Prolactin Is a Strong Candidate for the Regulation of Luteal Steroidogenesis in Vizcachas (Lagostomus maximus)

SOFÍA PROIETTO; SANTIAGO ANDRÉS CORTASA; MARÍA CLARA CORSO; PABLO IGNACIO FELIPE INSERRA; SANTIAGO ELÍAS CHARIF; ALEJANDRO SCHMIDT; NOELIA PAULA DI GIORGIO; VICTORIA LUX- LANTOS; ALFREDO DANIEL VITULLO; VERÓNICA BERTA DORFMAN; JULIA HALPERIN

International Journal of Endocrinology

Hindawi

Año: 2018

Prolactin (PRL) is essential for the maintenance of the corpora lutea and the production of progesterone (P4) during gestation ofmice and rats, which makes it a key factor for their successful reproduction. Unlike these rodents and the vast majority of mammals,female vizcachas (Lagostomus maximus) have a peculiar reproductive biology characterized by an ovulatory event duringpregnancy that generates secondary corpora lutea with a consequent increment of the circulating P4. We found that, althoughthe expression of pituitary PRL increased steadily during pregnancy, its ovarian receptor (PRLR) reached its maximum inmidpregnancy and drastically decreased at term pregnancy. The luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) exhibited a similar profilethan PRLR. Maximum P4 and LH blood levels were recorded at midpregnancy as well. Remarkably, the P4-sinthesizing enzyme3β-HSD accompanied the expression pattern of PRLR/LHR throughout gestation. Instead, the luteolytic enzyme 20α-HSDshowed low expression at early and midpregnancy, but reached its maximum at the end of gestation, when PRLR/LHR/3ß-HSDexpressions and circulating P4 were minimal. In conclusion, both the PRLR and LHR expressions in the ovary would define thesuccess of gestation in vizcachas by modulating the levels of 20α-HSD and 3ß-HSD, which ultimately determine the level ofserum P4 throughout gestation.