A novel biological aspect of ovarian oxytocin: oxytocin gene expression in cumulus/luteal cells and the effect of oxytocin on embryogenesis in fertilized oocytes.
Recently, several reports have demonstrated the presence of oxytocin (OT) in the corpus luteum of mammalian species. However, the biological role of ovarian OT remains obscure. This study was performed to examine OT gene expression in cumulus cells of mice and humans, and in human corpus luteum, and the role of OT in early embryogenesis. OT gene and OT mRNA were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, with single-strand-conformation polymorphism and heteroduplex procedures. OT-treated in-vitro-fertilized mouse oocytes were cultured and the rate of blastocyst development estimated. An immunohistochemical study was also carried out to detect OT on the surface of the mouse oocytes.
Furuya
K
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Japan.
Makimura
N
N
Mitsui
C
C
Ishikawa
N
N
Tokuoka
S
S
Imaizumi
E
E
Mizumoto
Y
Y
Seki
K
K
Nagata
I
I
Ivell
R
R
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000502:physiology; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000378:metabolism*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D010121:Oxytocin; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase