Baboon corpus luteum: epidermal growth factor receptor messenger ribonucleic acid expression during early, midluteal, and late luteal phases.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the presence and compare the relative abundance of messenger RNA for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in baboon corpora lutea of different luteal ages.


METHODS
Prospective controlled nonhuman primate study.


METHODS
Animal facility in an academic research institution.


METHODS
Six adult female baboons with well-defined regular menstrual cycles. Stage of the menstrual cycle was determined by observation and scoring of perineal turgescence. The day of maximal turgescence was referred to as the day of LH surge.


METHODS
Ten corpora lutea were obtained by luteectomy during early (LH + 1 to 5 days, n = 3), midluteal (LH + 6 to 10 days, n = 3), and late (LH + 11 to 15 days, n = 4) luteal phases.


METHODS
Relative levels of messenger RNA for EGFR as determined by ribonuclease protection assay using RNA probe generated from complementary DNA for human EGFR.


RESULTS
Messenger RNA for EGFR is present in baboon corpora lutea with relative levels of 0.51 +/- 0.18 (mean +/- SEM) in the early, 0.43 +/- 0.17 in the midluteal, and 0.50 +/- 0.17 arbitrary units in the late luteal phase.


CONCLUSIONS
Baboon corpus luteum is a site of EGFR production; the levels of its messenger RNA did not change appreciably throughout the luteal phase.
Huang
J C
JC
Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Khan-Dawood
F S
FS
Dawood
M Y
MY
Yeh
J
J
D000818:Animals; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000378:metabolism*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000378:metabolism*; D010215:Papio / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D066246:ErbB Receptors