Abstract
Smad 3 is a signaling intermediate for the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) family; however, little is known about the role this protein plays in the regulation of the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE). Using a transgenic mouse model, we found that in the absence of Smad 3 there was a distinct morphological alteration of OSE cells. Wild-type (WT) OSE was flat with thin cells, while Smad 3-deficient (Smad 3 -/-) OSE was thick with plump cuboidal cells. WT OSE had less immunostaining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) than Smad 3 -/- OSE. However, there were no differences in the number of apoptotic cells or Bax and Bcl-2 levels between WT and Smad 3 -/- OSE. Although WT mice had higher levels of serum estradiol than Smad 3 -/- mice, WT and Smad 3 -/- mice had similar levels of progesterone. These data suggest that Smad 3 regulates OSE morphological appearance and proliferation in the absence of high serum estradiol levels or alterations in progesterone levels.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 681-686 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Anatomical Record - Part A Discoveries in Molecular, Cellular, and Evolutionary Biology |
Volume | 273 |
Issue number | 2 |
State | Published - Aug 1 2003 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Mouse
- Ovary
- Smad 3
- Surface epithelium
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous)
- Anatomy