| Budget Amount *help |
¥4,290,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥990,000)
Fiscal Year 2010: ¥1,950,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥450,000)
Fiscal Year 2009: ¥2,340,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥540,000)
|
|---|
| Research Abstract |
Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and its receptors have been identified in female reproductive tissues. CRH regulates follicular maturation, ovulation, luteolysis, and steroidgenesis. A CRH-related peptide stresscopin (SCP), or urocotrtin III (Ucn3), has recently been identified, but its functions in the ovary remain to be elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the effects of SCP/Ucn3 on progesterone production in cultured human granulosa-lutein cells. SCP/Ucn3, and CRHR2 mRNAs and proteins were expressed in granulosa-lutein cells. SCP/Ucn3 was detected in culture media of granulosa-lutein cells and follicular fluid by RIA. In cultured granulosa-lutein cells, treatment with SCP/Ucn3 decreased progesterone secretion. In addition, concomitant treatment with the CRHR2 antagonist antisauvagine-30 counteracted the inhibitory effects of SCP/Ucn3, suggesting a mediatory role of CRHR2. The present results suggest that the SCP/CRHR2 system is present in human ovaries and treatment with SCP/Ucn3 inhibits progesterone production by cultured granulosa-lutein cells through interaction with CRHR2.
|
