Du Chenguang, Cao Guifang, Wang Caiyun, Li Haijun, Zhao Yanhong, Cao Jinshan
College of Animal Science and Animal Medicine, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China.
Domest Anim Endocrinol. 2009 Feb;36(2):89-98. doi: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2008.10.007. Epub 2008 Nov 24.
Ghrelin has been implicated in the control of cell proliferation in reproductive tissue. Here, we provide evidence that both ghrelin mRNA and protein are present in ovarian follicles. Persistent expression of ghrelin was also demonstrated in sheep ovary throughout the estrous cycle and pregnancy. In fact, the relative mRNA levels of ghrelin varied depending on the stage of the cycle, with the highest expression during the development of the corpora lutea (CL) and minimal expression in the regressing CL. A similar pattern was seen during pregnancy. Dynamic changes in the profile of ghrelin expression during the estrous cycle and throughout pregnancy suggest a precise regulation of ovarian expression of ghrelin, which could represent a potential role for ghrelin in the regulation of luteal development. In conclusion, the presence of the ghrelin signaling system within the sheep ovary especially in the oocytes opens up the possibility of a potential regulatory role of this novel molecule in reproductive function.
胃饥饿素已被证明与生殖组织中的细胞增殖调控有关。在此，我们提供证据表明卵巢卵泡中存在胃饥饿素mRNA和蛋白质。在整个发情周期和妊娠期，绵羊卵巢中也持续表达胃饥饿素。事实上，胃饥饿素的相对mRNA水平因周期阶段而异，在黄体（CL）发育期间表达最高，而在退化的CL中表达最低。在妊娠期间也观察到类似的模式。发情周期和整个妊娠期胃饥饿素表达谱的动态变化表明，胃饥饿素在卵巢中的表达受到精确调控，这可能代表胃饥饿素在黄体发育调控中具有潜在作用。总之，绵羊卵巢尤其是卵母细胞中存在胃饥饿素信号系统，这为这种新分子在生殖功能中发挥潜在调节作用提供了可能性。
