Regulation by Gonadal Steroids of Estrogen and Progesterone Receptors Along the Reproductive Tract in Female Lambs

The regulation of estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER, PR) expression by estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) in the oviduct, uterus and cervix of female lambs was studied. The animals received three intramuscular injections of E2, P4 or vehicle with an interval of 24 h and they were slaugthered 24 h after the third injection. Determinations of ER and PR were performed by binding assays and mRNAs of ERα and PR by solution hybridization. High levels of ER and PR in both cervix and oviduct were found in the female lamb, differing from other mammalian species. No significant effects by either E2 or P4 treatment on ER and PR levels in the cervix and oviduct could be observed. E2 treatment increased the mRNA levels of ERa and PR more than 3-fold in the cervix, while P4 treatment increased the mRNA levels of ERa and PR in the uterus. The results show differential effects of gonadal steroids on sex steroid receptor expression along the reproductive tract in female lambs, suggesting that steroid target tissues can modulate responses to the same circulating levels of steroid hormones

Concentrations (fmol/mg protein) by ligand-binding assay of A) estrogen (ER) and B) progesterone (PR) receptor in the cervix and oviduct of 2 months old lambs after i

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Regulation by Gonadal Steroids of Estrogen and Progesterone Receptors Along the Reproductive Tract in Female Lambs"</p><p>Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 2001;42(1):161-169.</p><p>Published online 31 Mar 2001</p><p>PMCID:PMC2202335.</p><p></p>m. injections of oil (Group C), estradiol (Group E) or progesterone (Group P). The bars represent least square mean ± SEM. There were no significant differences between the treatments