Localization and Expression of Gastrin-releasing Peptide (GRP) in the Bovine Cervix

Abstract

Abstract. Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) has been suggested as a novel regulatory peptide in the female reproductive tract but the presence of GRP and GRP mRNA in the non-neurogenic tissue of the cervix has not yet been clarified. In the present study, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were used to reveal the distribution of GRP immunoreactivity and expression of GRP mRNA in the bovine cervix. The cervixes from 21 non-pregnant and 20 pregnant cows, and 6 fetuses were used in the study. In the fetus, adult non-pregnant and pregnant specimens, GRP and GRP mRNA were predominantly detected in the luminal epithelial cells of basal areas of peripheral regions of the cervix. Positive staining of GRP in the epithelial cells of the cervix was first detected in the CRL 37 cm of the fetus. During the estrous cycles, the staining intensity of GRP in the epithelial cells was stronger in the follicular phase than in the luteal phase. During the early gestational period, GRP immunoreactivity was detected at relatively similar intensity to the follicular phase. In situ hybridization results ascertained the expression of GRP mRNA in the superficial epithelial cells of the cervix of non-pregnant and pregnant cows. The results suggest that GRP may be important both in the development of the fetal cervix and secretory activity of the epithelial cells of the cervix. Key words: Cervix, Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), Immunohistochemistry, In situ hybridization (J. Reprod. Dev. 50: [119][120][121][122][123][124][125][126][127][128][129] 2004) astrin-releasing peptide (GRP) is a member of the bombesin (BN)-like peptide family in mammals. A novel active polypeptide, BN was found for the first time in the skin of the European amphibian, Bombina bombina [1]. Other peptides related to BN were purified from amphibians, and classified into two other families, ranatensin and phyllolitorin families [2][3][4]. Among these three BNlike peptide families, mammalian homologues were found only fo r the BN and ranatensin families, but not for the phyllolitorin family. In 1979, a mammalian counterpart for BN was isolated from porcine gastric and intestinal tissues. This 27-amino acid peptide was the first BN-related peptide found in mammals, and was called GRP according to its activity originally found [5]. GRP regulates numerous gastrointestinal functions, such as the r e l e as e o f g a st r oi n t e s t i n a l h o r m o n e s [ 6 ] , stimulation of hormone secretion from the pancreas

Isolation, identification and biological activity of gastrin-releasing peptide 1–46 (oGRP1–46), the primary GRP gene-derived peptide product of the pregnant ovine endometrium

“…[1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 24, 26]. Indeed this protein was by far the major stored and secreted form of proGRP processing in the pregnant sheep [26].…”

Immunohistochemical Localization of Gastrin‐releasing Peptide, Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase and Neurone‐specific Enolase in the Uterus of the North American Opossum, Didelphis virginiana

“…It was found primarily in uterine gland epithelium at 20 and 140 days of gestation. Furthermore, GRP immunoreactivity has been described in the bovine uterus and cervix (Budipitojo et al., 2001, 2003, 2004a,b) as well as the placenta (Budipitojo et al., 2001). These investigators have suggested that GRP might play an important role in the autocrine and/or paracrine regulation of the intrauterine environment of both non‐pregnant and pregnant animals (Budipitojo et al., 2001, 2004a).…”