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Cellular Localization of Ovarian Proopiomelanocortin Messenger RNA during Follicular and Luteal Development in the Rat

Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, and Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky 40536
Divisions of Reproductive Biology and Neuroscience, Oregon Regional Primate Research Center Beaverton, Oregon 97006

Address requests for reprints to: Dr. Thomas E. Curry, Jr., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Kentucky Medical Center, 800 Rose Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40536.

Abstract

Opioid peptides are expressed in the reproductive system and have been reported to regulate reproductive function. The present study used in situ hybridization to selectively localize ovarian cells containing high levels of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA, an opioid precursor, during different stages of ovarian development. Prepubertal rats were primed with PMSG to stimulate follicular development, followed by hCG to induce ovulation. Treatment groups consisted of control (no treatment), PMSG (2 days post-PMSG), 1 day corpus luteum (CL; 1 day post-hCG), and 8 day CL (8 days post-hCG). POMC mRNA-containing cells were present in antral follicles, CL, and the interstitial compartment. With gonadotropin treatment, the percentage of follicles containing heavily labeled cells increased in the PMSG and 1 day CL groups. The number of POMC mRNA-containing cells per follicle also increased in the 1 day CL group. In the CL, no difference was observed in the percentage of CL exhibiting labeled cells between the 1 day CL and 8 day CL groups; however, more labeled luteal cells per CL were present in the 1 day CL group. A marked increase in POMC mRNA-containing cells was observed in the interstitial compartment of the 1 day CL group. These results indicate that the number of POMC mRNA-containing cells increases with follicular development and CL ormation; however, the ovarian distribution suggests that the labeled cells could be nonendocrine cells, possibly white blood cells. The in situ hybridization findings are indicative of low total concentrations of ovarian POMC mRNA, suggesting mainly an autocrine or paracrine role for POMC or POMC-derived peptides. These opioid peptides may play a role in processes occurring during follicular development and corpus luteum formation, such as modulation of gonadotropin action or reorganization of the extracellular matrix.

FOOTNOTES

This work was supported in part by NIH Grant HD-23195 (to T.E.C.), NIH Grant DK-41035 (to M.H.M.), NIH Grant 2-P51-RR-00163, and Office of Naval Research Grant N00014–90-J-1122(to M.H.M.).

^* Current address: Division of Reproductive Biology, Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon 97006.

Received for publication March 21, 1990. Revision received June 18, 1990. Accepted for publication June 18, 1990.

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