Endothelin-2 in ovarian follicle rupture.

Abstract

The ovulatory process is activated by a surge of LH, a pituitary gonadotropin, which initiates a cohort of dramatic changes in biochemical, physical, and gene expression in the ovary, leading to follicle rupture and oocyte release. Here we report the identification of endothelin-2 (EDN2) as a last moment-trigger of follicle rupture. In the ovary, EDN2 is exclusively and transiently expressed in the granulosa cells immediately before ovulation. Administration of EDN2 to the ovarian tissue induced rapid contraction, whereas addition of tezosentan, an endothelin receptor antagonist, diminishes the EDN2 effect. In vivo, treatment of tezosentan before ovulation substantially decreases gonadotropin-induced superovulation. As a target tissue of EDN2 action, we identified a layer of smooth muscle cells in the follicular wall of each follicle. Taken together, our data indicate that EDN2 induces follicular rupture by constricting periovulatory follicles.

• Authors: Chemyong Ko, Mary C Gieske, Linah Al-Alem, Yunkyung Hahn, Wen Su, Ming C Gong, Marc Iglarz, Yongbum Koo
• Journal: Endocrinology (Endocrinology) Vol. 147 Issue 4 Pg. 1770-9 (Apr 2006) ISSN: 0013-7227 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16410304 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Endothelin-1
• Endothelin-2
• Endothelin-3
• Estrogen Receptor alpha
• RNA, Messenger
• Receptors, Endothelin

Topics

• Animals
• Endothelin-1 (physiology)
• Endothelin-2 (genetics, physiology)
• Endothelin-3 (physiology)
• Estrogen Receptor alpha (physiology)
• Female
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Mice, Knockout
• Muscle Contraction
• Muscle, Smooth (physiology)
• Ovarian Follicle (physiology)
• RNA, Messenger (analysis)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Receptors, Endothelin (physiology)