Prolactin modulates luteal regression from the coeliac ganglion via the superior ovarian nerve in the late-pregnant rat

Sandra Vallcaneras, Sandra S Vallcaneras, Magalí de la Vega, Silvia M. Delgado, Alicia Motta, Alicia Beatriz Motta, Carlos Telleria, Ana M. Rastrilla, Marilina Casais
Reproduction, fertility, and development · 2014 · vol. 28(5) , pp. 565–573 · doi:10.1071/rd14184 · PMID:25194502 · W2151026154
Lab / animal OA: bronze CC0
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Prolactin added to the coeliac ganglion modulates luteal function in late-pregnant rats by altering steroidogenic enzyme expression and prostaglandin release via the superior ovarian nerve.

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Abstract

There is considerable evidence of the neuroendocrine control involved in luteal regression in the rat. In addition, circulating prolactin (PRL), which increases during the night before parturition, may gain access to the coeliac ganglion (CG), indirectly impacting the physiology of the ovary because of the known connection between the CG and the ovary via the superior ovarian nerve (SON). In this work we investigated in the CG-SON-ovary system and whether PRL added to the CG has an impact, indirectly via the SON, on luteal regression on Day 21 of pregnancy. The system was incubated without (control) or with PRL added to the CG. We measured the ovarian release of progesterone (P), oestradiol and prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2α) by radioimmunoassay, and nitrites (NO) by the Griess method. Luteal mRNA expression of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), 20α-HSD, aromatase, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and apoptosis regulatory factors was analysed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. P release, the expression of Bcl-2 and the Bcl-2:Bax ratio was lower than control preparations, while the expression of 20α-HSD and the release of NO and PGF2α were higher in the experimental group. In conclusion, PRL acts at the CG and, by a neural pathway, modulates luteal function at the end of pregnancy.

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MeSH descriptors

Corpus Luteum Ganglia, Sympathetic Luteolysis Ovary Prolactin 20-alpha-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase 20-alpha-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase 20-alpha-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase 3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases 3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases 3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases Animals Aromatase Aromatase Aromatase bcl-2-Associated X Protein bcl-2-Associated X Protein bcl-2-Associated X Protein Corpus Luteum Corpus Luteum

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