HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Arai, K. Y. Articles by Taya, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Arai, K. Y. Articles by Taya, K. Agricola Articles by Arai, K. Y. Articles by Taya, K.

Dynamics of Messenger RNAs Encoding Inhibin/Activin Subunits and Follistatin in the Ovary During the Rat Estrous Cycle

^a Department of Tissue Physiology and ^b Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan

Quantitative changes in ovarian inhibin/activin subunit and follistatin mRNAs during the rat estrous cycle were examined by ribonuclease protection assay using digoxygenin-labeled RNA probes. Levels of ovarian inhibin subunit mRNA remained low throughout estrus, metestrus, and diestrus; abruptly increased on the morning of proestrus; then rapidly decreased when the primary gonadotropin surge occurred. A similar changing pattern was observed in inhibin/activin ß_A subunit mRNA. On the other hand, inhibin/activin ß_B subunit mRNA showed a different changing pattern. Levels of ß_B subunit mRNA remained constant during metestrus and diestrus, abruptly decreased on the afternoon of proestrus, then quickly recovered from the nadir by 1100 h on estrus. Throughout the rat estrous cycle, especially during the periovulatory period, subunit mRNA levels were considerably higher than ß_A and ß_B subunit mRNA levels. In addition, changes in plasma concentrations of inhibin A and inhibin B were very similar to that in ovarian ß_A and ß_B subunit mRNA levels, respectively, with several-hour delays. These results suggest that levels of ß subunit mRNAs restrict secretion of dimeric inhibins. Levels of follistatin mRNA remained low from the midnight of metestrus to the midnight of diestrus, then increased until initiation of the primary gonadotropin surge. Thereafter, follistatin mRNA decreased, reached the nadir at 0200 h on estrus, then increased abruptly at 1100 h on estrus. Afterward, follistatin mRNA levels remained high until the morning of metestrus. The changing pattern of ovarian follistatin mRNA was similar to, and preceded, the changes in plasma concentrations of progesterone, suggesting that ovarian follistatin may modulate progesterone secretion during the rat estrous cycle.

First decision: 3 September 2001.

¹ Correspondence and current address: Koji Y. Arai, Center for Reproductive Sciences, Dept. of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd., Kansas City, KS 66160. FAX: 913 588 7180; karai{at}kumc.edu

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Y Arai and T. Nishiyama Developmental Changes in Extracellular Matrix Messenger RNAs in the Mouse Placenta During the Second Half of Pregnancy: Possible Factors Involved in the Regulation of Placental Extracellular Matrix Expression Biol Reprod, December 1, 2007; 77(6): 923 - 933. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Yeh and B. Kim Increasing Blunting of Inhibin Responses to Dynamic Ovarian Challenge Is Associated With Reproductive Aging in the Rat Reproductive Sciences, January 1, 2007; 14(1): 10 - 19. [Abstract] [PDF]

				H. A. Kenny and T. K. Woodruff Follicle Size Class Contributes to Distinct Secretion Patterns of Inhibin Isoforms during the Rat Estrous Cycle Endocrinology, January 1, 2006; 147(1): 51 - 60. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Y Arai, H. Kishi, S. Onodera, W. Jin, G. Watanabe, A. K Suzuki, S. Takahashi, T. Kamada, T. Nishiyama, and K. Taya Cyclic changes in messenger RNAs encoding inhibin/activin subunits in the ovary of the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) J. Endocrinol., June 1, 2005; 185(3): 561 - 575. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Wang and W. Ge Developmental Profiles of Activin {beta}A, {beta}B, and Follistatin Expression in the Zebrafish Ovary: Evidence for Their Differential Roles During Sexual Maturation and Ovulatory Cycle Biol Reprod, December 1, 2004; 71(6): 2056 - 2064. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. C Hirst, M. H Abel, V. Wilkins, C. Simpson, P. G Knight, F.-P. Zhang, I. Huhtaniemi, T R. Kumar, and H. M Charlton Influence of mutations affecting gonadotropin production or responsiveness on expression of inhibin subunit mRNA and protein in the mouse ovary Reproduction, July 1, 2004; 128(1): 43 - 52. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Sisco, L. J. Hagemann, A. N. Shelling, and P. L. Pfeffer Isolation of Genes Differentially Expressed in Dominant and Subordinate Bovine Follicles Endocrinology, September 1, 2003; 144(9): 3904 - 3913. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Y. Arai, K. Tsuchida, K. Uehara, K. Taya, and H. Sugino Characterization of Rat Follistatin-Related Gene: Effects of Estrous Cycle Stage and Pregnancy on Its Messenger RNA Expression in Rat Reproductive Tissues Biol Reprod, January 1, 2003; 68(1): 199 - 206. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]