title: Evidence for a dopamine intrinsic direct role in the regulation of the ovary reproductive function: in vitro study on rabbit corpora lutea.
abstract: Dopamine (DA) receptor (DR) type 1 (D1R) has been found to be expressed in luteal cells of various species, but the intrinsic role of the DA/DRs system on corpora lutea (CL) function is still unclear. Experiments were devised to characterize the expression of DR types and the presence of DA, as well as the in vitro effects of DA on hormone productions by CL in pseudopregnant rabbits. Immunoreactivity and gene expression for D1R decreased while that for D3R increased in luteal and blood vessel cells from early to late pseudopregnant stages. DA immunopositivity was evidenced only in luteal cells. The DA and D1R agonist increased in vitro release of progesterone and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by early CL, whereas the DA and D3R agonist decreased progesterone and increased PGF2α in vitro release by mid- and late CL. These results provide evidence that the DA/DR system exerts a dual modulatory function in the lifespan of CL: the DA/D1R is luteotropic while the DA/D3R is luteolytic. The present data shed new light on the physiological mechanisms regulating luteal activity that might improve our ability to optimize reproductive efficiency in mammal species, including humans.
authors.affiliation: Scuola di Bioscienze e Medicina veterinaria, Università di Camerino, Matelica, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Parillo
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze biopatologiche veterinarie ed Igiene delle produzioni animali e alimentari, Sezione di Fisiologia, Università di Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maranesi
authors.affiliation: Scuola del Farmaco e dei Prodotti della salute, Università di Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
authors.forename: Fiorenzo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mignini
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università "G. D'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marinelli
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università "G. D'Annunzio", Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Stefano
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze biopatologiche veterinarie ed Igiene delle produzioni animali e alimentari, Sezione di Fisiologia, Università di Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boiti
authors.affiliation: Scuola di Bioscienze e Medicina veterinaria, Università di Camerino, Matelica, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zerani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000502:physiology*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000378:metabolism; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000378:metabolism; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D021381:Protein Transport; D011555:Pseudopregnancy; D011817:Rabbits; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1 / Q000819:agonists / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3; D011374:Progesterone; D015237:Dinoprost; D015232:Dinoprostone; D004298:Dopamine