PROGESTERONE RECEPTORS & ACTION IN PRIMATE OVARY

这个子项目是利用资源的许多研究子项目之一 由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供。次级项目的主要支助 而子项目的主要调查员可能是由其他来源提供的， 包括其它NIH来源。 为子项目列出的总成本可能 表示子项目使用的中心基础设施的估计数量， NCRR赠款不直接向子项目或子项目工作人员提供资金。 本研究的目的是了解灵长类动物月经周期中激素和局部因素控制卵巢中排卵卵泡和黄体的结构-功能，从而影响生育力的机制。正在进行的研究正在测试以下假设：垂体激素、促黄体激素（LH）在促进成熟卵泡排卵及其随后转化为黄体以及在控制黄体的功能寿命中的重要作用是直接或间接通过局部类固醇作用（例如，通过刺激孕酮[P]合成和P受体表达）。由于与女性卵巢功能的相似性，猴子被用于LH和类固醇激素耗尽或类固醇单独耗尽和替代的实验中。然后取出排卵卵泡或黄体以分析LH依赖性和类固醇/P依赖性或依赖性的分子和细胞过程。分析基因和蛋白质表达的各种过程，包括：（1）蛋白酶，其可能对排卵、黄体发育和黄体退化期间的组织重塑至关重要，和（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卵泡或黄体中由LH和/或类固醇激素调节的过程。这些过程的活性正在被操纵，通过基因敲低或蛋白质拮抗剂的方法，以阐明其与灵长类动物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. Primary support for the subproject and the subproject's principal investigator may have been provided by other sources, including other NIH sources. The Total Cost listed for the subproject likely represents the estimated amount of Center infrastructure utilized by the subproject, not direct funding provided by the NCRR grant to the subproject or subproject staff. 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 or 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.