influence

EUGENIA M. ROLDÁN OLARTE; RICARDO M. NEME TAUIL; MARTIN E. ARGAÑARAZ; DORA C. MICELI

San Carlos de Bariloche, Neuquén

Congreso; XXXVX Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigaciones en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular - SAIB; 2003

Sociedad Argentina de Investigaciones en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular - SAIB

Proteolytic enzymes have been shown to participate in multiple phases of mammalian fertilization; some of these events occurring in the oviduct. In previous works we demonstrated urokinase type (u-PA) and tissue type (t-PA) plasminogen activators (PAs) activities in porcine oviduct. These enzymes are expressed in this organ and the u-PA mRNA levels vary during estrous cycle, being higher after ovulation. In order to know if u-PA is expressed in epithelial cells and if it depends of hormonal regulation, two types of experiments were designed: 1) Northern blot assays were performed in cells obtained by scraping the oviductal lumen of oviducts in follicular (FP) and lutheal phase (LP). The 2.4 Kb mRNA of u-PA was detected in both phases. Higher levels were observed during LP, when the predominant hormone in the sow is Progesterone (P). 2) Semi quantitative RT-PCR was employed to study mRNA levels of u-PA, t-PA and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) in primary cultures of oviductal cells, under hormonal stimulation. After seven days of culture, cells were stimulated during 24 hs. with Estrogen (E) or P. The transcriptions levels of the genes corresponding to t-PA, u-PA and PAI-1 increased when cell cultures were under influence of P; no changes in their expression were observed during E stimulation. Our finding indicates that oviductal epithelial cells produce PAs and PAI-1 and transcription of these genes is up-regulated by P.