Prolactin modulates the luteal regression from the celiac ganglion via the superior ovarian nerve in late pregnant rat

SANDRA VALLCANERAS; MAGALI DE LA VEGA; DELGADO SILVIA M; ALICIA BEATRIZ MOTTA; CARLOS M TELLERIA; ANA MARIA RASTRILLA; MARILINA CASAIS

REPRODUCTION FERTILITY AND DEVELOPMENT

CSIRO PUBLISHING

Lugar: Collingwood; Año: 2014 vol. 2 p. 1 - 31

1031-3613

There are many evidences on the neuroendocrine control involved in the luteal regression in the rat. In addition, the circulating prolactin (PRL) that increases during the night before parturition may gain access to the celiac ganglion (CG) impacting indirectly the physiology of the ovary because of the known connection between the CG and the ovary via the superior ovarian nerve (SON). In this work we investigate in the CG-SON-Ovary system, whether PRL added to the CG has an impact, indirectly via SON, on the luteal regression on day 21 of pregnancy. The system was incubated without (control) or with PRL added to the CG. We measured the ovarian release of P, oestradiol, and PGF2α by RIA, and nitrites (NO) by the Griess method. Luteal mRNA expression of 3β-HSD, 20α-HSD, aromatase, iNOS, and apoptosis regulatory factors was analyzed by RT-PCR. The P release, the expression of Bcl-2, and the Bcl-2: Bax ratio was lower than control preparations, while the expression of 20α-HSD and the release of NO and PGF2α were higher in experimental group. In conclusion, PRL acts at the CG and, by a neural pathway, modulates luteal function at the end of pregnancy.