HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (7) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Suzuki, T. Articles by Sullivan, D. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Suzuki, T. Articles by Sullivan, D. A.

Estrogen’s and Progesterone’s Impact on Gene Expression in the Mouse Lacrimal Gland

¹From the Schepens Eye Research Institute and ²Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School; ³Department of Oral Medicine, Infection, and Immunity, Harvard School of Dental Medicine; and ⁴Department of Physics, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts.

PURPOSE. The hypothesis tested in the study was that the effect of estrogen and progesterone on the lacrimal gland is mediated through specific receptors and that hormonal effects involve the regulation of gene expression and protein synthesis.

METHODS. Lacrimal glands were collected from young adult, ovariectomized mice, that were treated with 17ß-estradiol, progesterone, 17ß-estradiol plus progesterone or vehicle for 2 weeks. Glands were pooled according to treatment, processed for the isolation of RNA, and evaluated for differentially expressed mRNAs by using gene microarrays. Bioarray data were analyzed with sophisticated bioinformatics and statistical programs. The expression of selected genes was verified by using gene chips and quantitative real-time PCR methods.

RESULTS. The results demonstrate that 17ß-estradiol, progesterone, or both hormones together significantly influences the expression of hundreds of genes in the mouse lacrimal gland. Sex steroid treatment led to numerous alterations in gene activities related to transcriptional control, cell growth and/or maintenance, cell communication, signal transduction, enzyme catalysis, immune expression, and the binding and metabolism of nucleic acids and proteins. A number of the 17ß-estradiol, progesterone or 17ß-estradiol plus progesterone effects on gene expression were similar, but most were unique to each treatment. Of particular interest was the finding that these hormones seem to contribute little to the known sex-related differences in gene expression of the lacrimal gland.

CONCLUSIONS. These results support the hypothesis that estrogen’s and progesterone’s action on the lacrimal gland involves the regulation of numerous genes. However, these hormone effects do not appear to represent a major factor underlying the sexual dimorphism of gene expression in lacrimal tissue.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				I. Ueki and M. H. Stipanuk Enzymes of the Taurine Biosynthetic Pathway Are Expressed in Rat Mammary Gland J. Nutr., August 1, 2007; 137(8): 1887 - 1894. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]