title: Kisspeptin stimulates progesterone secretion via the Erk1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway in rat luteal cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of kisspeptin on the endocrine function of rat luteal cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental animal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Research institute laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immature Sprague-Dawley rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of kisspeptin and its receptor, GPR54, in immature rat ovaries treated with gonadotropin was observed via immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Then recombinant kisspeptin was used to examine the effect on the endocrine function of rat luteal cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression and localization of kisspeptin, localization of GPR54, P and E2 secretion, expression of steroidogenic enzymes, and phosphorylation of Erk1/2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Real-time polymerase chain reaction indicated that ovarian KiSS-1 mRNA levels increased significantly, showing a peak at the luteal period in gonadotropin-primed immature rats. Immunostaining analysis showed that after gonadotropin treatment, kisspeptin was strongly localized in theca cells, the interstitial compartment, and the corpus luteum and that GPR54 protein was clearly detected in the corpus luteum of rat ovaries. In cultured luteal cells, kisspeptin treatment augmented basal and hCG-induced P levels but not E2 production, with concomitant increases detected in the transcript levels of key steroidogenic enzymes (StAR, CYP11A, and 3β-HSD). Furthermore, treatment with kisspeptin increased the phosphorylation of Erk1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase in cultured luteal cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The kisspeptin/GPR54 signaling system could stimulate P secretion in rat luteal cells via the Erk1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, suggesting an important role for the function of the corpus luteum.
authors: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, PR China.
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Peng
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Tang
authors: Bao-Ping
authors: BP
authors: Zhang
authors: Peng
authors: P
authors: Zhang
authors: Ting
authors: T
authors: Zhong
authors: Teng
authors: T
authors: Zong
authors: Bei
authors: B
authors: Yang
authors: Hai-Bin
authors: HB
authors: Kuang
mesh_terms: D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / Q000378:metabolism; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000494:pharmacology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D059648:Kisspeptins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008184:Luteal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000074502:Receptors, Kisspeptin-1; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein
chemical_list: D006062:Gonadotropins; C491406:Kiss1 protein, rat; C492247:Kiss1r protein, rat; D059648:Kisspeptins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D000074502:Receptors, Kisspeptin-1; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein; D011374:Progesterone; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme