Expression of steroid receptors in cystic ovarian disease in the rat

SALVETTI NR,; BARAVALLE C,; GIMENO EJ,; ORTEGA HH

Chillán, Chile

Otro; XVIII Reunión Anual Sociedad Chilena de Reproducción y Desarrollo; 2007

SOCIEDAD CHILENA DE REPRODUCCIÓN Y DESARROLLO

Summary The follicular cysts are structures that affect many species. Numerous experimental models for Cystic Ovarian Disease (COD) have been developed in rats. A relatively simple method to induce the COD consists on exposing mature rats to an environment with constant light. In the present study we analyze the expression of steroid receptors in the whole ovaries of rats with COD. Twenty rats were kept in a continuous light environment during 15 weeks. Females of the same age were used as controls. The animals were sacrificed and the ovaries were processed for protein extraction. 40 mg of proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE (10% separating gel). Proteins were transferred to nitrocellulose membranes and then, immunodetection was made. Estrogen receptors (ER) alfa and beta and Progesterone Receptor (PR) were analyzed by Image Proplus 3.0.1. Differences were detected between both groups. ER alfa increase their expression in treated animals while ER beta diminishes. We detected the three isoforms of PR. No differences were found in PR-B. Amounts of PR-A were higher in treated rats than in controls and quantities of PR-C were lower. The differences founded between groups could be due to alterations in the steroid/gonadotrophic hormone secretion that therefore it would alter the expression of these receptors at hypothalamus/pituitary/ovarian axis.