Glycodelin mRNA is expressed in the genital tract of male and female rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Abstract

In the present study we demonstrate for the first time the expression of glycodelin mRNA in the female and male genital tracts of rats using non-radioactive in situ hybridisation. Glycodelin fragment 1 (+41 to +141) shares 100% homology with the human gene sequence. In the ovary, glycodelin mRNA was restricted to granulosa cells. In the uterus, glycodelin mRNA was expressed in all epithelial cells of the endometrium. In the male reproductive tract, glycodelin mRNA was distributed in all epithelial cells of the epididymis, the prostate and the seminal vesicle. However, in the testis, glycodelin mRNA was predominantly found in spermatogonia and in spermatocytes of the seminiferous epithelium. The expression in several reproductive organs of rats offers an excellent tool to study further the physiological role of glycodelin, which is so far thought to act as an immunosuppressive factor.

Immunohistochemistry, glycosylation and immunosuppression of glycodelin in human ovarian cancer

“…A 227-bp fragment of the Gd cDNA (position +41 to +268) was cloned into the EcoR1 restriction site of pBluescript SK ¡ (Stratagene, Germany) and labelled with DIG (digoxigenin) by in vitro transcription using the DIG RNA labeling Kit (SP6/T7) (Roche Biochemicals, Germany) as previously described (Keil et al 1999). The antisense cRNA was used for the detection of Gd mRNA, whereas the sense cRNA probe served as a negative control.…”

Increased expression of glycodelin mRNA and protein in rat lungs during ovalbumin-induced allergic airway inflammation

“…The cDNA was ampliWed with glycodelin-speciWc primers as described previously (PP14-for1: 5Ј-CCGCTAGCTAAAGCTTAGCCATGCTGTGCCTCCT GCTCA-3Ј, PP14-Exon1-rev: 5Ј-CCGATCACTTCTCG AGCTTTGGGAGCTCCAGGTCCTGCTTGGTC-3Ј; Keil et al 1999). For standard RT-PCR an amount of 8 ng reverse transcribed RNA was used in a 50-l reaction volume.…”

“…A 227-bp fragment of the glycodelin cDNA (position +41 to +268) was cloned into the EcoR1 restriction site of pBluescript SK ¡ (Stratagene, Germany) and labelled with digoxigenin (DIG) by in vitro transcription using the DIG RNA labelling Kit (SP6/T7; Roche Biochemicals, Germany) as described previously (Keil et al 1999). The antisense cRNA was used for the detection of glycodelin mRNA whereas the sense cRNA probe served as a negative control.…”

“…Under physiological conditions, Gd is mainly localized in organs of the female and male reproductive tract from rats, baboons and humans Mazurkiewicz et al 1981;Fazleabas et al 1997;Keil et al 1999). Gd can be synthesized by the endometrial tissue and the decidua during pregnancy (Julkunen et al 1985Julkunen 1986;Kämäräinen et al 1998).…”

Glycomics and Proteomics Analyses of Mouse Uterine Luminal Fluid Revealed a Predominance of Lewis Y and X Epitopes on Specific Protein Carriers

“…The latter is unusually fucose-rich, carrying a high abun-dance of Lewis X (Le x ) 1 and Lewis Y (Le y ) epitopes (ϮFuc␣1-2Gal␤1-4(Fuc␣1-3)GlcNAc) on core fucosylated biantennary complex type N-glycan structures instead of the fucosylated or sialylated N,NЈ-diacetyllactosediamine antenna found on glycodelin-A. The expression of glycodelin mRNA in the female and male rodent genital tracts has been demonstrated (15), but nothing is known of the functional gene product or its glycosylation. A distinct 24p3 glycoprotein belonging likewise to the lipocalin superfamily, also called lipocalin 2 (Lcn2), has been purified from mouse uterine luminal fluid (16) and additionally shown to be expressed in the epididymis (17).…”