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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 79/2/240    most recent biolreprod.107.065326v1 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 Google Scholar Articles by Jensen, F. Articles by Vitullo, A. D. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Jensen, F. Articles by Vitullo, A. D. Agricola Articles by Jensen, F. Articles by Vitullo, A. D.

The Ovary of the Gestating South American Plains Vizcacha (Lagostomus maximus): Suppressed Apoptosis and Corpora Lutea Persistence¹

Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Biotecnológicos, Ambientales y Diagnóstico, CEBBAD, Universidad Maimónides, C1405BCK Buenos Aires, Argentina

ABSTRACT

The South American plains vizcacha, Lagostomus maximus, displays an exceptional ovulation rate of up to 800 eggs per cycle, the highest rate recorded for a mammal. Massive polyovulation arises from the overexpression of the apoptosis-inhibiting BCL2 gene leading to a suppression of apoptotic pathways responsible for follicular atresia in mammals. We analyzed the ovarian histology, ovarian apoptosis, and apoptosis-related protein expression with special emphasis in corpora lutea throughout the 5-mo-long gestation period, at parturition day and early postpartum, in L. maximus. Corpora lutea were abundant throughout gestation with no sign of structural regression even at the end of gestation. Both immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis showed strong signals for apoptosis-inhibiting BCL2 protein, whereas the proapoptotic BAX protein was just detected in isolated luteal cells in gestating females and postpartum females. Apoptosis-associated DNA fragmentation detected by TUNEL was very scarce and occasional and correlated with BAX detection in luteal cells. Marked expression of progesterone and -estrogen receptors in luteal cells was found at early, mid-, and late gestation as well as at parturition day and early postpartum samples. Additionally, serum level of progesterone increased markedly to reach maximal values at late gestation and decreasing at parturition to levels found at early gestation, suggesting that corpora lutea remained functional throughout gestation. These results point out that the unusual ovarian environment of L. maximus in which germ cell demise is abolished through antiapoptotic BCL2 gene overexpression also preserves structural integrity and functionality of corpora lutea during the whole gestation. Overexpression of antiapoptotic BCL2 gene may represent a strategy for an essential need of ovary and corpora lutea in order to maintain pregnancy until term.

-estrogen receptor, apoptosis, corpus luteum, Lagostomus maximus, ovary, progesterone, progesterone receptor

¹Supported by Universidad Maimónides, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Horizontes ART, Río Negro, Argentina. F.J., M.A.W., and N.P.L. are recipients of a joint doctoral fellowship from the National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET) and Universidad Maimónides. M.B.E. and A.D.V. are investigators from CONICET.

Correspondence: ²Alfredo D. Vitullo, CEBBAD-Universidad Maimónides, Hidalgo 775, C1405BCK Buenos Aires, Argentina. FAX: 54 11 4905 1133; e-mail: vitullo.alfredo{at}maimonides.edu