title: Expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in the porcine oocyte and its possible function.
abstract: The present study was designed to investigate the localization of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in porcine oocytes and its possible function during in vitro development. RT-PCR and immunoblotting analyses revealed the presence of eNOS in the oocytes prepared from small follicles, with an amplified product of 456 bp and an apparent mol wt of 130 kDa, respectively. The synthesis of oocyte NO was suppressed during a 72-h culture of cumulus-oocyte complexes in the presence of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), but not luteinizing hormone (LH). However, the decrease in NO synthesis did not result from the levels of eNOS mRNA and its protein, as revealed by analyses of RT-PCR and Western blot analysis, suggesting that expression of oocyte eNOS is not dependent upon gonadotropin stimulation. In proliferated cumulus cells, LH receptor mRNA expression was detected after a 48-h culture with FSH, as revealed by RT-PCR analysis. mRNA expression was inhibited by an NO-releasing agent (S-nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine) after an additional 24-h culture. These results suggest that oocytes may release eNOS-derived NO as a signal for somatic cells to steadily suppress the development of cumulus cells, if not FSH stimulation. Conversely, the synthesis of NO is suppressed during the action of FSH on the cumulus cells with no changes in eNOS expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Graduate School, Kyushu University, Hakozaki, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hattori
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takesue
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fujihara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000494:pharmacology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000032:analysis; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011974:Receptors, LH / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D009573:Nitrites; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011974:Receptors, LH; C110881:S-nitro-N-acetylpenicillamine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D010396:Penicillamine