Role of ghrelin on nitric oxide secretion and implantation in mice.

DE LOREDO N; LUQUE EM; TORRES PJ; VINCENTI LM; FIOL DE CUNEO M; MARTINI AC

Córdoba

Jornada; XIV Jornada de Investigación Científica de la Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; 2013

During pregnancy maternal a Ghrelin (Ghr) concentration increases significantly, suggesting an important role of the peptide on the process. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the role of Ghr on implantation and nitric oxide (NO) secretion, a metabolite that is essential for placenta formation and function. It was evaluated: 1) parameters related to implantation in pregnant female mice injected (s.c.) from Day 3 to Day 7 (peri-implantation period) with: Ghr (4 nmol/animal/day), an antagonist (Ant (D-Lys3)GHRP-6, 6 nmol/animal/day), a combination of both (Ghr+Ant) or isotonic solution (control); 2) the nitrite concentrations in the supernatant of pregnant female uterus (Day 8) incubated in a medium with arginine (for 1 h), with or without Ghr (10-9M) and/or Ant (10-4M). Results were analyzed by two-way ANOVA or repeated measures ANOVA respectively. In experiment 1, not only hyperghrelinemia (Ghr group) but also endogenous Ghr inhibition (Ant group) decreased fetal weight (at gestation Day 18) and mothers weight gain during pregnancy. Ghrelin increased the percentage of embryo loss (Ghr=17.3±6.58 and Ghr+Ant=13.3±3.7 vs control=3.9±4.8 and Ant=6.7±4.0; n=9-12 females/group; p=0.045); Ghr and Ant augmented fetal atrophy (Ghr=71.4%, Ghr+Ant=44.4% and Ant=62.5% vs control=0%; n=7-10 females/group; p