title: Inhibin mRNAs in ovine and bovine ovarian follicles and corpora lutea throughout the estrous cycle and gestation.
abstract: Follicles and corpora lutea were dissected from ovine and bovine ovaries and the RNA extracted and subjected to Northern blot analyses for alpha- and beta A-inhibin mRNAs, using bovine cDNA and cRNA probes. A cDNA probe detecting mRNA for cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P-450 (P-450scc) was used as a positive control. In cattle, alpha- and beta A-inhibin mRNAs were not detected in ovarian stroma, which could potentially have contained follicles up to 0.5 mm in diameter. Inhibin-alpha and -beta A mRNAs were detected in bovine antral follicles but after ovulation, the relative levels of alpha- and beta A-inhibin mRNAs declined and were undetectable in mature fully developed cyclic corpora lutea and in pregnancy corpora lutea from early to late gestation of the cow. In sheep, alpha- and beta A-inhibin mRNAs were detected in a pool of antral follicles but not in cyclic or pregnancy corpora lutea, which did contain P-450scc mRNA. It is concluded that in cattle and sheep, follicles and not mature corpora lutea are the ovarian source of inhibin.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Centre, Prince Henry's Hospital, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Rodgers
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Stuchbery
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Findlay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002417:Cattle; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000032:analysis*; D004971:Estrus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007265:Inhibins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D010053:Ovary / Q000032:analysis* / Q000166:cytology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007265:Inhibins