Study on the mechanisms of corpus luteum disappearance during luteolysis

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25660212
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Animal production science
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: OKUDA Kiyoshi 岡山大学, その他の研究科, 教授 (40177168)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): INOUE Naoko 名古屋大学, 農学部, 特任助教 (90377789)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 構造的黄体退行 / 黄体細胞 / リンパ管 / MMPs

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In mammals, corpus luteum (CL), formed after ovulation on ovary, is endocrine organ which repeats formation and regression (luteolysis). This study revealed that luteolysis mechanism involve outflow of luteal cells from the CL to lymphatic vessels. We suggested that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which degrade extracellular matrix, secreted by luteal cells have important roles to achieve outflow of luteal cells, and showed that MMPs expression in luteal cells is regulated by PGF2α and IFNG inducing luteolysis.

Free Research Field

生殖生理学