Melatonin influences on steroidogenic gene expression in the ovary of pinealectomized rats.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the expression of genes related to steroidogenesis in the ovary of pinealectomized rats.


METHODS
Experimental research.


METHODS
University research laboratory.


METHODS
Thirty female adult rats.


METHODS
Administration of vehicle (GI), pinealectomy with vehicle (GII), or pinealectomy with melatonin replacement (10 μg/night) for 60 consecutive days (GIII), then euthanasia after 2 months of treatment, ovary collection complementary DNA microarray analyses, confirmatory quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analyses, and immunohistochemical analyses for localizing steroidogenesis changes in the ovary.


METHODS
Biologic molecular study followed by immunohistochemical analysis.


RESULTS
The changes in the expression of CYP11A1, CYP17A1, and CYP19A1 after pinealectomy (GII) compared with control (GI) showed the Cyp17a1 expression level increased in the theca interna and interstitial cells in the GII rats compared with the other groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Melatonin deprivation (pinealectomy) or administration may influence the ovarian CYP17A1 expression and steroidogenesis.
Department of Gynecology, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: kmasouza@hotmail.com.
Carla C
CC
Maganhin
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, São Paulo School of Medicine, University São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Ricardo S
RS
Simões
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, São Paulo School of Medicine, University São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Luiz F P
LF
Fuchs
Department of Morphology and Genetics Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Gisela R S
GR
Sasso
Department of Morphology and Genetics Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Manuel J
MJ
Simões
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, São Paulo School of Medicine, University São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Edmund C
EC
Baracat
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, São Paulo School of Medicine, University São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Jose M
JM
Soares
D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000378:metabolism; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / Q000378:metabolism; D004967:Estrogens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D008550:Melatonin / Q000172:deficiency / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D004967:Estrogens; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011374:Progesterone; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases; D001141:Aromatase; C582555:CYP17A1 protein, rat; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme; D008550:Melatonin
Gene expression; melatonin; ovary; rat; steroidogenesis