title: Effect of PRL on in vitro follicle growth, in vitro oocyte maturation, fertilization and early embryonic development in mice.
abstract: Prolactin (PRL), along with other hormones, plays a role in oocyte maturation, fertilization, and early embryonic development in mammals. In order to investigate the role of PRL on in vitro oocyte maturation from early follicular growth stages, as well as on fertilization and early embryonic development, we cultured preantral mouse follicles with and without PRL, followed by fertilization of the in vitro matured oocytes. Prolactin significantly improved the rate of oocyte maturation, fertilization, and early embryo development. Four isoforms of PRL-Receptor (R) have been found in whole ovaries of mice: one long (PRL-RL) and three short (-RS(1), -RS(2), and -RS(3)). We examined expression of the four PRL-R isoforms in preantral follicles, in cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) and in germinal vesicle GV stage oocytes by RT-PCR. Prolactin-RL, -RS(2) and -RS(3) mRNA, but not -RS(1), were expressed in preantral follicles, COCs, and GV stage oocytes. Our results indicate the prolactin pathway is functional in early preantral follicles, in COCs and in GV stage oocytes, and promotes oocyte maturation, meiosis, fertilization, and early embryonic development.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alexandra Hospital, University of Athens , Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Erasmia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kiapekou
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Loutradis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mastorakos
authors.forename: Ritsa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bletsa
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Beretsos
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zapanti
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Drakakis
authors.forename: Aristeidis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antsaklis
authors.forename: Ann A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kiessling
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D051379:Mice; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D011247:Pregnancy; D011388:Prolactin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin; D011388:Prolactin