The tight junctional protein occludin is found in the uterine epithelium of squamate reptiles |
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Authors: | Joanna M Biazik Michael B Thompson Christopher R Murphy |
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Institution: | (1) School of Medical Sciences (Anatomy and Histology) and Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney, Anderson Stuart Building F13, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia;(2) School of Biological Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia |
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Abstract: | Occludin, an integral protein associated with the mammalian tight junction, has for the first time been identified in the
uterus of squamate reptiles. The tight junction is made up of anastamosing strands and forms a selective barrier that regulates
paracellular diffusion of solutes across uterine epithelium. Occludin exclusively labels tight junctional strands and is an
excellent marker for tight junction permeability. Using western blotting and immunohistochemistry, occludin expression was
examined in the uterine epithelium of five species of Australian skinks at different stages of gestation. More occludin was
detected during late stage pregnancy/gravidity compared to the lower levels of occludin detected in vitellogenic and post-parturient
females in three of the five species. We conclude that the paracellular permeability of the squamate uterine epithelium decreases
as gestation progresses. As placental transport of ions and solutes to the embryo is highest during the last third of pregnancy
in viviparous squamates, it is likely that a decrease in paracellular permeability is compensated by an upregulation of other
transporting mechanisms such as histotrophy. |
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Keywords: | Uterine epithelium Tight junction Occludin Skinks Viviparity |
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