Can Androstenedione reverse the luteal regression through neural pathway?

VALLCANERAS S; CASAIS M; DELGADO SM; SOSA Z; RASTRILLA AM

Huerta Grande (Cordoba)

Congreso; I Reunión Conjunta de Neurociencias; 2009

Can Androstenedione reverse the luteal regression through neural pathway? Vallcaneras S, Casais M, Delgado M, Sosa Z and Rastrilla AM. LABIR- FQByF-UNSL- email: ssvallca@unsl.edu.ar Working with the coeliac ganglion-superior ovarian nerve-ovary (CG-SON-Ovary) system, androstenedione (A2), through neural pathway, stimulated the liberation of luteal progesterone (P) and   nitric oxide (NO), gaseous neurotransmitter, in late pregnant rat. This effect may be mediated by androgen receptors present in CG. On day 4 post partum, when the luteal regression is advanced, the same effect was observed respect to P, A2 and estradiol, but inhibited NO. The aim of this work was to investigate on day 4 post partum the possible molecular mechanisms at the ovary level involved in the neural action of A2. The ex vivo CG-SON-Ovary system was incubated in Krebs Ringer-glucose-albumin (0.1 mg/ml) at 37¨¬C, keeping CG and ovary connected by the SON, in separate cuvettes. A2 (10-6M) was added in the CG compartment, Controls were not stimulated. At the end of total incubation period (180 minutes), luteal RNA was extracted to determine the expression levels of the progesterone synthesis (3¥â-HSD) and degradation (20¥á-HSD) enzymes, bcl-2, bax (genes involved in the regulation of apoptosis) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) by RT-PCR. The addition of A2 to the CG did not modify neither 3¥â-HSD, 20¥á-HSD, Bcl-2 nor Bax expression but increased iNOS expression respect to the control group. A2 from CG only affected the iNOS expression without modifying functional and structural regression parameters.