Abstract

We have recently reported the presence of uterine glandular kallikrein in the rat, its mRNA, and its increase in early gestation. This study describes its immunolocalization, by polyclonal antibodies against rat urinary kallikrein, during the estrous cycle and pregnancy, and identifies three members of the kallikrein family. During the estrous cycle, immunoreactivity, represented by an apical rim in the luminal and glandular epithelium, was greater during proestrus. On Day 5 of gestation, the reaction increased, and on Day 6 staining appeared in the apical and basal pole of some cells. On Day 7, staining was markedly increased in the glandular epithelium at the implantation site, frequently occupying the whole cytoplasm, and displaying great intensity in isolated glandular cells; the epithelium of the implantation chamber showed apical immunoreactivity, while the interimplantation zone had a few faintly stained glands. At this stage, the staining represented expression of two of the enzymes, rK1 and rK7. On Days 9 and 10, the staining disappeared, to reappear on Day 12 in the cells underlying the blood vessels of the central subplacental region. On Days 16 and 21, kallikrein staining surrounded the subendothelium of the sinusoids of the whole decidua basalis. This subplacental reaction represented expression of rK1, rK2, and rK7. This study shows important changes in the immunocytochemical expression of three uterine kallikrein-like enzymes during the reproductive cycle, associated with different hormonal milieus and with local stimulation. The localization of these enzymes is associated with areas involved in implantation, trophoblast penetration, and placental blood flow regulation.