Increase in ovarian blood volume during ovulation in the gonadotropin-primed immature rat

This study quantifies ovarian blood volume in Wistar rats by measuring the optical density (414 nm) of hemoglobin in ovarian extracts and comparing this measurement to the optical density of known amounts of whole blood. Immature rats were primed with pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG), 10 IU s.c., at 23 days of age. On Day 25, the ovulatory process was initiated by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), 10 IU s.c., and ova began to appear in the oviducts 10 h later. At 2-h intervals, the ovaries were extirpated and homogenized in 1.0 ml of 0.05 M tris (hydroxymethyl)aminomethane buffer (pH 7.4) for 30 s. Homogenates were centrifuged for 20 min and the supernatant fluids were analyzed with a Gilford RESPONSE UV/VIS spectrophotometer. The hemoglobin in these ovarian extracts had the same peak absorbance of 414 nm characteristic of oxyhemoglobin in whole blood taken by cardiac puncture of the rats. There was a linear relationship between the absorbance and the volume of whole blood in the samples. The volume of blood per ovary from groups of 8 rats was 0.60 +/- 0.07 microL at 0 h after hCG. The volume increased to 1.37 +/- 0.26 microL at 4 h after hCG and reached a peak of 4.55 +/- 0.72 microL at 10 h. Indomethacin treatment (0.3-10.0 mg/rat, s.c.) partially inhibited this 7-fold increase in ovarian blood volume. In conclusion, the increase in ovarian blood volume during ovulation may reflect the vasodilation and hyperemia that are characteristic of inflamed tissues.     

Epostane and indomethacin actions on ovarian kallikrein and plasminogen activator activities during ovulation in the gonadotropin-primed immature rat.

Kallikrein and plasminogen activator (PA) are serine proteases that have been implicated in the ovulatory process. Epostane and indomethacin are anti-ovulatory agents that inhibit steroid and eicosanoid synthesis, respectively. This study examines the effects of these two anti-ovulatory agents on ovarian kallikrein and PA activities during ovulation. The proteases were assayed by their actions on chromogenic peptide substrates S-2266 and S-2251, respectively. The ovulatory process was induced in 25-day-old Wistar rats by giving them hCG (10 IU, s.c.) 2 days after the animals had been primed with eCG (10 IU, s.c.). Control animals ovulated approximately 60-70 ova/rat, with the first ova appearing in the oviducts at 10-12 h after hCG administration, and this was the same time ovarian kallikrein and PA activities reached a peak. When doses of epostane ranging from 0.1-5.0 mg/rat or doses of indomethacin ranging from 0.03 to 3.16 mg/rat were administered s.c. at 3 h after hCG, the two drugs inhibited ovulation and ovarian kallikrein and PA activities in a dose-dependent manner. However, the anti-ovulatory action of the two drugs was more closely correlated with suppression of kallikrein activity than with PA activity. Treatment of the animals with exogenous progesterone reversed the inhibitory action of epostane, but not of indomethacin. The results suggest that the increase in ovarian progesterone at the time of ovulation may influence ovarian kallikrein and PA activities.     

Decrease in ovarian platelet-activating factor during ovulation in the gonadotropin-primed immature rat

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a biologically active phospholipid that is released locally during acute inflammatory reactions and tissue injury. Since there is evidence that the biochemical events of mammalian ovulation resemble an inflammatory reaction, the objective of this study was to determine whether ovarian levels of PAF change during ovulation. At 2-h intervals during the ovulatory process in gonadotropin-primed 25-day-old Wistar rats, the ovaries were extirpated, homogenized, and extracted for lipids. The extracts were subjected to thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and the portion of the silica gel that comigrated with PAF was re-extracted and assayed for PAF activity. The PAF was measured (in fmole equivalents of synthetic PAF) by a bioassay based on the capacity of aliquots of the extracts to release [3H]-serotonin from platelets isolated from whole blood of rabbits and prelabeled with [3H]-serotonin. The ovarian level of PAF decreased (p less than 0.01) by 36% from 6.67 +/- 0.77 to 4.27 +/- 0.45 fmoles/mg ovary by 2 h after treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and it declined another 14% by 4 h after hCG. The ovarian PAF remained at this reduced level for up to 24 h after hCG. The administration of indomethacin (5 mg/rat, s.c.) or epostane (5 mg/rat, s.c.) at 1 h after hCG prevented ovulation, but neither drug affected the decline in ovarian PAF. Preliminary tests showed that the lipid extracts from the ovaries also contained PAF inhibitor(s) that comigrated with PAF on the TLC plates. Similar to PAF, the lipid-soluble inhibitor(s) decreased (p less than 0.05) in the ovaries within 4 h after hCG treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The relationship between ovarian progesterone and proteolytic enzyme activity during ovulation in the gonadotropin-treated immature rat.

To clarify the mechanisms by which progesterone acts as a mediator in the ovulatory process, ovulation rate and proteolytic enzyme activities were investigated in immature 22-day-old rats treated with PMSG/hCG, RU486 (10 mg/kg), synthetic antiprogesterone, and RU486 (10 mg/kg) + progesterone (10 mg/kg). The number of ova was significantly decreased when RU486 (10 mg/kg) was given from 2 h before to 4 h after the hCG injection. In addition, its inhibitory action on ovulation was reversed by exogenous progesterone (10 mg/kg) at 2 or 4 h after the hCG injection. Serum progesterone and estradiol concentrations in the rats treated with RU486 did not show any significant differences compared to controls. The proteolytic enzyme activities were measured by using the synthetic substrates alpha-N-benzoyl-DL-Arg-beta naphthylamide (BANA) and dinitrophenyl peptide (DNP). Activities were significantly increased after hCG injection in the control group during 8-9 h for BANA hydrolase and 7-10 h for DNP peptidase. The preovulatory increase of these activities was totally suppressed by RU486 with hCG. After administration of progesterone (10 mg/kg) following hCG and RU486 injection, the elevation of proteolytic, enzyme activities in the preovulatory phase was effectively reversed, and levels became similar to those in the control group. These results suggest that progesterone plays an indispensable role in the first 4 h of the ovulatory process by regulating proteolytic enzyme activities.     

Involvement of local adrenergic receptors in the process of ovulation in gonadotrophin-primed immature rats

Immature female rats were primed with 4 i.u. PMSG at 08:00 h of Day 26. This results in ovulation in the morning of Day 29. The number of ovulations was counted in terms of newly formed corpora lutea in the morning of Day 30. Various adrenergic drugs were delivered into the ovarian bursa bilaterally in the afternoon of Day 27 to study their effect on ovulation. A methyl cellulose gel solution was used as vehicle to minimize leakage from the bursa. Noradrenaline, terbutaline and 4-aminopyridine significantly enhanced the number of corpora lutea compared to control ovaries injected with gel vehicle alone. The effect of terbutaline was counteracted by propranolol. Phentolamine partly blocked the noradrenaline-induced enhancement and the antagonist alone significantly reduced the number of ovulations. The results indicate that stimulation of alpha-adrenergic receptors (probably via actions in the follicle wall) as well as beta-receptors (influencing steroid-producing cells) may interfere with the ovulation process.     

Effect of various agents on ovarian plasminogen activator activity during ovulation in pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin-primed immature rats

The plasminogen activator/plasmin synthetic substrate S-2251 was used to measure the effect of indomethacin, cycloheximide, colchicine, dexamethasone, tranexamic acid, and aprotinin on the elevation of ovarian plasminogen activator (PA) that normally occurs during ovulation in the rat. Young Wistar rats were weaned on the morning of Day 21, given 4.0 IU of pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) s.c. at 0800 h on Day 22, and given 10.0 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on Day 24. These animals normally began ovulating between 0000 and 0200 h on Day 25. The induced ovulation rate was 11.5 +/- 2.2 ova/rat, based on the number of ova in the oviducts of control animals at 0900 h on Day 25. In the controls, PA activity in extracts of homogenized ovaries increased 3-fold from 0.125 +/- 0.010 OD units just before the administration of hCG to 0.371 +/- 0.021 at 12 h after hCG, i.e., near the time of ovulation. Indomethacin, in doses of 0.1-1.0 mg/rat, inhibited ovulation but did not inhibit the normal increase in PA activity, whereas indomethacin at the high dose of 10.0 mg/rat inhibited both ovulation and PA activity. Cycloheximide, at a dose of 0.1 mg/rat, was given at 12 h before hCG, immediately after hCG, and at 9 h after hCG. This agent inhibited ovulation most effectively when given at 12 h before hCG, yet it inhibited PA activity most effectively when given immediately after or at 9 h after hCG. Colchicine, at a dose of 0.1 mg/rat, inhibited ovulation, but not PA activity, when it was given 1 h before hCG.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of indomethacin, cycloheximide, aminoglutethimide on ovarian steroid and prostanoid levels during ovulation in the gonadotropin-primed immature rat

It has become popular to use the gonadotropin-primed immature rat to study ovulation. The ovarian content of progesterone, estradiol, PGE₂, PGF_2α, and 6-keto-PGF_1α during the ovulatory process was determined in this model. Also, the effect of three anti-ovulatory agents on the ovarian levels of the above substances was determined. At 23 days of age, Wistar rats were primed with pregnant mares serum gonadotropin (PMSG) sc, and two days later the ovulatory process was initiated with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) sc. The ovarian follicles began rupturing 12 h later. Ovaries were assayed for the two steroids and prostanoids at 2-h intervals befored and several 4-h intervals after ovulation. The ovarian estradiol level increased slightly between 0 and 2 h after hCG, while the progesterone level increased sharply between 2 and 4 h after hCg--at a time when the estradiol declined markedly. All three prostanoids increased concomitantly with progesterone. When the PG synthesis was blocked by indomethacin treatment at 1 h before hCG, ovarian progesterone levels still incrased. In contrast, when steroidogenic activity was inhibited by aminoglutethimide, the ovarian prostanoid levels also decreased. Cycloheximide had little effect on the steroids and prostanoids. It is concluded that ovarian prostanoid synthesis might be influenced by ovarian steroid output.     

Effect of indomethacin, cycloheximide, and aminoglutethimide on ovarian steroid and prostanoid levels during ovulation in the gonadotropin-primed immature rat

It has become popular to use the gonadotropin-primed immature rat to study ovulation. The ovarian content of progesterone, estradiol, PGE2, PGF2 alpha, and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha during the ovulatory process was determined in this model. Also, the effect of three anti-ovulatory agents on the ovarian levels of the above substances was determined. At 23 days of age, Wistar rats were primed with pregnant mares serum gonadotropin (PMSG) sc, and two days later the ovulatory process was initiated with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) sc. The ovarian follicles began rupturing 12 h later. Ovaries were assayed for the two steroids and prostanoids at 2-h intervals before and several 4-h intervals after ovulation. The ovarian estradiol level increased slightly between 0 and 2 h after hCG, while the progesterone level increased sharply between 2 and 4 h after hCG--at a time when the estradiol declined markedly. All three prostanoids increased concomitantly with progesterone. When the PG synthesis was blocked by indomethacin treatment at 1 h before hCG, ovarian progesterone levels still increased. In contrast, when steroidogenic activity was inhibited by aminoglutethimide, the ovarian prostanoid levels also decreased. Cycloheximide had little effect on the steroids and prostanoids. It is concluded that ovarian prostanoid synthesis might be influenced by ovarian steroid output.     

Increase in uterine peroxidase activity in the rat uterus during oestrogen hyperaemia.

The administration of oestrogen results in increased arterial blood flow in all mammalian species studied to date, but its mechanism of action has not been elucidated. Because an interval of 30-60 min is observed between oestrogen injection and uterine hyperaemia, it has been suggested that a vasoactive intermediate is involved and recent evidence suggests that catechol oestrogens are the vasoactive oestrogen intermediates. Uterine peroxidase catalyses the conversion of oestrogens to their catechol forms and thus may play an important role in oestrogen-induced uterine hyperaemia. The present studies evaluated the time course and dose-response effects of oestrogen on uterine peroxidase activity and related these to changes in uterine blood volume, an index of uterine hyperaemia in immature rats. These data demonstrated that the minimal effective hyperaemic dose of oestradiol also increased (P less than 0.05) uterine peroxidase activity. The oestradiol-induced increase in uterine peroxidase activity preceded significant increases in uterine blood volume (1 h versus 2 h, respectively). These data are consistent with a role for peroxidase-mediated conversion of oestradiol to catechol oestradiol in facilitating uterine hyperaemia in rats.     

Inhibition of ovulation in the gonadotropin-primed immature rat by exogenous prostaglandin E2.

In the past two decades there have been innumerable reports that prostaglandins (PGs) are essential for mammalian ovulation. However, we have recently found that a relatively low dose of 0.03 mg indomethacin (INDO) sc to PMSG/hCG-primed immature Wistar rats can significantly reduce ovarian PG levels without inhibiting the control ovulation rate of 60+ ova/rat (1-3). In view of this information, the present study was an effort to duplicate the earlier reports that PGs can reverse the "inhibitory" effect of INDO on ovulation. In control animals, which received PMSG and hCG only, the ovulation rate was 63.8 +/- 4.5 ova/rat. This rate was reduced to 4.1 +/- 1.1 ova/rat when the animals were injected with 1.0 mg INDO at 3 h after hCG. In no instance was this inhibition reversed when the animals were treated with 1.0 mg of PGE2 or PGF2 alpha, or a combination of both prostanoids in either a single dose at 3 h after hCG, or in 4x doses at 2-h intervals beginning at 3 h after hCG. Furthermore, in animals that did not receive INDO, the ovulation rate in PGE2-treated animals was reduced to 20.0 +/- 6.7 ova/rat, and in animals treated with PGE2 and PGF2 alpha (combined) it was reduced to 19.4 +/- 6.5 ova/rat. In summary, not only did the PGs fail to reverse the anti-ovulatory effect of INDO, PGE2 actually suppressed the ovulation rate.     

Collagen, collagenase and collagenolytic activity in rat Graafian follicles during follicular growth and ovulation

Follicles were dissected from the ovaries of immature rats at intervals after subcutaneous injection of 20 IU of pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin. A surge of luteinizing hormone was observed at 54 h and ovulation occurred at 64-66 h. The follicular volume between 36 and 48 h, then doubled again shortly before ovulation. The collagen content of the follicles increased 3-fold from 35 to 56 h, but decreased significantly (25%) from 61 to 66 h. Follicle homogenates, activated with trypsin or aminophenylmercuric acetate, digested Type I collagen at 28 degrees C to produce typical of a true collagenase. Collagenolytic activity assayed against endogenous collagen at 37 degrees C did not change significantly between 38 and 66 h.     

Inhibition of ovulation in the gonadotropin-primed immature rat by exogenous prostaglandin E2

In the past two decades there have been innumerable reports that prostaglandins (PGs) are essential for mammalian ovulation. However, we have recently found that a relatively low dose of 0.03 mg indomethacin (INDO) sc to PMSG/hCG-primed immature Wistar rats can significantly reduce ovarian PG levels without inhibiting the control ovulation rate of 60+ ova/rat (1–3). In view of this information, the present study was an effort to duplicate the earlier reports that PGs can reverse the “inhibitory” effect of INDO on ovulation. In control animals, which received PMSG and hCG only, the ovulation rate was 63.8 ± 4.5 ova/rat. This rate was reduced to 4.1 ± 1.1 ova/rat when the animals were injected with 1.0 mg INDO at 3 h after hCG. In no instance was this inhibition reversed when the animals were treated with 1.0 mg of PGE₂ or PGF_2α, or a combination of both prostanoids in either a single dose at 3 h after hCG, or in 4× doses at 2-h intervals beginning at 3 h after hCG. Furthermore, in animals that did not receive INDO, the ovulation rate in PGE₂-treated animals was reduced to 20.0 ± 6.7 ova/rat, and in animals treated with PGE₂ and PGF_2α (combined) it was reduced to 19.4 ± 6.5 ova/rat. In summary, not only did the PGs fail to reverse the anti-ovulatory effect of INDO, PGE₂ actually suppressed the ovulation rate.