title: Roles of prostaglandin receptors in female reproduction.
abstract: Prostaglandins (PGs) have long been known to play roles in various processes of female reproduction; however, the molecular mechanisms therein remained unsolved until recently. This review summarizes the recent progress towards understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying PG actions in fertilization and parturition. A series of studies using EP2-deficient mice demonstrated that after ovulation chemokine signalling in the cumulus cells stimulates integrin activation and cumulus extracellular matrix (ECM) assembly through the RhoA/ROCK/actomyosin pathway, although excessive chemokine signalling disturbs sperm penetration. PGE2-EP2 signalling suppresses such a chemokine signalling and stimulates cumulus ECM disassembly, which contributes to successful fertilization. A series of studies using FP-deficient mice revealed that PGF(2α)-FP signalling induces parturition at least by terminating progesterone production; however, some other EP signals are likely to be involved in parturition by inducing myometrial contraction. Therefore, it should be clarified as to which EP and/or FP receptor signals are physiologically essential for myometrial contraction and successful parturition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Kumamoto University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Oe-Honmachi, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan and CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Saitama 332-0012, Japan Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Kumamoto University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Oe-Honmachi, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan and CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Saitama 332-0012, Japan ysugi@kumamoto-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yukihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Kumamoto University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Oe-Honmachi, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan and CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Saitama 332-0012, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inazumi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Kumamoto University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Oe-Honmachi, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan and CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Saitama 332-0012, Japan Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Kumamoto University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Oe-Honmachi, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan and CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Saitama 332-0012, Japan.
authors.forename: Soken
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsuchiya
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054885:Cumulus Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D011982:Receptors, Prostaglandin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D058307:Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP2 Subtype / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D011982:Receptors, Prostaglandin; D058307:Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP2 Subtype; C034671:prostaglandin F2alpha receptor; D015232:Dinoprostone
keywords: cumulus cell; fertilization; luteolysis; parturition; prostanoid receptor