title: Metallothionein-1 messenger RNA transcription in steroid-secreting cells of the rat ovary during the periovulatory period.
abstract: An increase in metallothionein 1 (MT-1) mRNA was detected in the ovaries of immature Wistar rats that were primed with s.c. injection of 10 IU eCG followed 48 h later by 10 IU hCG s.c. to initiate the ovulatory process. Ovarian RNA was extracted at 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 72, 144, and 288 h after the primed animals were injected with hCG. These extracts were used for reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) differential display and Northern analyses that yielded complementary gene fragments for MT-1. Expression of MT-1 mRNA increased significantly by 24 h after hCG treatment and reached a peak at 144 h after hCG. In contrast, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs and a tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1, which were also detected by the RT-PCR differential display procedure, reached a peak at 12 h after hCG and returned to control levels in the ovaries by 72 h after hCG. In situ hybridization indicated that most of the MT-1 mRNA was expressed in the vicinity of the theca interna of preovulatory follicles and in the lutein granulosa of postovulatory follicles. Thus, MT-1 mRNA expression is primarily in the vicinity of steroid-secreting areas of the ovary. The substantial increase in MT-1 mRNA expression might be important in protecting the ovarian tissues from oxidative stress generated by ovarian inflammatory events during the ovulatory process and luteinization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas 78212, USA. lespey@trinity.edu
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Espey
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ujioka
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okamura
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Richards
mesh_terms: D051722:ADAM Proteins; D000071097:ADAMTS1 Protein; D000019:Abortifacient Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000737:Androstenols / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000378:metabolism; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D019483:Disintegrins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000502:physiology; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010060:Ovulation / Q000502:physiology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013256:Steroids / Q000378:metabolism*; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D000019:Abortifacient Agents; D000737:Androstenols; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D019483:Disintegrins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013256:Steroids; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D011374:Progesterone; C046855:epostane; D008668:Metallothionein; D051722:ADAM Proteins; D000071097:ADAMTS1 Protein; C486324:Adamts1 protein, rat; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D015232:Dinoprostone; D007213:Indomethacin