The modulation action of Allopregnanolona on hypothalamic 3alfa-HSD modifies the ovarian steroidogenesis in female rat.

VEGA OROZCO, ADRIANA; LACONI MYRIAM ; CHAVEZ CANDELARIA; SOSA ZULEMA; YUNES ROBERTO; CABRERA RICARDO

REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES

SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC

Lugar: Thousand Oaks, California.; Año: 2012

1933-7191

Vega Orozco y Laconi: Both authors contribute equally. Abstract The aims of this work were to study: whether icv in vivo allopregnanolone injection modifies the enzymatic activity and gene expression of the 3β-hydroxysteroid- dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) in hypothalamus and ovary and if exist an modulatory effect of allopregnanolone on the peripheral nervous system that regulate ovarian steroidogenesis on proestrus (PE) and dioestrus I (DI) day. In the in vivo experiments, on PE, allopregnanolone caused a decrease in the 3β-HSD activity in hypothalamus and ovary but did not show changes in gene expression. On DI, allopregnanolone caused an increase on the 3β-HSD activity and gene expression in the ovary without changes in the hypothalamus. In the ex vivo experiment, the SMG-ONP-Ovary system was isolated after the drugs injection and ovarian progesterone concentration was determined at different times. The ovarian progesterone release and the 3β-HSD activity augmented on PE and DI. The gene expression of ovarian 3β- HSD increased only during DI. These effects were reverted by bicuculline in both stages in all experiments. Allopregnanolone has a modulatory effect on the hypothalamic and ovarian steroidogenesis in the time and cycle-depending pathway mediated by both peripheral nervous system and hypothalamic GABAergic system.