Cytosolic phospholipase A(2) and 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase mRNA expression in murine uterine and gestational tissues during late pregnancy

We evaluated the changes in mRNA expression of cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)) and 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (PGDH) in intrauterine and gestational tissues during mid-late murine pregnancy. Tissues (decidua l caps, fetal membranes, and placentae, uterus, and cervix) were collected from pregnant mice at days 12,14,16,18, and 19 (am and pm) of gestation. To tal RNA was isolated and evaluated for cPLA(2) and PGDH expression by north ern blot analysis normalized to GAPDH expression. Expression of mRNA for cP LA(2) increased in the placentae and decidual caps on day 18 and 19 pm, res pectively. There was also increased expression for PGDH mRNA in the placent a and fetal membranes at the later stages of pregnancy. The tissue specific differences in expression of cPLA(2) and PGDH suggest that changes in enzy matic regulation of PG production and degradation may be crucial for the in itiation of labour. (C) 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.