Biology of Reproduction, Vol 50, 1216-1222, Copyright © 1994 by Society for the Study of Reproduction

ARTICLES

Oxytocin gene expression and oxytocin immunoactivity in the ovary of the common marmoset monkey (Callithrix jacchus)

A Einspanier, R Ivell, G Rune and JK Hodges
Department of Reproductive Biology, German Primate Centre, Gottingen.

Oxytocin was identified in ovaries recovered on Day 5 (+/- 1) of the luteal phase from three female marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus). With use of a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay, expression of mRNA for oxytocin and oxytocin receptor was detected in both luteal tissue and in the ovarian remnant. Evidence for ovarian synthesis of oxytocin was provided by immunohistochemistry, which showed positive staining for oxytocin and neurophysin in the cytoplasm of the luteal cells. Some luteal cells had a more intensely stained perinuclear region than others for oxytocin immunoreactivity, whereas the staining for neurophysin was evenly distributed. Granulosa and theca cells of antral follicles also showed positive staining for oxytocin immunoreactivity; no reactivity was found in fibroblast or endothelial cells. Oxytocin immunoreactivity was also detected in the luteal tissue of all animals by immunoassay, with values ranging from 2.8 to 12.1 ng/g wet weight. The oxytocin concentration for the ovarian remnant was either very low (0.55-0.75 ng/g wet weight) or nondetectable (< 0.5 ng/g wet weight). Local production of oxytocin within the ovary was suggested by the measurement of higher oxytocin concentrations in the blood from ovaries containing corpora lutea compared with peripheral blood. Collectively, these results provide evidence for ovarian biosynthesis of oxytocin and suggest the possibility of a paracrine role in the regulation of primate ovarian function.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. L Siebel, R. A D Bathgate, and L. J Parry Differential expression of mesotocin receptors in the uterus and ovary of the pregnant tammar wallaby Reproduction, May 1, 2005; 129(5): 639 - 649. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Gimpl and F. Fahrenholz The Oxytocin Receptor System: Structure, Function, and Regulation Physiol Rev, April 1, 2001; 81(2): 629 - 683. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. McCracken, E. E. Custer, and J. C. Lamsa Luteolysis: A Neuroendocrine-Mediated Event Physiol Rev, April 1, 1999; 79(2): 263 - 323. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]