title: Luteal and placental characteristics of carnivore gestation: expression of genes for luteotrophic receptors and steroidogenic enzymes.
abstract: Experiments were carried out to investigate the abundance of mRNA for luteotrophic receptors and steroidogenic elements in the ovaries and corpora lutea of mink during the embryonic diapause, peri-implantation and postimplantation pregnancy. The second aim was to determine whether the mink placenta synthesized progesterone. Homologous cDNA probes for the mink LH and prolactin receptors were generated by the polymerase chain reaction. Heterologous cDNA probes for steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage (P450scc) and 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-delta 4-delta 5 isomerase (3 beta HSD) were also used. The abundance of mRNA encoding the prolactin receptor was low during the period of embryonic diapause and increased concurrent with circulating progesterone. The abundance of LH receptor message reached peak values during the peri-implantation period followed by maintenance of a steady-state after implantation. The abundance of StAR and P450scc messages appeared not to vary during gestation, while that for 3 beta HSD was correlated with changes in circulating progesterone. There was no evidence of 3 beta HSD activity or transcripts in the placenta. These results indicate that prolactin and LH are necessary for activation of the corpus luteum during the period of embryonic diapause, and for its maintenance during postimplantation gestation. The mink placenta does not synthesize progesterone.
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche en reproduction animale, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Douglas
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Houde
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Cooke
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000378:metabolism*; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D008297:Male; D008907:Mink / Q000502:physiology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011974:Receptors, LH / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein
chemical_list: D010750:Phosphoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011974:Receptors, LH; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein; D011374:Progesterone; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme