title: In vitro effect of unacylated ghrelin and obestatin on human luteal cell function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether unacylated ghrelin and obestatin were able to influence human luteal cell function. The effect of these two ghrelin-related peptides on progesterone (P4), prostaglandin (PG) F(2α), PGE(2), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) release and on VEGF expression in isolated human steroidogenic cells has been investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective laboratory study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Corpora lutea were obtained from 23 normally menstruating patients in the midluteal phase of the menstrual cycle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human luteal cells were isolated from corpora lutea, and primary cultures were established.
  
  
  METHODS
  P4 and PGs release was assayed by enzyme immunoassay, VEGF secretion by ELISA, and VEGF mRNA expression by real-time polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  P4 and VEGF release were significantly reduced by both unacylated ghrelin and obestatin. Moreover, the highest concentration of obestatin was able to reduce the release of PGE(2) and PGF(2α). VEGF mRNA expression was not affected by the incubation with any of these ghrelin-related peptides. As expected, CoCl(2) was able to induce VEGF release and mRNA expression in luteal cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that, similar to ghrelin, both unacylated ghrelin and obestatin might play a role in regulating the luteal cell function that affects both luteal steroidogenesis and luteotrophic/luteolytic imbalance. These results further underline the pivotal correlation between the ghrelin system and reproduction.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Fisiopatologia della Riproduzione Umana, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy. f.romani@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Romani
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lanzone
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tropea
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Familiari
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scarinci
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sali
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Delogu
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Catino
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Apa
mesh_terms: D000215:Acylation; D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003035:Cobalt / Q000494:pharmacology; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008184:Luteal Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D003035:Cobalt; D011374:Progesterone; D015237:Dinoprost; C018021:cobaltous chloride