title: Progesterone-mediated effects on gene expression and oocyte-cumulus complex transport in the mouse fallopian tube.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The fallopian tube transports the gametes to the fertilization site and delivers the embryo to the uterus at the optimal time for implantation. Progesterone and the classical progesterone receptor are involved in regulating both tubal ciliary beating and muscular contractions, likely via both genomic and non-genomic actions.
  
  
  METHODS
  To provide more details of the underlying mechanisms, we investigated the effect of progesterone on gene expression in mice fallopian tubes in vitro at 20 min, 2 h and 8 h post progesterone treatment using microarray and/or quantitative PCR. In parallel, oocyte cumulus complex transport was investigated in ovulating mice that were injected with one of the progesterone receptor antagonists, Org 31710 or CDB2194.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Microarray analyses did not reveal any apparently regulated genes 20 min after progesterone treatment, consistent with the proposed non-genomic action of progesterone controlling ciliary beating. After 2 h, 11 genes were identified as up-regulated. Analyses using quantitative PCR at 2 h and 8 h showed a consistent up-regulation of endothelin1 and a down-regulation of its receptor Endothelin receptor A by progesterone. We also confirmed that treatment with progesterone receptor antagonists before ovulation accelerates the transport of the oocyte cumulus complex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study showing that progesterone regulates the expression of endothelin1 and endothelin receptor A in the fallopian tube. Together with previous studies of the effects of endothelin on muscular contractions in the fallopian tube, the results from this study suggest that endothelin is a mediator of the progesterone-controlled effects on muscular contraction and eventually gamete transport in the fallopian tube.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Guldhedsgatan 10, SE-413 46, Gothenburg, Sweden. anna.bylander@gu.se.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bylander
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Guldhedsgatan 10, SE-413 46, Gothenburg, Sweden. lina.gunnarsson@fysiologi.gu.se.
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gunnarsson
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 454, SE-405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden. ruijin.shao@fysiologi.gu.se.
authors.forename: Ruijin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 454, SE-405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden. hakan.billig@fysiologi.gu.se.
authors.forename: Håkan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Billig
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Guldhedsgatan 10, SE-413 46, Gothenburg, Sweden. joakim.larsson@fysiologi.gu.se.
authors.forename: D G Joakim
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Larsson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D054885:Cumulus Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011374:Progesterone