Expression of mRNA encoding insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) during induced and natural regression of equine corpora lutea.
The insulin-like growth factors, IGF-I and -II, have been shown to play a key role in luteal function in some species. The IGF binding proteins, IGFBP-2 and -3, have been shown to inhibit binding of IGF-I and -II to bovine luteal cells and decrease progesterone production. We have recently shown that equine follicles have the genetic capacity to produce IGFBP-2, and that levels decrease in healthy preovulatory follicles. In the present study expression of mRNAs encoding IGFBP-2, as well as the rate-limiting steroidogenic enzyme, P450scc, were studied in equine corpora lutea to investigate whether IGFBP-2 might be involved in luteolysis. Corpora lutea were collected from mares in mid-luteal phase (day 10), at early regression (day 14), late regression (day 17), and 12 and 36 h after intramuscular administration of the PGF(2alpha) analogue, cloprostenol (0.5 microg/kg). During early natural regression, and 12 h after administration of cloprostenol on day 10, steady state levels of mRNAs encoding P450scc had decreased significantly compared with day 10 of dioestrus (P < 0.001). Levels of mRNA encoding IGFBP-2 increased significantly between mid-diestrus and early (P < 0.01) and late (P < 0.001) regression, and 36 h after cloprostenol administration (P < 0.001). We conclude that the genetic capacity for increased IGFBP-2 production in the early stages of natural luteolysis in the mare may act to sequester IGF-I in the CL, assisting in inhibition of progesterone production. However the delay in increase in mRNA encoding IGFBP-2 after cloprostenol administration, combined with the sharp fall in expression of P450scc mRNA, suggests that the luteolytic action of a pharmacological dose of cloprostenol may not be mediated via IGFBP-2 in the mare.
Watson
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Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Veterinary Field Station, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, Scotland EH25 9RG, UK. elaine.watson@ed.ac.uk
Bae
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Al-Zi'abi
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Hogg
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Armstrong
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D000818:Animals; D003008:Cloprostenol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006736:Horses; D018971:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D003341:Luteolysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*
D018971:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003008:Cloprostenol; D011374:Progesterone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II