Activin subunit, follistatin, and activin receptor gene expression in the prepubertal female rat pituitary. 1998

M E Wilson, and R J Handa
Program in Molecular Biology and Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Loyola University, Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, Illinois 60153, USA.

In the prepubertal female rat, a transient and selective increase in FSH secretion and mRNA expression by the pituitary gland occurs toward the end of the second postnatal week of life. To begin to investigate the possibility that activin may play a role in up-regulating FSH during this time, we have studied the ontogeny of the expression of the activin ss subunits, follistatin, and activin receptor subtypes in the prepubertal female rat pituitary. The levels of expression of ssA, ssB, and follistatin mRNAs were determined in the pituitary gland on postnatal days (PND) 8, 10, 12, 15, and 21 by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. All values were compared to those of adult females killed on diestrus. mRNA levels of subunit ssA were significantly (p < 0.05) elevated on all postnatal days examined; ssB mRNA levels were elevated above adult levels only on PND 10 (p < 0.05). Follistatin mRNA was high on PND 8 (p < 0.05) and then decreased to adult levels. The level and distribution of activin receptor type II subtype mRNAs were determined by in situ hybridization. Activin receptor type II (Act RII) mRNA expression was diffusely expressed throughout all areas of the pituitary. Activin receptor type IIB (Act RIIB), on the other hand, was highly expressed by a subset of anterior pituitary cells. In situ hybridization for activin receptor subtype mRNAs was combined with immunocytochemistry to detect FSH-containing cells. We determined that in the infantile female pituitary, Act RII mRNA was generally not expressed in FSH-immunoreactive cells, while Act RIIB mRNA was expressed in FSH-immunoreactive cells. Act RII mRNA was lower on PND 10 and 15 when compared to PND 21 (p < 0.05), whereas Act RIIB mRNA expression did not change with age. These data suggest that the essential components of the activin regulatory system are present in the infantile female pituitary gland and thus may be involved in the differential regulation of FSH at this time.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007091 Image Processing, Computer-Assisted A technique of inputting two-dimensional or three-dimensional images into a computer and then enhancing or analyzing the imagery into a form that is more useful to the human observer. Biomedical Image Processing,Computer-Assisted Image Processing,Digital Image Processing,Image Analysis, Computer-Assisted,Image Reconstruction,Medical Image Processing,Analysis, Computer-Assisted Image,Computer-Assisted Image Analysis,Computer Assisted Image Analysis,Computer Assisted Image Processing,Computer-Assisted Image Analyses,Image Analyses, Computer-Assisted,Image Analysis, Computer Assisted,Image Processing, Biomedical,Image Processing, Computer Assisted,Image Processing, Digital,Image Processing, Medical,Image Processings, Medical,Image Reconstructions,Medical Image Processings,Processing, Biomedical Image,Processing, Digital Image,Processing, Medical Image,Processings, Digital Image,Processings, Medical Image,Reconstruction, Image,Reconstructions, Image
D007150 Immunohistochemistry Histochemical localization of immunoreactive substances using labeled antibodies as reagents. Immunocytochemistry,Immunogold Techniques,Immunogold-Silver Techniques,Immunohistocytochemistry,Immunolabeling Techniques,Immunogold Technics,Immunogold-Silver Technics,Immunolabeling Technics,Immunogold Silver Technics,Immunogold Silver Techniques,Immunogold Technic,Immunogold Technique,Immunogold-Silver Technic,Immunogold-Silver Technique,Immunolabeling Technic,Immunolabeling Technique,Technic, Immunogold,Technic, Immunogold-Silver,Technic, Immunolabeling,Technics, Immunogold,Technics, Immunogold-Silver,Technics, Immunolabeling,Technique, Immunogold,Technique, Immunogold-Silver,Technique, Immunolabeling,Techniques, Immunogold,Techniques, Immunogold-Silver,Techniques, Immunolabeling
D007265 Inhibins Glycoproteins that inhibit pituitary FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE secretion. Inhibins are secreted by the Sertoli cells of the testes, the granulosa cells of the ovarian follicles, the placenta, and other tissues. Inhibins and ACTIVINS are modulators of FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE secretions; both groups belong to the TGF-beta superfamily, as the TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR BETA. Inhibins consist of a disulfide-linked heterodimer with a unique alpha linked to either a beta A or a beta B subunit to form inhibin A or inhibin B, respectively Female Inhibin,Inhibin,Inhibin-F,Inhibins, Female,Inhibins, Testicular,Ovarian Inhibin,Testicular Inhibin,Female Inhibins,Inhibin F,Inhibin, Female,Inhibin, Ovarian,Inhibin, Testicular,Testicular Inhibins
D010902 Pituitary Gland A small, unpaired gland situated in the SELLA TURCICA. It is connected to the HYPOTHALAMUS by a short stalk which is called the INFUNDIBULUM. Hypophysis,Hypothalamus, Infundibular,Infundibular Stalk,Infundibular Stem,Infundibulum (Hypophysis),Infundibulum, Hypophyseal,Pituitary Stalk,Hypophyseal Infundibulum,Hypophyseal Stalk,Hypophysis Cerebri,Infundibulum,Cerebri, Hypophysis,Cerebrus, Hypophysis,Gland, Pituitary,Glands, Pituitary,Hypophyseal Stalks,Hypophyses,Hypophysis Cerebrus,Infundibular Hypothalamus,Infundibular Stalks,Infundibulums,Pituitary Glands,Pituitary Stalks,Stalk, Hypophyseal,Stalk, Infundibular,Stalks, Hypophyseal,Stalks, Infundibular
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D005260 Female Females
D006023 Glycoproteins Conjugated protein-carbohydrate compounds including MUCINS; mucoid, and AMYLOID glycoproteins. C-Glycosylated Proteins,Glycosylated Protein,Glycosylated Proteins,N-Glycosylated Proteins,O-Glycosylated Proteins,Glycoprotein,Neoglycoproteins,Protein, Glycosylated,Proteins, C-Glycosylated,Proteins, Glycosylated,Proteins, N-Glycosylated,Proteins, O-Glycosylated
D006133 Growth Substances Signal molecules that are involved in the control of cell growth and differentiation. Mitogens, Endogenous,Endogenous Mitogens
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012333 RNA, Messenger RNA sequences that serve as templates for protein synthesis. Bacterial mRNAs are generally primary transcripts in that they do not require post-transcriptional processing. Eukaryotic mRNA is synthesized in the nucleus and must be exported to the cytoplasm for translation. Most eukaryotic mRNAs have a sequence of polyadenylic acid at the 3' end, referred to as the poly(A) tail. The function of this tail is not known for certain, but it may play a role in the export of mature mRNA from the nucleus as well as in helping stabilize some mRNA molecules by retarding their degradation in the cytoplasm. Messenger RNA,Messenger RNA, Polyadenylated,Poly(A) Tail,Poly(A)+ RNA,Poly(A)+ mRNA,RNA, Messenger, Polyadenylated,RNA, Polyadenylated,mRNA,mRNA, Non-Polyadenylated,mRNA, Polyadenylated,Non-Polyadenylated mRNA,Poly(A) RNA,Polyadenylated mRNA,Non Polyadenylated mRNA,Polyadenylated Messenger RNA,Polyadenylated RNA,RNA, Polyadenylated Messenger,mRNA, Non Polyadenylated

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