title: Potential roles of matrix metalloproteinases and characteristics of ovarian development in neonatal guinea pigs.
abstract: The present study was conducted to investigate expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and early ovarian development in neonatal guinea pigs. Thirty neonatal guinea pigs at 3 or 8 days of age were administrated 5IU equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) or saline, and the ovaries were collected after 2 days of eCG. Serum concentrations of estradiol and progesterone were determined, and ovarian localization of StAR, MMP-2 and MMP-9 were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. Results indicate that injection of eCG sensitized the neonatal ovary and elevated serum concentrations of estradiol and progesterone, but not enough to stimulate ovarian follicular development in the ovaries. MMP-2 and MMP-9 were both immunolocalized to the surface of granulosa cells of primary and secondary follicles, and high MMP-2 expression was accompanied by low StAR expression in eCG-treated ovaries. Collectively, we hypothesize that MMP-2, -9 and StAR are both involved in follicular atresia through their participation in cell proliferation and tissue remodeling.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; College of Agriculture and Bio-engineering, Jinhua Polytechnic, Jinhua 321017, China.
authors.forename: Junrong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Agriculture and Bio-engineering, Jinhua Polytechnic, Jinhua 321017, China.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Guoyun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Quanwei
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Dagan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China. Electronic address: fxshi@njau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Fangxiong
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000502:physiology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000254:growth & development*; D010053:Ovary / Q000254:growth & development*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9
keywords: MMP-2; MMP-9; Neonatal guinea pigs; PCNA; StAR; eCG