title: Luteal development and progesterone levels during pregnancy of the viviparous temperate lizard Barisia imbricata imbricata (Reptilia: Anguidae).
abstract: The relationship between plasma progesterone (P(4)) levels and the formation and degeneration of the corpus luteum (CL) was assessed monthly during gestation of the viviparous lizard Barisia imbricata imbricata. Histochemical activity of the delta(5-4) isomerase 3 beta-hydroxysteroide dehydrogenase (delta(5-4)3beta-HSD) in the luteal tissue and embryonic development were also observed. Females were gravid throughout winter and great part of spring (late November or early December until late May or early June). Corpus luteum development occurred in the first third of gestation (December and January) when the embryo reached developmental stage 27. Four sequential stages were identified during development and three stages during regression of the CL. The follicular and thecal tissue participated in the formation of the luteal cell mass. According to Xavier's classification, the CL of B. i. imbricata is a subtype from Type III. The activity of delta(5-4)3beta-HSD was observed mainly in the luteal cell mass. The first degenerative changes in the CL were observed in the early second third of the gestation and continued gradually until parturition. Progesterone levels increased in early pregnancy and reached its highest level during January (3.07+/-1.04 ng/ml) when mature corpora lutea were present. Gradual diminution in progesterone concentrations occurred in the second and last third of pregnancy and coincided with advanced degenerative changes and diminution in histochemical activity of delta(5-4)3beta-HSD in the luteal tissue. These observations suggest that the CL is the major source of progesterone during pregnancy of B. i. imbricata.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biología de la Reproducción, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Los Reyes Iztacala A.P. 314, Tlalnepantla Estado de México C.P. 54110, Mexico. martor@servidor.unam.mx
authors.forename: Martín
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martínez-Torres
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elena Hernández-Caballero
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Rodriguez
authors.forename: Juana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alba Luis-Díaz
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ortíz-López
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D008116:Lizards / Q000097:blood* / Q000254:growth & development*; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood*; D011375:Progesterone Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D013251:Steroid Isomerases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C021425:3 beta-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase-delta(5) 3-ketosteroid isomerase; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D011374:Progesterone; D011375:Progesterone Reductase; D013251:Steroid Isomerases