Protein kinase C isoforms during the development of deciduomata in pregnant rats

In this study, we determined the expression of protein kinase C (PKC) isofo rms during pregnancy. At pregnant duration, PKC cl was down-modulated in th e deciduomata but not in the myometrium. Down-modulation was compatible wit h the increase in cell mitosis, which reached a maximum at 8-9 days. On the other hand, PKC zeta was not downmodulated. It was increased both in the c ytosolic and particulate fractions of the deciduomata, and paralleled the f requency of decidual cell mitosis. The other PKC isoform of delta was also increased, but it was associated with the cell regression. Therefore, these findings confirmed that the variable expression of PKC isoforms in decidua lizing tissue may be involved in the modulation of decidual cell growth.