The cadherins are a family of calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecules. The regulators of cadherin expression have not been identified. We have examined the ability of hormones to regulate the expression of cadherin subtypes present in the mouse testis, ovary and uterus. 17-$ beta$ estradiol caused a rapid and significant increase in N-cadherin mRNA levels in the Sertoli cells of the testis and granulosa cells of the ovary. This hormone was also capable of stimulating E-cadherin mRNA levels in the epithelial cells of the ovary and uterus. Progesterone was capable of increasing E-cadherin mRNA levels in the uterus but not in the ovary. These studies are the first demonstration that steroids are capable of regulating cadherin mRNA levels in vivo. Furthermore, this is the first demonstration of a physiological role for 17-$ beta$ estradiol in the testis. / Follicle stimulating hormone was capable of increasing N-cadherin mRNA levels in mouse testes and in cultured mouse Sertoli cells. The stimulatory effects of FSH on Sertoli cells were mimicked by cholera toxin and forskolin, suggesting the involvement of the cAMP signal transduction pathway. Furthermore, there was a synergistic effect between 17-$ beta$ estradiol and elevated levels of cAMP on N-cad mRNA levels in cultured Sertoli cells. Our observations indicate that steroids and follicle-stimulating hormone are key regulators of cadherin expression.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.41696 |
| Date | January 1994 |
| Creators | MacCalman, Colin Donald |
| Contributors | Blaschuk, O. W. (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Doctor of Philosophy (Division of Surgical Research.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001397707, proquestno: NN94675, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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