title: [Progesterone receptor-mediated molecular mechanisms on mammalian female reproduction].
abstract: The steroid hormone, progesterone, plays a critical role in regulation of mammalian female reproductive activities. Besides the non-genomic activity of progesterone on target cells, its main physiological effect is caused through genomic action by the ligand-dependent nuclear progesterone receptor. The genomic and non-genomic effects of progesterone collectively mediate various female reproductive functions, including ovulation, embryo implantation, maintenance of pregnancy, initiation of parturition, and development of mammary gland. Although a large number of candidate genes regulated by progesterone have been identified by gene chip technology, the traditional progesterone response elements located in the promoter region of downstream target genes havenot been detected. Accordingly, it was suggested thatthe mechanism of nuclear progesterone receptors regulating transcription may be different from other nuclear steroid receptors. In this review, we summarized the mechanisms of progesterone receptors mediating the physiological effects in various female re-productive activities.
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering Institute of Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China. kangyuehua@126.com
authors.forename: Yue-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Bao-Yun
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ping-Qing
authors.initials: PQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ming-Xing
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Bing-Jie
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Wen-Jing
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001940:Breast / Q000254:growth & development; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010060:Ovulation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011980:Receptors, Progesterone