Project description:Using microarray technology, we compared the global expression pattern of uterine RNA from ovariectomized control mice to those of ovariectomized mice treated with estradiol for various intervals between 30 minutes and 24 hours. Keywords: estrogen, uterus, genomic, mouse
Project description:There are concerns regarding possible reproductive toxicity from consumption of soy including an increased risk of endometriosis and endometrial cancer. We used global uterine gene expression profiles in adult ovariectomized (OVX) female rats assessed by RNAseq to examine the estrogenicity of soy protein isolate (SPI) and the potential for feeding SPI to alter estrogen signaling in the uterus. Rats were fed AIN93G diets made with casein (CAS) or SPI from postnatal day (PND) 30. Rats were OVX on PND 50 and infused with 17 beta-estradiol (E2) or vehicle. E2 increased uterine wet weight (P<0.05) and significantly altered expression of 2084 uterine genes. In contrast, SPI feeding had no effect on uterine weight and only altered expression of 177 genes. Overlap between E2 and SPI genes was limited to 69 genes (3%). GO analysis indicated significant differences in uterine biological processes affected by E2 and SPI and little evidence for recruitment of ER alpha to the promoters of ER-responsive genes after SPI feeding. The major E2 up-regulated uterine pathways were cancer pathways and extracellular organization. SPI feeding up-regulated uterine PPAR signaling and fatty acid metabolism. The combination of E2 and SPI feeding resulted in significant regulation of 715 fewer genes relative to E2 alone. In a separate experiment, the combination of E2 and SPI reversed the ability of E2 to induce uterine proliferation in response to the carcinogen dimethybenz(a)anthracene (DMBA). These data suggest SPI does not act as a weak estrogen in the uterus but appears to be a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) interacting with a small sub-set of E2-regulated genes and to be anti-estrogenic in the presence of endogenous estrogens. Rat uterus mRNA of ovariectomized adult female rats subject to four different diets (Caseine, Caseine + E2, Soy and Soy+E2 ) were sequenced, in triplicate, in an Illumina GAIIx sequencer.
Project description:The ovarian hormones estrogen and progesterone orchestrate the transcriptional programs required to direct functions of the uterus for initiation and maintenance of pregnancy. Estrogen, acting via estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), regulates gene expression by activating and repressing distinct genes involved in signaling pathways that regulate cellular and physiological responses including cell division, water influx, and immune cell recruitment. Historically, these transcriptional responses have been postulated to reflect a biphasic physiological response. In this study, we explored the transcriptional responses of the ovariectomized mouse uterus to 17β-estradiol (E2) by RNA-seq to obtain global expression profiles of protein coding transcripts (mRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) following 0.5, 1, 2 and 6 hours of treatment. The E2-regulated mRNA and lncRNA expression profiles in the mouse uterus indicate an association between lncRNAs and mRNAs that regulate E2-driven pathways and reproductive phenotypes in the mouse. The transient E2-regulated transcriptome is reflected in the time-dependent shifting of biological processes regulated in the uterus in response to E2. Moreover, high expression of some conserved lncRNAs that are E2-regulated in the mouse uterus are predictive of low overall survival in endometrial carcinoma patients (e.g., H19, KCNQ1OT1, MIR17HG, and FTX). Collectively, this study (1) describes a genomic approach for identifying E2-regulated lncRNAs that may serve critical function in the uterus and (2) provides new insights into our understanding of the regulation of hormone-regulated transcriptional responses with implications in pregnancy and endometrial pathologies.
Project description:A proposed membrane-mediated mechanism of rapid non genomic response to estrogen has been the intense focus of recent research. Estren (Es), a synthetic steroid, is reported to act selectively through a rapid membrane-mediated pathway, rather than through the classical nuclear estrogen receptor (ER)-mediated pathway, to maintain bone density in ovaierectomized mice without uterotropic effects. To further evaluate the mechanism and physiological effects of Es we studied responses in adult ovariectomized mice. Keywords: estrogen receptor, nongenomic steriod action, uterus
Project description:In this study, we investigated the potential estrogenicity of soy protein isolate (SPI) as opposed to pure isoflavones (i.e., estradiol) in the prepubertal stage of testis development. Bioinformatics analysis of the microarray analysis indicate that rather than acting as a weak estrogen in the developing testis, SPI appears to act as a selective estrogen receptor modulator with little effect on reproductive processes.
Project description:Estrogen induce organ-specific cell proliferation and development in female reproductive organs, though the reproductive differentiation, sex maturation, implantation and lactation. However, the mechanism of organ-specific estrogen responsive genes is unknown. Thus, we examined early estrogen responsive genes in mouse uterus, vagina and mammary gland. Keywords: organ specificity 70-day-old ovariectomized mice (C57BL/6J)(n=4) were treated with 17beta-estradiol (5micro g/kg) or sesame oil. Whole uterus (Ut), vagina (Vg) and mammary gland (Mg) were sacrificed 6h after the injection.
Project description:The uterus, a female reproductive organ regulated by the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone, undergoes periodic cyclical changes. The estrous cycle refers to the reproductive cycle in non-primate mammalian females. During the mouse estrous cycle, the uterus undergoes various physiological changes as a result of dynamic hormonal changes. Accurate regulation of these changes is crucial for the establishment of a successful pregnancy. Notably, estrogen plays an important role in the regulation of the proestrus and estrus stages of the estrous cycle. Family with sequence similarity 3 (Fam3) is a cytokine-like gene family with four members: Fam3a, Fam3b, Fam3c, and Fam3d. Expression and regulation of the Fam3 family members in mouse uterine physiology remain largely unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the expression of Fam family members in the uterus during the estrous cycle and evaluate its regulation by estrogen using a mouse model. Analysis of mouse uterine RNA sequencing data revealed upregulated expression of Fam3b, Fam3c, and Fam3d during the proestrus and estrus stages. Fam3d expression was dynamically regulated during the estrous cycle, with high expression levels during the proestrus and estrus stages. To investigate whether Fam3d expression is regulated by estrogen, we administered estradiol (E2) to ovariectomized mice at different time points. Fam3d expression was highest 24 h after E2 injection, suggesting that estrogen plays a crucial role in regulating Fam3d expression. Furthermore, inhibition experiments using the estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) antagonist ICI revealed that estrogen regulates Fam3d expression through the ERα-mediated pathway. Immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that FAM3D was exclusively expressed in the luminal and glandular epithelia but not in the stroma. Additionally, FAM3D was predominantly localized in the cytoplasm, particularly in the apical region, and not in the nucleus. These findings provide valuable insights into the potential role of Fam3d in the uterus and lay the groundwork for future research on its function and significance in uterine physiology.