Role of wnt/bcatenin signal transducción pathway in rat follicular development and luteal function

ACCIALINI P; BAS D; PARBORELL F; ABRAMOVICH D; TESONE M

Chascomus

Congreso; XVI Jornada Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Biología (SAB); 2014

Sociedad Argentina de Biología

Role of wnt/bcatenin signal transducción pathway in rat follicular development and luteal function The evolutionarily conserved Wnt/b-catenin signal transduction pathway controls many biological processes. The objective of this study was to determine the role of this signaling pathway in follicular development and luteal function. To this purpose PMSG-eCG gonadotropin- prepubertal treated female rats were injected with a Wnt inhibitor (XAV939, 5ug/ovary, Wnt-I group) or vehicle (DMSO, Control group) into the bursa of both ovaries the day of hCG administration. Two days after hCG and Wnt-I or vehicle injection, blood samples and ovaries were collected. Ovarian function was evaluated by measuring serum progesterone (P4) (RIA), steroidogenic- regulators protein levels by western blot and ovarian structures at different stages of development. The levels of P4 significantly decreased after Wnt inhibitor administration. Corpora lutea (CL) were isolated by microdissection and steroidogenic protein regulators were measured. StAR levels significantly decreased in the Wnt-I group in comparison with the Control group, whereas the levels of P450scc or 3 beta HSD enzymes did not change. Histological studies showed a tendency to a decrease in the percentage of corpora lutea and an increase in antral follicles in the Wnt-I group. In conclusion, the inhibition of Wnt pathway appears to produce a decrease in P4 serum levels associated to a decrease in StAR levels in CL and a tendency to inhibit luteinization.