Expression And Regulation Of Caveolin-1 In Mouse Uterus

Caveolae domains are found in most cell types, particularly in terminally differentiated cells. Caveolin-1, as the primary structural component ofcaveolae, plays a pivotal role in many signal transduction passways by regulating signaling molecules and participates in many physiologic processes, including apoptosis, angiogenesis, and sperm capacitation. The aim of this study was to examine caveolin-1 expression and regulation in mouse uterus during early pregnancy, pseudopregnancy, delayed implantation, artificial decidualizarjon and hormonal treatment by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.The expression of caveolin-1 mKNA and immunostaining were strong in myometrum on dey 1 of pregnancy. There were detectable caveolin-1 mRNA and immunostaining in the stroma from days 3 to 5 of pregnancy. A strong level of caveolin-1 expression was observed in the decidualized cells and vascular endothelial cells at mesometrium side from days 6 to 8 of pregnancy. Under artificial decidualization, caveolin-1 mRNA and immunostaining were mainly seen in the decidualized cells and vascular endothelial cells at the mesometrium side.Both caveolin-1 mRNA and immunostaining were observed in the stroma on days 4 and 5 of pseudopregnancy. In the uterus under delayed implantation, caveolin-1 expression was detected in the almost stroma cells, while caveolin-1 expression was mainly shown in the stroma and vascular endothelial cells in the primary decidulization zone after activation.In the ovariectomized mice, progesterone had no effects on caveolin-1 expression. Estrogen down-regulated caveolin-1 mRNA expression in the stroma, while progesterone could increase caveolin-1 mRNA expression in the estrogen-treated mice.In conclusion, these results suggest that caveolin-1 expression may be closely related to embryo implantation and decidualization by regulating vascular permeability and angiogenesis.