title: Atrial natriuretic peptide inhibits ovarian functions in female mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on ovarian regulation in mice through intraperitoneal administration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two ICR strain female mice were divided into seven groups, including one control. Each mouse received ovarian hyperstimulation. ANP was prepared with saline at concentrations of 0 (as control), 2, 4, 8, 10, 20, and 30 ng/g of body weight. The solution was intraperitoneally applied to each referred group (n = 6) 1 h before the hMG and hCG injections. The mice were sacrificed next morning and blood samples were collected for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant reduction in both ovarian weight and the number of oocytes was found as the ANP dosage increased. ANP treatment decreased both serum estradiol and progesterone levels. The pituitary FSH and LH contents elevated significantly by ANP at a dosage larger than 4 ng/g of body weight; however, both serum FSH and LH levels remained unchanged. Histologically, there were remarkable ovarian inhibitory features, i.e. reduction in size and number of follicles, arrest of follicular growth and diminution of ovulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intraperitoneal administration of ANP inhibits the follicular growth, ovulation and steroidogenesis in female mice. These effects are attributed to the direct action of ANP on ovaries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, 100 Shih-Chuan 1st Rd., Kaohsiung 806, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Eing-Mei
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Yong-Yu
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Tony Tong-Yin
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Shelly
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jau-Nan
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002452:Cell Count; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D008596:Menotropins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D010060:Ovulation / Q000187:drug effects; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000187:drug effects; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000737:chemistry; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D008596:Menotropins; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone