Molecular Human Reproduction, Vol. 8, No. 5, 465-474,
May 2002
© 2002 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Implantation and pregnancy |
Expression of MAPkinases (Erk1/2) during decidualization in the rat: regulation by progesterone and nitric oxide*
1 Institute of Anatomy, University Hospital of Essen, Essen and 2 Jenapharm, GmbH & Co. KG, Jena, Germany
The interaction between nitric oxide (NO), progesterone and the MAPkinase signalling pathway involved in decidualization was studied using immunohistochemistry during implantation in the rat. Early pregnant rats were treated with the inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesizing enzyme iNOS, aminoguanidine, either alone or in combination with the low dose antiprogestin, onapristone. The combined treatment was most effective on days 7 and 9 post coitum leading to a complete loss of embryos. The expression pattern of activated MAPkinases, Erk1/2 and iNOS appeared to be associated with the differentiation process of decidualization. A maximum staining of both enzymes was observed on day 9 post coitum in the mesometrial decidua. In addition, Erk1/2 and iNOS were highly coexpressed around the mesometrial sinusoids. Combined treatment with aminoguanidine and onapristone for 3 days led to a transient suppression of Erk1/2 and abolished Cox2 expression. Concomitantly, angiogenesis was reduced and dilated sinusoids were missing in the mesometrial decidua. In conclusion, our study suggests that (i) the member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, Erk1/2, is activated during implantation and may play an important role during the decidualization process, and (ii) this enzyme may be regulated by both progesterone and NO.
Cox2/decidualization/Erk1/2/nitric oxide/progesterone
* This work was presented in part at the 47th Annual Meeting of the Society for Gynecological Investigation in Chicago, IL, USA, March 2000.
3 Present address: TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Lake Forest, IL, USA
4 Institute of Anatomy, University Hospital of Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45122 Essen, Germany. E-mail: e.winterhager{at}uni-essen.de
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