Endothelin-1: expression and role in human corpus luteum.
OBJECTIVE
Several recent data suggest an involvement of endothelin (ET)-1, a powerful vasoconstrictor peptide, in reproductive function. This study was designed to investigate the presence and role of ET-1 in human corpus luteum.


METHODS
Purified luteal cells were incubated for different times with ET-1 or ET-3 alone or associated with human chorionic gonadotropin. In another set of experiments cells were treated with ET-1 and BQ485, an ET-A receptor antagonist, or with phorbol 12-myristate-13 acetate (PMA), an activator of protein kinase C.


RESULTS
ET-1 reduced both basal and human chorionic gonadotropin-induced progesterone production at all examined times, similarly PMA inhibited basal progesterone synthesis. BQ485 prevented the inhibitory effect of ET-1, while no effect was observed with ET-3. Finally, ET-1 mRNA was detected in the luteal cells.


CONCLUSIONS
ET-1 is expressed by human luteal cells and reduces basal and human chorionic gonadotropin-induced progesterone synthesis through the ET-A receptors and the protein kinase C pathway. Conversely, ET-3 does not affect luteal steroidogenesis.
Apa
R
R
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Università Cattolica S.Cuore, Rome, Italy.
Miceli
F
F
de Feo
D
D
Pierro
E
E
Ayala
G
G
Mancuso
S
S
Napolitano
M
M
Lanzone
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001381:Azepines / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D019334:Endothelin-3 / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology
D001381:Azepines; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; D019332:Endothelin-1; D019334:Endothelin-3; D009842:Oligopeptides; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A; C083116:BQ 485; D011374:Progesterone; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate