Elucidation of the endocrine regulatory mechanism common in vertebrate ovulation.

本研究旨在阐明水母排卵的内分泌调节机制。本研究揭示了核黄体酮受体（nuclear progestin receptor, nPR）的诱导机制，而核黄体酮受体是诱导排卵相关基因的重要转录因子。结果表明，nPR参与了MT2-MMP和PAI-1的诱导，两者在排卵中起重要作用。阐明了一种成熟诱导激素（17a, 20b-DHP）的合成酶的表达模式，该激素是nPR的一个配体。在此基础上，我们提出了在排卵过程中诱导卵泡层降解的排卵相关酶的内分泌调节机制的新模型。

The aim of the present study is to elucidate the endocrine regulatory mechanism of ovulation in the medaka. The study disclosed a mechanism for inducing nuclear progestin receptor (nPR), which was the essential transcription factor for induction of ovulation-associated genes. It was revealed that nPR was involved in the induction of MT2-MMP and PAI-1, both which played an important role on ovulation. An expression pattern of the synthesizing enzymes for a maturation inducing hormone (17a, 20b-DHP), a ligand of nPR, was elucidated. Based on the results, we propose the novel model of the endocrine regulatory mechanism for inducing the ovulation-related enzymes responsible for degradation of follicle layer during ovulation.