Myometrial maxi‐K channel β1 subunit modulation during pregnancy and after 17β‐estradiol stimulation

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Abstract
Myometrial maxi-K channels are modulated by β subunits. We aimed to determine whether β subunits are modulated to affect uterine excitability during gestation. RNase protection analyses revealed that mouse β1 subunit transcripts are regulated during gestation with peak expression at day 14 of pregnancy. Immunohistochemical analysis indicates an increase of this subunit during gestation. Upregulation of the β1 transcript occurs with 4-day exposure to 17β-estradiol but not progesterone, and acute estradiol exposure has no effect on β1 transcript expression. These findings verify that β1 subunit transcript is regulated in mouse myometrium during gestation and estrogens may contribute to this increase