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Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
Published in: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research

Progesterone-mediated effects on gene expression and oocyte-cumulus complex transport in the mouse fallopian tube

Authors: Anna Bylander, Lina Gunnarsson, Ruijin Shao, Håkan Billig, DG Joakim Larsson

Published in: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

The fallopian tube transports the gametes to the fertilization site and delivers the embryo to the uterus at the optimal time for implantation. Progesterone and the classical progesterone receptor are involved in regulating both tubal ciliary beating and muscular contractions, likely via both genomic and non-genomic actions.

Methods

To provide more details of the underlying mechanisms, we investigated the effect of progesterone on gene expression in mice fallopian tubes in vitro at 20 min, 2 h and 8 h post progesterone treatment using microarray and/or quantitative PCR. In parallel, oocyte cumulus complex transport was investigated in ovulating mice that were injected with one of the progesterone receptor antagonists, Org 31710 or CDB2194.

Results

Microarray analyses did not reveal any apparently regulated genes 20 min after progesterone treatment, consistent with the proposed non-genomic action of progesterone controlling ciliary beating. After 2 h, 11 genes were identified as up-regulated. Analyses using quantitative PCR at 2 h and 8 h showed a consistent up-regulation of endothelin1 and a down-regulation of its receptor Endothelin receptor A by progesterone. We also confirmed that treatment with progesterone receptor antagonists before ovulation accelerates the transport of the oocyte cumulus complex.

Conclusions

This is the first study showing that progesterone regulates the expression of endothelin1 and endothelin receptor A in the fallopian tube. Together with previous studies of the effects of endothelin on muscular contractions in the fallopian tube, the results from this study suggest that endothelin is a mediator of the progesterone-controlled effects on muscular contraction and eventually gamete transport in the fallopian tube.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Progesterone-mediated effects on gene expression and oocyte-cumulus complex transport in the mouse fallopian tube
Authors
Anna Bylander
Lina Gunnarsson
Ruijin Shao
Håkan Billig
DG Joakim Larsson
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7827
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-015-0038-8

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