title: Dexamethasone-induced changes in sympathetic innervation of porcine ovaries and in their steroidogenic activity.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to determine changes in the density of sympathetic nerves in porcine ovaries with dexamethasone (DXM)-induced cysts and the alterations in steroidogenic activity and amounts of catecholamines in the affected gonads. Cystic ovaries were supplied by numerous sympathetic nerve fibers. The amount of noradrenaline in the cysts (fluid, wall) was significantly higher than in the large follicles of the control group. After DXM injections, the amounts of noradrenaline and adrenaline significantly increased in the walls of small and medium-sized follicles. In the cysts (fluid, wall) the levels of androgens and estrogens were significantly lower, whereas progesterone was higher in the cystic wall. DXM administration led to a significant increase in the estrone content in the fluid of small follicles. Moreover, a decrease in the amounts of progesterone and androgens was found in the follicular fluid and walls of medium-sized follicles. DXM injections resulted in a significant increase in the immunoexpression of P450(scc) and 3beta-HSD in the cysts, a significant increase of P450(scc) in the follicles, and a decrease of 3beta-HSD and P450(arom). The present study shows that the DXM treatment leads to an increase in the density of intraovarian sympathetic nerves, paralleled by the amount of catecholamines, and that it is capable of changing the steroidogenic activity of porcine ovary bearing cysts. Thus, it appears possible that these events may be, at least partly, involved in the pathogenesis of this disorder.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Pathophysiology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima, Poland. baja@pan.olsztyn.pl
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jana
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dzienis
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rogozińska
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piskuła
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jedlinska-Krakowska
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wojtkiewicz
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Majewski
mesh_terms: D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D000728:Androgens / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001141:Aromatase / Q000378:metabolism; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / Q000378:metabolism; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D004967:Estrogens / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000294:innervation* / Q000378:metabolism; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000187:drug effects; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004967:Estrogens; D011374:Progesterone; D003907:Dexamethasone; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D001141:Aromatase; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine