Interplay between nitric oxide and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone in the neuromodulation of the corpus luteum during late pregnancy in the rat

DELSOUC, MARÍA BELÉN; MORALES, LAURA; FERNÁNDEZ, MARINA; FILIPPA, VERÓNICA; CASAIS, MARILINA; VALLCANERAS, SANDRA; RAMIREZ, DARÍO; TELLERIA, CARLOS M.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY AND ENDOCRINOLOGY

BIOMED CENTRAL LTD

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2022 vol. 20

1477-7827

Background: Nitric oxide and GnRH are biological factors that participate in the regulation of reproductive functions.To our knowledge, there are no studies that link NO and GnRH in the sympathetic ganglia. Thus, the aim of the present work was to investigate the infuence of NO on GnRH release from the coeliac ganglion and its efect on lutealregression at the end of pregnancy in the rat.Methods: The ex vivo system composed by the coeliac ganglion, the superior ovarian nerve, and the ovary of ratson day 21 of pregnancy was incubated for 180min with the addition, into the ganglionic compartment, of L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a non-selective NO synthase inhibitor. The control group consisted in untreated organsystems.Results: The addition of L-NAME in the coeliac ganglion compartment decreased NO as well as GnRH release fromthe coeliac ganglion. In the ovarian compartment, and with respect to the control group, we observed a reducedrelease of GnRH, NO, and noradrenaline, but an increased production of progesterone, estradiol, and expression oftheir limiting biosynthetic enzymes, 3β-HSD and P450 aromatase, respectively. The inhibition of NO production byL-NAME in the coeliac ganglion compartment also reduced luteal apoptosis, lipid peroxidation, and nitrotyrosine,whereas it increased the total antioxidant capacity within the corpora lutea.Conclusion: Collectively, the results indicate that NO production by the coeliac ganglion modulates the physiologyof the ovary and luteal regression during late pregnancy in rats.