Androgen Regulation of SMR2 Gene Expression in Rat Submandibular Gland: Evidence for a Graded but not a Binary Response

Expression of SMR2, a member of the gene family encoding salivary glutamine/glutamic acid-rich proteins, is regulated by androgens in rat submandibular gland acinar cells. To further characterize SMR2 regulation, we analyzed SMR2 expression during submandibular gland postnatal development and rat pu...

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Published in:The journal of histochemistry and cytochemistry 2003-10, Vol.51 (10), p.1317-1329
Main Authors: Huaulme, Jean-Francois, Courty, Yves, Rougeon, Francois, Rosinski-Chupin, Isabelle
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Androgens - metabolism
Androgens - pharmacology
Animals
Animals, Newborn - metabolism
Blotting, Northern
Female
Gene Expression Profiling
Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects
Gene Expression Regulation - physiology
In Situ Hybridization
Isoproterenol - pharmacology
Male
Poly A - metabolism
Pregnancy
Protein Biosynthesis
Proteins
Rats
Rats, Wistar
RNA, Messenger - biosynthesis
RNA, Messenger - genetics
Salivary Proteins and Peptides - biosynthesis
Salivary Proteins and Peptides - genetics
Sex Factors
Submandibular Gland - cytology
Submandibular Gland - drug effects
Submandibular Gland - metabolism
Submandibular Gland - physiology
Time Factors
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Summary:Expression of SMR2, a member of the gene family encoding salivary glutamine/glutamic acid-rich proteins, is regulated by androgens in rat submandibular gland acinar cells. To further characterize SMR2 regulation, we analyzed SMR2 expression during submandibular gland postnatal development and rat puberty at both a global and a single-cell level. Using in situ detection of mature and primary SMR2 transcripts, we show that SMR2 expression is heterogeneous among acinar cells. However, only one cell population with various amounts of mRNAs can be defined. The number of high-expressing cells increases in males during puberty and in females up to 6 weeks of age, suggesting that some factor in addition to acinar differentiation might be important for SMR2 expression in female rats. Involvement of the β-adrenergic system in regulating SMR2 expression was tested in rats exposed daily to isoproterenol for 4 days. Under these conditions we found an increase in SMR2 expression in female rats, associated with an increase in SMR2 mRNA levels in most acinar cells. This suggests that a signaling cascade, elicited by β-adrenergic stimuli, might act in concert with androgens to regulate SMR2 expression.
ISSN:0022-1554
1551-5044
DOI:10.1177/002215540305101009