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Molecular Human Reproduction, Vol. 7, No. 11, 1057-1063, November 2001
© 2001 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Uterine physiology

Localization and role of endothelin-1 and endothelin receptors in the human Fallopian tube

Masae Sakamoto1,3, Shuichi Sakamoto1, Toshiro Kubota1, Takeshi Aso1 and Hiroshi Azuma2

1 Department of Comprehensive Reproductive Medicine and 2 Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan

Abstract

The present experiments were designed to investigate the localization and role of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and endothelin receptors (ETA and ETB) in human Fallopian tubes obtained from patients in the follicular phase. Immunohistochemical studies revealed the predominant localization of ET-1 and of ETB receptors in the tubal epithelium and also within the muscle layer to a lesser degree. ETA receptors were dominant within the muscle layer. Scatchard plot analysis of the [125I]ET-1 binding also revealed the localization of ETA and ETB receptors on the Fallopian tubal membrane. A dissociation equilibrium constant of 34.6 ± 3.3 pmol/l and a maximum binding site concentration of 1137.0 ± 239.1 fmol/mg protein were obtained from the Scatchard plot analysis. Treatment of Fallopian tubal strips with ET-1 produced a tonic contraction which was inhibited by an ETA antagonist but not by an ETB antagonist. However, the increase in frequency and decrease in amplitude of rhythmic contractions caused by ET-1 were modulated by the ETB antagonist but remained unaffected by the ETA antagonist. These results suggest that ET-1 modulates the motility of the Fallopian tube through excitation of ETA and/or ETB receptors and possibly plays some role in oocyte capture.

endothelin-1/endothelin receptors/Fallopian tube/oocyte capture/tonic contraction

Notes

3 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Department of Comprehensive Reproductive Medicine, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo. E-mail: m.sakamoto.gyne{at}tmd.ac.jp


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