Expression of protein kinase H11 in mouse uteri and its regulation by sex hormones

摘要

Protein kinase H11 gene was recently identified but its function in the reproductive system remains unclear. In the present study, semi-quantitative RT-PCR and in situ hybridization were used to investigate its tissue-specificity expression, expression patterns in mice uteri during pregnancy and the estrous cycle, as well as its regulation by sex hormones. The results showed that protein kinase H11 could be detected in many kinds of tissues, with relatively high level in reproductive tracts including ovary and uterus. Transcript of protein kinase H11 was extensively localized in endometrial luminal epithelium cells and stromal cells. During the estrous cycle, expression of protein kinase H11 was down-regulated in the uteri at proestrous. Both estradiol and progesterone could significantly up-regulate the expression of protein kinase H11 in the uteri of ovariectomized mice. The data suggested that protein kinase H11 might be involved in inducing apoptosis of luminal epithelial cell as well as proliferation and decidualization of stromal cell during implantation, and regulating the function of uterine endometrial cell during the estrous cycle[ A cta Zoologica Sinica 51(3): 462–468, 2005].