ABSTRACT
Epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin), a member of the cadherin family of calcium-dependent adhesion molecules, is present in reproductive tissues. Relaxin, a hormone important for uterine and cervical growth in pigs, increases the expression of E-cadherin in the MCF-7 mammary epithelial cell line. The objective of this study was to characterize the expression of E-cadherin during relaxin-induced growth of the uterus and cervix in an immature pig model, independent of high circulating steroids. After administration of relaxin to prepubertal gilts, the uterus and cervix were collected. E-cadherin mRNA and protein were measured by northern and western blot analysis, respectively. A 120 kDa protein band, corresponding to E-cadherin, was detected in all tissues examined. Relaxin significantly (P < 0.05) increased the amount of E-cadherin protein in the uterus (P < 0.05), whereas no significant changes were observed in E-cadherin protein in the cervix. A 4.2 kb E-cadherin transcript was detected in all tissues and E-cadherin mRNA was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in uteri from relaxin-treated gilts compared with control gilts. E-cadherin was localized by immunocytochemistry to the epithelial cells of the uterine and cervical lumen, and the uterine glandular epithelium. Quantitative analysis revealed that administration of relaxin significantly increased (P < 0.05) the height of the uterine luminal epithelium compared with that of the controls. This is the first report of the expression of E-cadherin in the uterus and cervix of pigs. The findings from this study indicate that relaxin increases the expression of uterine E-cadherin in the reproductive tract of pigs. Administration of relaxin to prepubertal gilts in vivo increased uterine epithelial cell growth independent of circulating steroids, with a concomitant increase in E-cadherin expression.
Subject(s)
Cadherins/analysis , Cervix Uteri/chemistry , Relaxin/pharmacology , Swine/growth & development , Uterus/chemistry , Animals , Blotting, Northern/methods , Cadherins/genetics , Cell Division/drug effects , Epithelial Cells/chemistry , Female , Immunoblotting/methods , Immunohistochemistry/methods , Models, Animal , RNA, Messenger/analysis , Sexual Maturation , Swine/metabolismSubject(s)
Conservation of Natural Resources , Maintenance and Engineering, Hospital/methods , Medical Waste , Refuse Disposal/methods , Community-Institutional Relations , Cost Savings , Hospital Bed Capacity, 300 to 499 , Maintenance and Engineering, Hospital/economics , Refuse Disposal/economics , TexasABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to investigate the performance of junior high school learning disabled students on standard and modified administrations of selected subtests from the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills. No significant differences were noted for correlations between types of administration and teachers' ratings on any of the subtest comparisons. Grade placements for Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension using the modified administration were significantly higher than those using the standard administration and more closely aligned with teachers' ratings. Math Concept and Math Problem-solving grade-placement scores did not differ by type of administration; teachers' ratings were higher than those produced by either testing format.
