OBJECTIVE: Activation of the phosphatidylinositol signaling pathway plays a
key role during the generation of agonist-stimulated phasic myometrial con
tractions. Protein kinase C (PKC), a component of this signaling pathway, h
as been previously shown to produce feedback inhibition of agonist-stimulat
ed myometrial contractions. The studies described in this report were perfo
rmed to survey the tissue-specific expression of several PKC isoforms in th
e rat uterus.
METHODS: Uterine tissue was obtained from timed pregnant and normally cycli
ng adult female Sprague-Dawley rats. Immunohistochemical studies were perfo
rmed using the Vectastain ABC immunostaining technique and PKC isoform-spec
ific polyclonal antibodies. Western blot studies were performed using myome
trial tissue separated into cytosol and membrane fractions by differential
centrifugation.
RESULTS: These studies confirmed significant expression of the PKC-alpha, -
beta(2), -delta, -eta, and -zeta isoforms in myometrium from pregnant and e
strus rats, whereas only trace or no expression of the PKC-beta(1), -gamma,
-epsilon. and -theta isoforms was observed. Expression of the PKC-alpha, -
beta(2), -delta, -eta, and -zeta isoforms in both circular and longitudinal
smooth-muscle layers of the near-term pregnant rat uterus.
CONCLUSION: In summary, these studies have confirmed significant levels of
expression of several isoforms of PKC in estrus and near-term pregnant rat
uterine tissue, which was most prominent in the smooth-muscle cells of the
myometrium. (J Soc Gynecol Investig 1999;6:293-300) Copyright (C) 1999 by t
he Society for Gynecologic Investigation.