The expression of prosaposin in the reproductive tissues and early embryo

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25450466
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Integrative animal science
• Research Institution: Ehime University
• Principal Investigator: Shimokawa Tetsuya 愛媛大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 講師 (40363337)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 卵巣 / 卵管 / 子宮 / 初期胚 / プロサポシン / GPR37 / GPR37L1

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Prosaposin (PSAP) is a trophic factor and activator of sphingolipid hydrolase in lysosomes. G protein-coupled receptor (GPR)37 and GPR37L1 are receptors for prosaptide and prosaposin. Immunoblotting using oviduct and uterine tissues showed that the production of PSAP and its receptors was affected by the estrus cycle. Intense expression of PSAP mRNA, examined using in situ hybridization, was observed in rat oviducts, uterus and early embryo. In rats, alternative splicing generates two forms of mRNA coding for PSAP: Pro+9, containing a nine-base insertion, and Pro+0, which lacks the insertion. Both types of mRNA (Pro+9 and Pro+0) were detected, indicating that rat uterus contains various types of PSAP-producing and/or -secreting cells. This study revealed diverse pivotal functions for PSAP in the reproductive system.

Free Research Field

解剖学