Project description:This study was designed to provide a genome-wide analysis of the effects of luteinizing hormone (LH) ablation/replacement versus steroid ablation/replacement on gene expression in the developed corpus luteum (CL) in primates during the menstrual cycle. Naturally cycling, female rhesus monkeys were left untreated (Control; n = 4) or received one of the following treatments for three days beginning on Day 9 of the luteal phase: daily injection of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist (Antide; n = 5), Antide + recombinant human LH (A+LH; n = 4), Antide + LH + the 3b-HSD antagonist Trilostane (A+LH+TRL; n = 4), and Antide + LH + TRL + progesterone replacement with a synthetic progestin R5020 (A+LH+TRL+ R5020; n = 5). On Day 12 of the luteal phase, CL were removed and samples of RNA from individual CL were fluorescently labeled and hybridized to Affymetrix™ rhesus macaque total genome microarrays. The greatest number of altered transcripts was associated with the ablation/replacement of LH, while ablation/replacement of progestin affected fewer transcripts. Replacement of LH during Antide treatment restored expression of most transcripts to control levels. Real-time PCR validation of a subset of transcripts revealed that most expression patterns were similar between microarray and real-time PCR. Analysis of protein levels were subsequently determined for 2 of the transcripts differentially expressed by real-time PCR. This is the first genome-wide analysis of LH and steroid regulation of gene transcription in the developed primate CL. Further analysis of novel transcripts identified in this data set can clarify the relative role for LH and steroids in CL maintenance and luteolysis. Keywords: LH/steroid ablation/replacement in primate mid-late luteal phase corpora lutea 22 samples from Rhesus Macaque corpus luteum hybridized to individual Rhesus Affymentrix Gene Chip Arrays. 5 treatment groups, with at least 4 replicates per treatment.

Project description:The LH-like molecule chorionic gonadotropin (CG) is secreted by the macaque conceptus during and following implantation, M-bM-^@M-^\rescuingM-bM-^@M-^] the CL from impending regression and extending its functional lifespan in early pregnancy for approximately two weeks. CG binds to the same receptor as LH; i.e., LHCGR, and promotes production of steroids and other factors such as relaxin (RLN1). Our research group recently used AffymetrixM-bM-^DM-" rhesus macaque total genome arrays to compare the effects of CG on the luteal transcriptome from rhesus females during simulated early pregnancy (SEP) with changes during luteal regression in the non-fecund menstrual cycle. This analysis demonstrated that CG-rescue affected expression levels of 4,500 mRNA transcripts between days 10 and 15 of the luteal phase. Previous analyses indicated that a portion of the transcriptome in the macaque CL of the menstrual cycle was regulated indirectly by LH via the local actions of steroid hormones, including progesterone (P). Therefore, this study was designed to distinguish CG-regulated luteal genes that are dependent versus independent of local steroid (P) action. A protocol of increasing dosages of hCG (SEP) was begun on day 9 of the luteal phase in rhesus females combined with concurrent administration of the 3BHSD inhibitor trilostane (TRL) +/- the synthetic progestin (P) R5020. CL were collected on day 10 (no treatment) of the luteal phase to serve as a baseline comparison (n=8), 1 day of SEP (Day 10+hCG+/-TRL+/-R5020) and 6 days of SEP (Day 15+hCG+/-TRL+/-R5020); n=4/group. In the presence of CG, treatment with TRL reduced serum P levels to less than 1 ng/ ml after 1 day and all of the Day 15+h+TRL-treated females initiated menses before CL collection. The isolated CL were processed for total RNA and hybridized to microarrays. Compared to hCG treatment alone, 50 significantly altered mRNA transcripts were identified on day 10, rising to 95 on day 15 (P<0.05, M-bM-^IM-% 2-fold change in gene expression). The mRNA levels for several genes were validated in CL by real-time PCR. RNL1 levels increased with CG-treatment, but were not affected by steroid ablation, similar to previously reported relaxin protein expression. Steroid-sensitive genes included CDH11, IL1RN, INSL3, LDLR, OPA1, SERPINE1, SFRP4, and TNSF13B1; however differential sensitivity was observed and effects of steroid ablation and P replacement varied by day. Expression of some genes (e.g., 3BHSD2, ADAMTS1, ADAMTS5, MMP9, STAR, and VEGFA) previously identified as steroid regulated in the macaque CL during the menstrual cycle were not significantly altered by steroid ablation and P replacement during CG exposure in SEP. These data indicate that the majority of CG-regulated luteal transcripts are differentially expressed independently of local steroid actions. The proportion of steroid sensitive mRNA transcripts in the presence of CG is much smaller than in the presence of LH during the non-fecund cycle. Nevertheless, the steroid-regulated genes in the macaque CL may be essential during early pregnancy, based on the previous report that TRL treatment initiates premature structural regression of the CL during SEP. These data reinforce the concept that the structure, function, and regulation of the rescued CL in early pregnancy is different from the CL of the menstrual cycle. A protocol of increasing dosages of hCG (SEP) was begun on day 9 of the luteal phase in rhesus females combined with concurrent administration of the 3BHSD inhibitor trilostane (TRL) +/- the synthetic progestin (P) R5020. CL were collected on day 10 (no treatment) of the luteal phase to serve as a baseline comparison (n=8), 1 day of SEP (Day 10+hCG+/-TRL+/-R5020) and 6 days of SEP (Day 15+hCG+/-TRL+/-R5020); n=4/group.The isolated CL were processed for total RNA and hybridized to Affymetrix Rhesus Genome microarrays.

Project description:The LH-like molecule chorionic gonadotropin (CG) is secreted by the macaque conceptus during and following implantation, “rescuing” the CL from impending regression and extending its functional lifespan in early pregnancy for approximately two weeks. CG binds to the same receptor as LH; i.e., LHCGR, and promotes production of steroids and other factors such as relaxin (RLN1). Our research group recently used Affymetrix™ rhesus macaque total genome arrays to compare the effects of CG on the luteal transcriptome from rhesus females during simulated early pregnancy (SEP) with changes during luteal regression in the non-fecund menstrual cycle. This analysis demonstrated that CG-rescue affected expression levels of 4,500 mRNA transcripts between days 10 and 15 of the luteal phase. Previous analyses indicated that a portion of the transcriptome in the macaque CL of the menstrual cycle was regulated indirectly by LH via the local actions of steroid hormones, including progesterone (P). Therefore, this study was designed to distinguish CG-regulated luteal genes that are dependent versus independent of local steroid (P) action. A protocol of increasing dosages of hCG (SEP) was begun on day 9 of the luteal phase in rhesus females combined with concurrent administration of the 3BHSD inhibitor trilostane (TRL) +/- the synthetic progestin (P) R5020. CL were collected on day 10 (no treatment) of the luteal phase to serve as a baseline comparison (n=8), 1 day of SEP (Day 10+hCG+/-TRL+/-R5020) and 6 days of SEP (Day 15+hCG+/-TRL+/-R5020); n=4/group. In the presence of CG, treatment with TRL reduced serum P levels to less than 1 ng/ ml after 1 day and all of the Day 15+h+TRL-treated females initiated menses before CL collection. The isolated CL were processed for total RNA and hybridized to microarrays. Compared to hCG treatment alone, 50 significantly altered mRNA transcripts were identified on day 10, rising to 95 on day 15 (P<0.05, ≥ 2-fold change in gene expression). The mRNA levels for several genes were validated in CL by real-time PCR. RNL1 levels increased with CG-treatment, but were not affected by steroid ablation, similar to previously reported relaxin protein expression. Steroid-sensitive genes included CDH11, IL1RN, INSL3, LDLR, OPA1, SERPINE1, SFRP4, and TNSF13B1; however differential sensitivity was observed and effects of steroid ablation and P replacement varied by day. Expression of some genes (e.g., 3BHSD2, ADAMTS1, ADAMTS5, MMP9, STAR, and VEGFA) previously identified as steroid regulated in the macaque CL during the menstrual cycle were not significantly altered by steroid ablation and P replacement during CG exposure in SEP. These data indicate that the majority of CG-regulated luteal transcripts are differentially expressed independently of local steroid actions. The proportion of steroid sensitive mRNA transcripts in the presence of CG is much smaller than in the presence of LH during the non-fecund cycle. Nevertheless, the steroid-regulated genes in the macaque CL may be essential during early pregnancy, based on the previous report that TRL treatment initiates premature structural regression of the CL during SEP. These data reinforce the concept that the structure, function, and regulation of the rescued CL in early pregnancy is different from the CL of the menstrual cycle.

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Macaca radiata

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