Expression and regulation of 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 7 in therabbit

We cloned partial cDNA sequences of rabbit 17 beta -hydroxysteroid dehydrog enase 1 (17 beta -HSD1) and 17 beta -HSD7. We analyzed the tissue distribut ion of 17 beta -HSD7 as well as the expression in corpus luteum and endomet rium during pseudopregnancy. The obtained cDNA sequence of 17 beta -HSD7 co ded for all functional regions of the protein and showed 86 and 81% similar ity to human and rodent sequences, respectively. The partial sequence of ra bbit 17 beta -HSD1 was 76 and 82% similar to rodent and human sequences. By Northern analysis 17 beta -HSD7 expression was predominantly found in repr oductive organs like ovary. oviduct. endometrium. placenta and mammary glan d. Substantial expression was also apparent in the heart. stomach and cereb ellum. The 17 beta -HSD1 could be detected in placenta by reverse transcrip tase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), so far. During rabbit pseudopregna ncy 17 beta -HSD7 expression was found to be regulated in corpus luteum as well as in endometrium. In the corpus luteum. strongest expression occurred From d10 to d14 of pseudopregnancy (p, hCG) and was downregulated on d16 p . hCG. In endometrium strongest expression of 17 beta -HSD7 was found on d6 p. hCG. when the endometrium was differentiated to its implantation permis sive status. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.