Development and Reproduction (한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식)

The Korean Society of Developmental Biology (한국발생생물학회)
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Gonadotropins Regulate the mRNA Expression of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone and Its Receptors in the Mouse Ovary and Uterus

  • Soeun Moon (Department of Bioenvironmental Technology, College of Sciences Technology Convergence, Seoul Women's University) ;
  • Bokyeong Yun (Department of Bioenvironmental Technology, College of Sciences Technology Convergence, Seoul Women's University) ;
  • Minju Lee (Department of Bioenvironmental Technology, College of Sciences Technology Convergence, Seoul Women's University) ;
  • Eunji Seok (Department of Biohealth Convergence, College of Sciences Technology Convergence, Seoul Women's University) ;
  • Jinah Ha (Department of Biohealth Convergence, College of Sciences Technology Convergence, Seoul Women's University) ;
  • Hyunwon Yang (Department of Biohealth Convergence, College of Sciences Technology Convergence, Seoul Women's University)
  • Received : 2023.12.08
  • Accepted : 2024.02.27
  • Published : 2024.03.31
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Abstract

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), a critical hormone produced in the hypothalamus, is essential for regulating reproductive processes. It has also been demonstrated the presence of GnRH and its receptors (GnRHR) in ovarian and uterine tissues, but little was known about the regulation mechanism of their expression in these organs and ovarian aging. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the expression of GnRHR in the ovary and uterus of mice, particularly after high-dose gonadotropin treatments and in relation to aging. Quantitative real-time-PCR (qRT-PCR) revealed that pituitary gland had the highest GnRHR expression in both young and aged mice. In addition, liver expression was higher in young mice, whereas thymus expression was higher in aged mice. GnRHR mRNA was present in the ovaries of both young and aged mice but nearly undetectable in the uterus of aged mice. We next examined the expression of GnRHR in the ovary and uterus in response to high-dose administration of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG). After PMSG administration, GnRH mRNA levels were significantly decreased in the ovary but increased in the uterus. The expression of GnRH mRNA in these organs showed opposite trends to that of GnRHR expression. These results suggest the involvement of GnRH in age-related reproductive decline and the potential effects of high-dose gonadotropin treatments on reproductive organ function.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by a special research grant from Seoul Women's University (2024).

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