Jpn. J. Pharmacol. 79 (2), 257-262 (1999)


The Expression of Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF) and Its Regulation by Ovarian Steroids in Rat Uterine Stromal Cells

Kazuhiro Tamura, Kenichi Kumasaka and Hiroshi Kogo

Department of Pharmacology, Tokyo University of Pharmacy & Life Science, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan


Abstract: The effects of ovarian steroids on the expression of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in rat uterus were examined. Intense expression of GM-CSF mRNA was dispersedly located in the endometrial-myometrial junction and stroma of the uterus. GM-CSF was immuno-histochemically localized in stromal cells and luminal epithelium. Ovariectomy significantly reduced the appearance of GM-CSF-mRNA-positive cells and the levels of expression for GM-CSF mRNA in the whole uterus, whereas treatment with 17beta-estradiol (E2) or a combination of E2 and progesterone (P4) for 5 days on ovariectomized animals recruited GM-CSF-mRNA-positive cells and stimulated its expression. The combined treatment with E2 and P4 also stimulates the expression for GM-CSF mRNA and the production of immunoreactive GM-CSF in the stromal tissues. These data suggest that the expression of GM-CSF in uterine stromal cells is partially regulated by ovarian steroids.

Keywords: Uterine stroma, Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), Ovarian steroid


Copyright© The Japanese Pharmacological Society 1999

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