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Retinol-Binding Protein in the Baboon (Papio Anubis) Uterus: Immunohistochemical Characterization and Gene Expression

Retinol-Binding Protein in the Baboon (Papio Anubis) Uterus: Immunohistochemical Characterization... Abstract Retinols and retinoic acid (vitamin A) are essential for embryonic development; they are transported in circulation bound to retinol-binding protein (RBP). RBP has been shown to be synthesized in extrahepatic sites, i.e., the progestational uterus and concepti of pig, sheep, and cows. This study was undertaken to determine whether RBP is also synthesized by the primate reproductive tract. Uterine tissues were obtained from mature female baboons during the follicular and luteal stages of the menstrual cycle, after steroid (estrogen ± progesterone) treatment of ovariectomized baboons and between Days 18 and 32 of pregnancy. Portions of the uterine tissues were either fixed in Bouin’s fixative and embedded in paraffin, subjected to explant culture, or immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen for RNA isolation. Our studies indicate that RBP is present in the uterine glandular epithelium of the baboon during the late luteal stages of the menstrual cycle. Steroid hormone treatment of ovariectomized female baboons confirmed that both transcription and translation of uterine RBP is under progestational control. When uterine and placental tissues from pregnant baboons were analyzed between Days 18 and 32 of pregnancy, it was apparent that immunoreactive RBP increased in the mid and basal glands initially, but by Day 32 all of the glands stained positively. In contrast, the mRNA levels peaked at Day 25, and RBP message was more highly expressed in the basalis region of the uterus compared to the functionalis. Immunoreactivity for RBP was higher at the implantation site compared to the nonimplantation site. Neither RBP protein nor message was detectable in the baboon conceptus/placenta. Since vitamin A is an important embryonic morphogen, we suggest that upregulation of RBP synthesis during early pregnancy may be a mechanism by which retinol and/or retinoic acid can be transported to the developing fetus during organogenesis. This content is only available as a PDF. Author notes 1 Supported by NIH Grant HD 21991. copyright © 1994 by The Society for the Study of Reproduction http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Biology of Reproduction Oxford University Press

Retinol-Binding Protein in the Baboon (Papio Anubis) Uterus: Immunohistochemical Characterization and Gene Expression

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References (45)

Publisher
Oxford University Press
Copyright
copyright © 1994 by The Society for the Study of Reproduction
ISSN
0006-3363
eISSN
1529-7268
DOI
10.1095/biolreprod50.6.1207
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract Retinols and retinoic acid (vitamin A) are essential for embryonic development; they are transported in circulation bound to retinol-binding protein (RBP). RBP has been shown to be synthesized in extrahepatic sites, i.e., the progestational uterus and concepti of pig, sheep, and cows. This study was undertaken to determine whether RBP is also synthesized by the primate reproductive tract. Uterine tissues were obtained from mature female baboons during the follicular and luteal stages of the menstrual cycle, after steroid (estrogen ± progesterone) treatment of ovariectomized baboons and between Days 18 and 32 of pregnancy. Portions of the uterine tissues were either fixed in Bouin’s fixative and embedded in paraffin, subjected to explant culture, or immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen for RNA isolation. Our studies indicate that RBP is present in the uterine glandular epithelium of the baboon during the late luteal stages of the menstrual cycle. Steroid hormone treatment of ovariectomized female baboons confirmed that both transcription and translation of uterine RBP is under progestational control. When uterine and placental tissues from pregnant baboons were analyzed between Days 18 and 32 of pregnancy, it was apparent that immunoreactive RBP increased in the mid and basal glands initially, but by Day 32 all of the glands stained positively. In contrast, the mRNA levels peaked at Day 25, and RBP message was more highly expressed in the basalis region of the uterus compared to the functionalis. Immunoreactivity for RBP was higher at the implantation site compared to the nonimplantation site. Neither RBP protein nor message was detectable in the baboon conceptus/placenta. Since vitamin A is an important embryonic morphogen, we suggest that upregulation of RBP synthesis during early pregnancy may be a mechanism by which retinol and/or retinoic acid can be transported to the developing fetus during organogenesis. This content is only available as a PDF. Author notes 1 Supported by NIH Grant HD 21991. copyright © 1994 by The Society for the Study of Reproduction

Journal

Biology of Reproduction – Oxford University Press

Published: Jun 1, 1994

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