Changing trends of the expression of TIMP-4 in mouse ovary during pregnant and postpartum period.
- Author:
Shu-Min BU
1
;
Zeng HU
;
Fan ZHANG
;
En-Kui DUAN
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Animals; Female; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Ovary; metabolism; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; RNA, Messenger; genetics; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; metabolism
- From: Chinese Journal of Applied Physiology 2008;24(2):248-252
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
AIMThe changes of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-4 (TIMP-4) expression in mouse ovary during pregnant and postpartum period were studied to investigate the role of TIMP-4 in corpus luteum (CL).
METHODSRT-PCR was used to deter mine the change of TIMP-4 mRNA and indirect immunofluorescence was used to observe the change of TIMP-4 protein. The expression of TIMP-4 mRNA was observed in various periods throughout the stage of pregnancy and postpartum day 1.
RESULTSThe expression of TIMP-4 was gradually enhanced from day 1 to day 8, reached a maximal expression at day 8, while decreased at day 11 and to the lowest level at postpartum day 1. Indirect immunofluorescence results further indicated that TIMP-4 protein was localized to CL and theca-intera cells in various periods throughout the pregnancy and postpartum day 1. In addition, the change pattern of TIMP-4 protein agreed with that of the TIMP-4 mRNA in pregnancy CL.
CONCLUSIONThe expression of TIMP-4 in mouse ovary during pregnancy and postpartum is in spatio-temporal pattern and it may be involved in the formation and function maintain of CL during pregnancy in mice.
