Estradiol induces transcriptional and posttranscriptional modifications in versican expression in the mouse uterus

We have previously shown the differential expression of versican in the mouse uterus under ovarian hormone influence. We also demonstrated there is not a direct correlation between mRNA levels and protein expression, suggesting posttranscriptional events, such as alteration in mRNA stability. This posttranscriptional effect may result in the elongation and stabilization of transcripts poly(A) tail. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze whether estradiol (E2) regulates versican mRNA stability and expression in a dose-related and time-dependent manner. For this purpose female mice were ovariectomized and treated with a single injection of 0.1 or 10 μg E2. To block transcription a group of females received a single injection of alpha-amanitin before hormone administration. Uterine tissues were collected 30 min, 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h after treatments and processed for quantitative real time PCR (qPCR), RACE-PAT Assay and immunohistochemistry. qPCR showed that versican mRNA levels are higher than control from 3 to 24 h after E2 administration, whereas after transcription inhibition versican mRNA unexpectedly increases within 3 h, which can be explained when transcriptional blockers alter the degradation rate of the transcript, resulting in the superinduction of this mRNA. Accordingly, analysis of versican transcript poly(A) tail evidenced a longer product 3 h after treatment, but not after 12 h. Versican immunoreaction becomes conspicuous in the superficial stroma only 3 h after E2 injection, whereas the whole stroma is immunoreactive from 6 h onward. These results demonstrate that E2 modulates versican at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels in a time-dependent manner.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) - Brazil (09/51788-1)CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior)CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

Establishment of a mouse model of pregnancy complicated by type 1 diabetes: evaluation of its impact on the uterine environment at early pregnancy .

Por meio desse estudo foi estabelecido um novo modelo de gestação complicada por diabetes tipo 1 em camundongos. O diabetes foi induzido em fêmeas de camundongos Swiss por aloxana e os animais foram acasalados após diferentes períodos de tempo. As fêmeas diabéticas apresentaram hiperglicemia, hipoinsulinemia, glicosúria, polifagia, polidipsia, e diminuição de peso corporal. A histoquímica do Picrosirius demonstrou o aumento dos colágenos fibrilares na decídua do grupo diabético. Análises imunohistoquímicas mostraram aumento dos colágenos I e V e diminuição do colágeno III e dos proteoglicanos biglicam e lumicam. Entretanto, a análise por PCR em tempo real indicou apenas o aumento do mRNA do colágeno I. A microscopia eletrônica revelou alterações na fibrilogênese do colágeno. O miométrio apresentou alterações na organização, citoarquitetura e sistema contráctil das camadas musculares, associadas à diminuição da proliferação celular. Esses resultados contribuem para explicar as alterações no desenvolvimento embrionário e a maior incidência de partos prematuros nas gestações diabéticas.By means of this study a new mouse model of pregnancy complicated by type 1 diabetes was established. Diabetes was induced in female Swiss mice by alloxan and the animals were mated after different periods of time. Diabetic females showed hyperglycemia, hypoinsulinemia, glycosuria, polyphagy, polydipsy and decreased body weight. Picrosirius histochemistry demonstrated increased fibrillar collagens in the decidua of the diabetic group. Immunohistochemical analysis showed increased collagens I and III, and decreased collagen V and proteoglycans biglycan and lumican. However, real time PCR analysis indicated that only collagen I mRNA was increased. Transmission electron microscopy revealed alterations in collagen fibrillogenesis. The myometrium showed alterations in the organization, cytoarchitecture and contractile system of the muscle layers, associated with decreased proliferation. These results contribute to explain the alterations in embryo development and the higher incidence of preterm labor in diabetic pregnancies

Effects of glutamine supplementation on kidney of diabetic rat

Glutamine is the most important donor of NH(3) in kidney playing an important role in acid-base buffering system. Besides this effect, glutamine presents many other relevant functions in the whole body, such as a precursor of arginine in adult and neonates. In addition to these effects, some studies have shown that glutamine can potentiate renal disease. In the present study, the effect of short-term treatment (15 days) with glutamine on control and diabetic rats was investigated. Using biochemical, histological and molecular biology analysis from control and diabetic rats we verified that glutamine supplementation increase in pro-inflammatory interleukins (IL)-1 beta and IL-6 content in renal cortex and induce alteration in glomerular characteristics. This study showed that short-term treatment with glutamine in association with increased glucose levels could cause important alterations in glomerular morphology that may result in fast progression of kidney failure.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES

Long-term type 1 diabetes impairs decidualization and extracellular matrix remodeling during early embryonic development in mice

Introduction: Endometrial decidualization and associated extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling are critical events to the establishment of the maternal-fetal interface and successful pregnancy. Here, we investigated the impact of type 1 diabetes on these processes during early embryonic development, in order to contribute to the understanding of the maternal factors associated to diabetic embryopathies. Methods: Alloxan-induced diabetic Swiss female mice were bred after different periods of time to determine the effects of diabetes progression on the development of gestational complications. Furthermore, the analyses focused on decidual development as well as mRNA expression, protein deposition and ultrastructural organization of decidual ECM. Results: Decreased number of implantation sites and decidual dimensions were observed in the group mated 90-110 days after diabetes induction (D), but not in the 50-70D group. Picrosirius staining showed augmentation in the fibrillar collagen network in the 90e110D group and, following immunohistochemical examination, that this was associated with increase in types I and V collagens and decrease in type III collagen and collagen-associated proteoglycans biglycan and lumican. qPCR, however, demonstrated that only type I collagen mRNA levels were increased in the diabetic group. Alterations in the molecular ratio among distinct collagen types and proteoglycans were associated with abnormal collagen fibrillogenesis, analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. Conclusions: Our results support the concept that the development of pregnancy complications is directly related with duration of diabetes (progression of the disease), and that this is a consequence of both systemic factors (i.e. disturbed maternal endocrine-metabolic profile) and uterine factors, including impaired decidualization and ECM remodelingFAPESP (07/55277-6)CNPq (306336/2006-5