PROGESTERONE RECEPTORS & ACTION IN PRIMATE OVARY

这个子项目是许多研究子项目中利用 资源由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供。子项目和 调查员(PI)可能从NIH的另一个来源获得了主要资金， 并因此可以在其他清晰的条目中表示。列出的机构是 该中心不一定是调查人员的机构。 本研究的目的是了解激素和局部因素在灵长类动物月经周期中如何控制卵巢中排卵卵泡和黄体的结构和功能，从而控制生育能力的机制。正在进行的研究正在验证一种假设，即垂体激素黄体生成素(LH)在促进成熟卵泡排卵和随后将其转化为黄体以及控制黄体功能寿命方面的重要作用是直接或间接的局部类固醇作用(例如，通过刺激孕酮[P]合成和P受体表达)。由于猴子的卵巢功能与女性相似，所以猴子被用来进行实验，其中促黄体生成素和类固醇激素被耗尽，或者只有类固醇被耗尽并被取代。然后摘除排卵卵泡或黄体，以分析分子和细胞过程，这些过程依赖于促黄体激素，不依赖于类固醇/孕激素，也不依赖于激素。对不同过程的基因和蛋白质表达进行了分析，包括：(1)在排卵、黄体发育和黄体退化过程中可能对组织重塑至关重要的蛋白水解酶，以及(2)局部调节系统，例如促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素(CRH)/尿皮质素(UCN)受体结合蛋白系统。目前的全基因组分析正在确定黄体卵泡中受促黄体激素和/或类固醇激素调节的过程。这些过程的活性正在被操纵，通过基因敲除或蛋白质拮抗剂的方法，来阐明它们与灵长类卵巢功能和周期性的生物学相关性。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The objective of this research is to understand the mechanisms whereby hormonal and local factors control the structure-function of the ovulatory follicle and corpus luteum in the ovary, and hence fertility, during the menstrual cycle in primates. Ongoing research is testing the hypothesis that the vital actions of the pituitary hormone, luteinizing hormone (LH) in promoting ovulation of the mature follicle and its subsequent conversion into the corpus luteum, and in controlling the functional lifespan of the corpus luteum, is either direct or indirect via local steroid action (e.g., via stimulation of progesterone [P] synthesis and P receptor expression). Because of similarities to ovarian function in women, monkeys are used in experiments where either LH and steroid hormones are depleted or steroids alone are depleted and replaced. The ovulatory follicle or corpus luteum is then removed to analyze molecular and cellular processes that are LH-dependent and either steroid/P-independent or -dependent. Gene and protein expression are analyzed for various processes, including: (1) protease enzymes that may be critical for tissue remodeling during ovulation, luteal development and luteal regression, and (2) local regulatory systems, e.g., the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)/urocortins (UCN)-receptor-binding protein system. Current genome-wide analyses are identifying processes that are regulated by LH and/or steroid hormones in the follicle of corpus luteum. The activity of these processes is being manipulated, via gene knockdown or protein antagonist approaches, to elucidate their biologic relevance to primate ovarian function and cyclicity.