| First Author | Bachelot A | Year | 2009 |
| Journal | Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab | Volume | 297 |
| Issue | 3 | Pages | E676-84 |
| PubMed ID | 19531635 | Mgi Jnum | J:152499 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:4358847 | Doi | 10.1152/ajpendo.91020.2008 |
| Citation | Bachelot A, et al. (2009) Prolactin independent rescue of mouse corpus luteum life span: identification of prolactin and luteinizing hormone target genes. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 297(3):E676-84 |
| abstractText | The corpus luteum (CL) plays a central role in the maintenance of pregnancy in rodents, mainly by secreting progesterone. Female mice lacking prolactin (PRL) receptor (R) are sterile due to a failure of embryo implantation, which is a consequence of decreased luteinizing hormone (LH) receptor expression in the CL and inadequate levels of progesterone. We attempted to treat PRLR(-/-) females with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and showed a de novo expression of LHR mRNA in the corpora lutea. Binding analysis confirmed that the LHR in hCG-treated PRLR(-/-) animals was functional. This was accompanied with increased expression of steroidogenic enzymes involved in progesterone synthesis. Despite these effects, no embryo implantation was observed because of high expression of 20alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. To better appreciate the molecular mechanisms underlying maintenance of the CL, a series of mRNA expression-profiling experiments was performed on isolated corpora lutea of PRLR(-/-) and hCG-treated PRLR(-/-) mice. This approach revealed several novel candidate genes with potentially pivotal roles in ovarian function, among them, p27, VE-cadherin, Pten, and sFRP-4, a member of the Wnt/frizzled family. This study showed the differential role of PRL and LH in CL function and identified new targets of these hormones in luteal cells. |
