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PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:dateCreated
1998-6-9
pubmed:abstractText
The formation, normal function and destruction of corpora lutea are essential features of normal reproduction. Although the formation of corpora lutea from follicles is largely dependent on pituitary gonadotrophins, the process of luteolysis is locally regulated and poorly understood. The corpus luteum consists of several steroidogenic and nonsteroidogenic cell types that interact with each other in a paracrine manner. Under cell culture conditions, large luteal cells that stem from follicular granulosa cells can be identified easily under the microscope and collected individually for single cell RT-PCR. As each of the 120 large luteal cells express the gene encoding 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, it appears that all large luteal cells are steroidogenic. Large luteal cells also express the oestrogen receptor gene and as they are known to produce oestradiol, it can be concluded that the steroid acts in an auto- or intracrine manner in large luteal cells. Since we showed previously that oestradiol stimulates progesterone release under in vitro and in vivo conditions, it can be concluded that the steroid is an important intraluteally acting luteotrophic signal. At the time of luteal regression, macrophages invade the corpora lutea and their cytokine products, particularly tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), appear to be involved in reduced steroid secretion. Indeed, TNF alpha inhibits production of progesterone and oestradiol from cultivated luteal cells. In sows, oestradiol is a strong luteotrophic factor and the production of oestradiol and of its receptor is downregulated by TNF alpha. Thereby, TNF alpha not only exerts direct luteolytic effects but also prevents the luteotrophic effects of oestradiol. Hence, it has an anti-luteotrophic action. In most species, functional luteolysis is accompanied by morphological regression of the corpus luteum. This structural luteolysis also appears to involve TNF alpha, as we have shown in pigs that expression of TNF alpha gene is high during luteolysis. Furthermore, TNF alpha stimulates programmed cell death (apoptosis) in luteal cells kept under culture conditions.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
0449-3087
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
52
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
19-29
pubmed:dateRevised
2005-11-16
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1997
pubmed:articleTitle
Immune-endocrine interactions affecting luteal function in pigs.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Göttingen, Germany.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Review