Differential expression of amiloride-sensitive NA + channel subunits messenger RNA in the rat uterus

• Published in: Life sciences (1973) 2000-04, Vol.66 (22), p.PL313-PL317
• Main Authors: Pinto, Francisco M., Cintado, Cristina G., Mérida, Angel, Hidalgo, Agustin, Candenas, M.Luz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amiloride - pharmacology; Animals; Diuretics - pharmacology; epithelial Na + channel; Epithelial Sodium Channels; Female; Gene Expression Regulation; mRNA expression; polymerase chain reaction; Pregnancy; rat uterus; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Sodium Channels - genetics; Sodium Channels - metabolism; Uterus - metabolism
• ISSN: 0024-3205; 1879-0631
• DOI: 10.1016/S0024-3205(00)00550-6

The expression of the amiloride-sensitive Na + channel was investigated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in uteri from pregnant and non-pregnant rats. Three subunits (α,β,γ) of this epithelial Na + channel have been characterized in the rat. All three subunit mRNAs were present in day 16 pregnant uteri while only α and β subunit mRNAs were detected in uteri from non-pregnant or day 1 postpartum rats. The level of expression of the α subunit was similar in day 16 pregnant and non-pregnant animals while the level of expression of the β subunit was higher in pregnant than in non-pregnant rats. These findings show that amiloride-sensitive Na + channels are expressed in the rat uterus and that mRNA expression levels of the α, β and γ subunits are selectively and differentially regulated during pregnancy in the rat.