Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P01178 (oxytocin)
 15,767 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Follistatin (FS), which binds to the inhibin/activin beta A- or beta B-subunit is localized with and modulates the biological actions of activin in many systems. However, in contrast to the wide distribution of the activin beta-subunit proteins and messenger RNAs (mRNA) in the brain, demonstration of FS mRNA signal has been limited to the olfactory tubercle and layer II of the frontal cortex. We have hypothesized a more extensive distribution of central FS gene expression and localization in regions coinciding with inhibin/activin beta-subunits and possible activin-mediated effects. In the present study, we examined the central distribution of FS mRNA expression in the normal adult male rat. With in situ hybridization analysis, using a 33P-labeled RNA probe specific for rat FS, gene expression is shown to be widely distributed throughout the brain. Abundant FS mRNA expression is localized in several areas of the olfactory bulb as well as the frontal cortex, a few thalamic nuclei, and in septal regions. Moderate FS mRNA is observed in the caudate putamen and various hypothalamic areas including the paraventricular, ventromedial, dorsomedial, and arcuate nuclei. Several brain stem regions are also found to express FS mRNA, including the medial vestibular and solitary tract nuclei. Notably, FS mRNA, including the medial vestibular and solitary septal/diagonal band region is localized in patterns that are highly correlative with those of GnRH gene expression and hence may serve to regulate possible activin-mediated effects in these areas. FS mRNA is also expressed in areas associated with the activin-oxytocin pathway (solitary tract nucleus and paraventricular nucleus) and is therefore in a position to modulate the role of activin in the solitary tract nucleus-paraventricular nucleus pathway (afferent system mediating the milk-ejection reflex). The results suggest that FS is centrally localized in sites compatible with a role in the regulation of central reproductive functions.
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PMID:Distribution of follistatin messenger ribonucleic acid in the rat brain: implications for a role in the regulation of central reproductive functions. 861 60

Follistatin has been isolated from human placenta and has been identified in human foetal membranes and fluids. Serum follistatin levels in women rise during pregnancy particularly near term. In this study, we examined the effect of induction and stage of labour on maternal plasma concentrations of follistatin. Women who gave birth after a normal pregnancy were retrospectively divided into three groups: those who went in labour spontaneously (n = 33), needed induction by amniotomy and IV oxytocin (n = 18) or underwent planned caesarean section (n = 10). Serum was collected at 38-40 weeks of gestation, periodically through labour with a vaginal examination and once within 36 h postpartum and assayed for oestradiol, progesterone, prolactin and C-reactive protein. Follistatin was measured using a rabbit antiserum (#204) raised against purified 35 kDa bovine follistatin. Human recombinant follistatin was used as both standard and tracer. Concentrations of follistatin at 38-40 weeks of gestation were significantly different between groups. Those who had a spontaneous labour had concentrations higher than those who were induced. Similarly, those who were induced had concentrations higher than those who underwent a caesarean. In the spontaneous group, follistatin rose during labour, peaking at 57.9 +/- 5.48 ng/ml at > 3 cm of cervical dilation, and after delivery follistatin decreased to 26.16 +/- 3.4 ng/ml at 24 h post-delivery. In induced patients follistatin continued increasing to peak following delivery at 26.9 +/- 3.0 ng/ml and decreased at > 3 h post-delivery. Follistatin concentrations in caesarean section patients at 24 h post-surgery (18.53 +/- 3.74 ng/ml) were not different from that before the surgery and were comparable with the other two groups. Follistatin is clearly implicated in the onset of labour; however, further studies with a larger cohort of women are necessary to determine the nature of its role.
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PMID:Follistatin serum concentrations during full-term labour in women--significant differences between spontaneous and induced labour. 1796 61