Developmental Expression and Distribution of N- and E-Cadherin in the Rat Ovary1

Abstract

The calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecules, cadherins, regulate intercellular junction formation, cell sorting, and the establishment of cell polarity. Their important role in tissue remodeling suggests an involvement in ovarian cellular rearrangements throughout postnatal development. The ovary has a complex topology, and the ovarian follicle undergoes significant cellular rearrangements during its development. Cadherins have been detected previously in whole ovaries and in ovarian cells and cell lines with some immunolocalization in fetal and adult ovaries. This study examines the expression and localization of N- and E-cadherin throughout prepubertal ovarian and follicular development in the rat. We analyzed ovarian cadherin expression in rats from Day 19-20 of gestation to 25 days postpartum, during which follicle formation and folliculogenesis are the dominant ovarian events. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction detected N- and E-cadherin mRNA expression in the ovaries at all the ages examined. Semiquantification of Western blots of whole ovary extracts confirmed the presence of ovarian N- and E-cadherin protein at all ages with both showing peak expression at 7 days of age. Immunostaining revealed N- and E-cadherin expression in follicular and extrafollicular cell types, but only E-cadherin showed follicle-stage-dependent expression. The changes in cadherin expression, concurrent with ovarian growth and folliculogenesis, suggest a function for cadherins in the morphological and functional development of the prepubertal rat ovary.

A close correlation in the expression patterns of Af-6 and Usp9x in Sertoli and granulosa cells of mouse testis and ovary

“…This is in contrast to the stage-specific changes in the intracellular localization of both Usp9x and Af-6 at these junctional sites in this study. In the ovary, E-cadherin was shown to be expressed in granulosa cells in a stagedependent manner (Machell et al 2000), which shows a similar pattern to the present data of a strong expression of both Usp9x and Af-6 in primordial and primary follicles, but their rapid decline with follicular maturation. Moreover, b-catenin is highly expressed in granulosa cells (Sundfeldt et al 2000).…”

“…E-cadherin was previously shown to be involved in junctional dynamics of granulosa cells (Machell et al 2000, Sundfeldt et al 2000, Peluso et al 2001. Interestingly, E-cadherin expression also shows a similar decline in granulosa cells of the late-secondary and Graafian follicles (Machell et al 2000). These findings may therefore reflect the decrease in adherens junctions of maturing follicles, especially at the preovulatory stage (Rotmensch et al 1986, Amsterdam & Rotmensch 1987.…”

“…However, their expression in granulosa cells exhibited a stage-dependent pattern during follicular development: a high expression in primordial and primary follicles, but a rapid decline in the late-secondary to Graafian follicle. E-cadherin was previously shown to be involved in junctional dynamics of granulosa cells (Machell et al 2000, Sundfeldt et al 2000, Peluso et al 2001. Interestingly, E-cadherin expression also shows a similar decline in granulosa cells of the late-secondary and Graafian follicles (Machell et al 2000).…”

Adipokines in reproductive function: a link between obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome

“…It has been identified as a receptor for MMW and HMW forms of APN. Although T-cad has been found to be expressed in rat ovaries (Machell et al 2000), the role of T-cad in female reproduction still remains unknown.…”

Histochemical and Molecular Characterization of Spongiosal Cells in Native Tissue, Two- and Three-Dimensional Cultures of Rat Aortic Valve

“…number 18080-051, Invitrogen, India). The PCR was performed using the DNA Engine Peltier Thermal Cycler (Bio-Rad, India) for analysing the expression of high performance liquid chromatography-(HPLC-) purified nucleotide primers of rat GAPDH (the house-keeping gene) [17], collagen II [18], collagen I, SMA [19], VCAM I [20], E-cadherin [21], and CD71 [22] genes, obtained from Bioserve, India. Primer sequences for these genes are taken from the references mentioned above.…”