雌性哺乳动物促卵泡素受体与促黄体素受体的结构与表达

本文从雌性哺乳动物促卵泡素受体(FSHR)和促黄体素受体(LHR)的结构及在卵泡发育过程中的表达和功能加以综述,指出FSHR及LHR在卵泡的生长发育、优势化及排卵等方面具有重要的功能。     

草鱼促性腺激素受体的克隆及表达分析

利用RT-PCR技术从草鱼性腺中克隆出两种促性腺激素受体基因(FSHR和LHR),采用N-J法构建了系统进化树。通过RT-PCR及Real-time PCR技术对FSHR和LHR在成体草鱼不同组织中的时空表达进行分析,发现FSHR和LHR在草鱼卵巢、精巢中表达明显,表达量随着卵母细胞的发育逐渐增高,以上结果为进一步探讨GTHR在鱼类生殖周期中的生理功能奠定了基础。     

蒙药乌力吉-18对大鼠下丘脑-垂体-卵巢轴相关激素及受体表达的影响

目的:探讨蒙药乌力吉-18对大鼠下丘脑-垂体-卵巢轴相关激素及受体的影响。方法:选取40只健康雌性未孕SD大鼠,随机分为空白组、对照组、乌力吉-18高、低2个剂量组,每组10只。空白组灌胃等体积蒸馏水,对照组灌胃逍遥丸,高、低剂量组分别灌胃2.0 g·kg^-1·d^-1、1.0 g·kg^-1·d^-1乌力吉-18,连续给药31学艺术d。采用酶联免疫吸附法测定血清促性腺激素释放激素(GnRH)、促卵泡生成素(FSH)、黄体生成素(LH)、雌二醇(E₂)及孕酮(PROG)的含量;免疫组化法检测下丘脑组织促性腺激素释放激素(GnRH)、垂体组织促性腺激素释放激素受体(GnRHR)的表达;以蛋白免疫印迹技术检测卵巢组织促卵泡生成素受体(FSHR)、黄体生成素受体(LHR)蛋白表达量。以实时荧光定量PCR检测卵巢组织中FSHR、LHR基因表达量。结果:与空白组比较,乌力吉-18低剂量组可明显升高血清LH含量(P<0.05),上调下丘脑组织GnRH、垂体组织GnRHR表达及卵巢组织FSHR、LHR蛋白表达(P<0.05);乌力吉-18高剂量组可显著升高血清FSH、LH、E₂含量(P<0.05),上调下丘脑组织GnRH表达及卵巢组织FSHR表达量(P<0.05),并可显著升高卵巢组织中FSHR、LHR基因表达量(P<0.05);对照组可明显升高血清E₂含量(P<0.05)。结论:蒙药乌力吉-18可明显升高血清FSH、LH及E₂的含量,促进下丘脑组织GnRH、垂体组织GnRHR及卵巢组织中FSHR、LHR的表达,表明乌力吉-18能够对下丘脑-垂体-卵巢轴相关激素及受体表达产生影响。     

籽鹅不同等级卵泡生殖相关激素受体基因的表达

目的：检测籽鹅不同等级卵泡不同生殖相关激素受体mRNA的表达。方法：选用1只8月龄产蛋期籽鹅,处死后分离各级别卵泡（F1、F2、F3、F4、F5、SYF、LWF）,采用实时荧光定量PCR方法检测促卵泡激素受体（FSHR）、促黄体生成素受体（LHR）、雌激素受体α（ER α）、雌激素受体β（ER β）、生长激素受体（GHR）和胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白-1（IGFBP-1）6种生殖相关激素受体mRNA的表达量变化。结果：SYF和LWF中LHR、GHR和IFGBP-1 mRNA表达量较低,而F1-F5级卵泡中表达量较高;SYF和LWF中ER βmRNA表达量较高,而等级卵泡中表达量较低。结论：本实验研究了不同等级卵泡FSHR、LHR、ER α、ER β、GHR和IGFBP-1 mRNA的变化规律,为研究禽类产蛋机制提供基础数据。     

卵泡刺激素及其受体与肿瘤的相关性

卵泡刺激素受体(follicle stimulating hormone receptor,FSHR)被认为只表达在人和哺乳动物的睾丸支持细胞和卵巢颗粒细胞中,在生殖中具有重要作用。最近研究发现,FSHR在多种肿瘤血管内皮细胞表面特异表达,这引起了研究者对该受体与肿瘤尤其是与肿瘤血管形成之间关系的关注。本文主要对FSH和FSHR信号通路及其病理意义和在肿瘤中的作用等方面的研究进展进行综述。     

不同培养时间对鸡卵泡颗粒细胞孕酮、雌激素分泌水平及FSHR、LHR基因表达的影响

目的：研究培养不同时间鸡卵泡颗粒细胞孕酮和雌激素的分泌水平,促卵泡素受体（FSHR）和促黄体素受体（LHR）的基因表达水平,推断体外培养时间对颗粒细胞激素分泌及相关受体基因表达的影响。方法：通过细胞体外培养的方法,分别于0 h、24 h、48 h、72 h、96 h收集鸡卵泡颗粒细胞上清液,采用ELISA法测定细胞上清液内的孕酮及雌激素分泌水平,并采用荧光定量PCR技术检测颗粒细胞内FSHR和LHR基因表达情况。结果：在培养初期0 h~48 h孕酮和雌激素分泌量显著降低（P < 0.05）,随着培养时间增加到72 h两种激素的分泌量又开始增加,并达到培养初期水平,培养至96 h细胞内孕酮和雌激素分泌量再次降低;颗粒细胞FSHR和LHR mRNA的表达水平则随着培养时间的增加而降低（P < 0.05）。结论：体外培养的卵泡颗粒细胞内孕酮和雌激素的分泌量随体外培养时间的延长呈先降低后升高的趋势,可能与体外培养细胞的生长状态相关,从整体上看随着培养时间的延长,细胞内孕酮和雌激素的分泌量均降低,可能与两种促性腺激素受体FSHR和LHR基因表达量下降相关。     

GH受体、IGF-I型受体、FSH受体和LH受体mRNA在绍鸭各级卵泡颗粒层和膜层中的表达

采用相对定量反转录多聚酶链式反应(RT-PCR)的方法,以β-actin为内标,测定绍鸭排卵前卵泡F1、F3、F5及大白卵泡(LWF)颗粒层与膜层中GH受体(GHR)、IGF-I型受体(IGF-IR)和FSH受体(FSHR)、LH受体(LHR)mRNA表达水平,以分析生长轴和生殖轴激素对绍鸭卵泡发育的协同调节作用。结果表明：在所测定的各级卵泡中,GHR mRNA在膜层的表达水平均显著高于颗粒层,膜层中大白卵泡表达量最高,而颗粒层中GHR mRNA水平在各级卵泡之间没有明显差异;相反,IGF-IR mRNA在同级卵泡颗粒层的表达水平显著高于膜层,颗粒层和膜层中IGF-IR mRNA表达在各级卵泡之间的差异均不显著,只是大白卵泡的膜层与其他等级卵泡的膜层相比,IGF-IR的表达量呈现较高的趋势;FSHR mRNA表达的变化趋势类似于IGE-IR,同级卵泡颗粒层中的表达量高于膜层;LMR mRNA在各级卵泡膜层中表达没有明显差异,而颗粒层中IMR mRNA随着卵泡发育成熟逐级显著增加,且F5和LWF卵泡膜层的IMR mRNA显著高于颗粒层,与GHR mRNA的表达相似。结果提示,GH和IGF-I调节卵巢功能的优势作用位点和机制不尽相同;GHR和LHR协同表达与IGF-IR和FSHR协同表达可能对卵泡发育起到精细的调节作用;而IMR在卵泡颗粒层中表达的逐级显著增加可能与卵泡等级的建立和排卵有关。     

沉默Smad8基因对小鼠卵泡颗粒细胞增殖的影响

SMAD8(又称SMAD9)蛋白质是TGF-β/SMADs信号通路中重要的转录因子。该研究利用RNA干扰技术沉默Smad8基因,探讨该基因对小鼠卵泡颗粒细胞增殖的影响。免疫组化技术对SMAD8在小鼠卵泡的表达进行定位,设计并合成Smad8-si RNA转染小鼠颗粒细胞,荧光定量PCR(q PCR)和Western blot检测Smad8基因沉默效率,CCK-8法分析颗粒细胞增殖能力,ELISA检测细胞上清中雌二醇(E2)和孕酮(P4)浓度,q PCR检测颗粒细胞促卵泡素受体(follicle stimulating hormone receptor,FSHR)、促黄体素受体(luteinizing hormone receptor,LHR)以及与细胞增殖相关的细胞周期调控蛋白基因Cyclin D2和CDK4 m RNA水平。结果显示,SMAD8仅表达于卵泡的颗粒细胞,Smad8-si RNA有效抑制了Smad8的表达(P0.01),Smad8沉默后颗粒细胞的增殖能力明显减弱,细胞上清中E2水平显著下降,P4水平未受影响,颗粒细胞LHR、Cyclin D2和CDK4 m RNA水平明显降低,FSHR m RNA无明显变化。以上结果表明,沉默Smad8基因降低了小鼠颗粒细胞的增殖能力,其机制可能与沉默Smad8调低了颗粒细胞增殖分化相关的E2合成以及LHR、Cyclin D2和CDK4的表达下降有关。     

营养制剂对间歇性寒冷暴露大鼠子宫、卵巢内HPO轴功能及能量代谢的影响*

目的: 观察一种自行设计的营养制剂对间歇性寒冷暴露SD雌性大鼠下丘脑-垂体-卵巢轴(HPO轴)功能及能量代谢的影响。 方法: 将雌性SD大鼠分为对照组、寒冷暴露组、营养制剂组,每组11只。对照组、寒冷暴露组每日灌胃蒸馏水,营养制剂组每日灌胃营养制剂,灌胃后寒冷暴露组、营养制剂组每日于-10℃冷舱内暴露4 h,持续14 d后,取血清、子宫、卵巢,采用酶联免疫吸附(ELISA)法测定血清卵泡刺激素(FSH)、黄体生成素(LH)等激素指标,采用比色法等检测ATP酶等能量代谢相关指标。 结果: 与对照组相比,寒冷暴露显著上调大鼠卵巢中FSHR、LHR蛋白表达,增强子宫和卵巢Na⁺-K⁺-ATP酶、Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-ATP酶活性(P<0.05);与寒冷暴露组相比,营养制剂能够下调低氧暴露大鼠卵巢FSHR、LHR蛋白的表达,抑制卵巢和子宫中Na⁺-K⁺-ATP酶、Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-ATP酶的活性(P<0.05)。 结论: 营养制剂可以有效改善间歇性寒冷暴露对子宫、卵巢内HPO轴相关受体表达和能量代谢的影响。     

卵泡刺激素新的代谢调控功能及对衰老的影响

卵泡刺激素(follicle-stimulating hormone, FSH)曾一度被认为只在生殖过程中发挥作用:促进女性卵泡的发育和成熟及男性精子的生成;然而近十年来,大量研究不断发现FSH在代谢调控中发挥新的功能,甚至对衰老产生影响。FSH通过与其受体(FSH receptor, FSHR)结合调节两性的骨质生成、脂肪代谢、能量代谢和胆固醇生成、心血管疾病的发生。FSH代谢调控作用提示阻断FSH对治疗一系列与年龄相关的疾病,包括骨质疏松症、肥胖症、血脂异常、心血管疾病,甚至预防衰老有潜在价值。     

Expression of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone receptors during follicular growth in the domestic cat ovary

In order to better understand the pituitary regulation of follicular growth in the domestic cat, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) receptors (R) were localized and quantified in relation to follicle diameter and atresia using in situ ligand binding on ovarian sections. Expression of FSHR was homogeneous and restricted to follicle granulosa cells from the early antral stage onwards, whereas expression of LHR was heterogeneous on theca cells of all follicles from the early antral stage onward, and homogeneous on granulosa cells of healthy follicles larger than 800 microm in diameter and in corpora lutea. LHR were also widely expressed as heterogeneous aggregates in the ovarian interstitial tissue. Atretic follicles exhibited significantly reduced levels of both FSHR and LHR on granulosa cells, compared with healthy follicles whatever the follicular diameter, whereas levels of LHR on theca cells were lower only for atretic follicles larger than 1,600 microm in diameter. In healthy follicles, levels of FSHR and LHR in all follicular compartments increased significantly with diameter. Although generally comparable to that observed in other mammals, the expression pattern of gonadotropin receptors in the cat ovary is characterized by an early acquisition of LHR on granulosa cells of growing follicles and islets of LH binding sites in the ovarian interstitial tissue.     

Analysis of pituitary gonadotropin concentration in blood serum and immunolocalization and immunoexpression of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinising hormone receptors in ovaries of postmenopausal women

The participation of gonadotropins in ovarian carcinogenesis is well known and is supported by studies with inhibition of pituitary gonadotropin secretion, which results in a diminished risk of cancer. However, there are few data on localization and expression of Follicle Stimulating Hormone and Luteinising Hormone Receptors (FSHR and LHR) in ovaries of healthy postmenopausal women, and their correlation with FSH and LH concentration in blood serum is unknown. The aim of our study was to analyze gonadotropin concentration in blood serum and the expression of FSHR and LHR in ovaries of 207 postmenopausal women. Patients included in the study were divided into three groups depending on the number of years since menopause. We analyzed the concentration of FSH and LH in blood serum and the expression of FSHR and LHR in ovaries. Ovaries of postmenopausal women showed numerous morphological changes in the cortex and medulla when compared to the structure of ovaries of women at reproductive age. In all groups of patients clefts in the surface epithelium and epithelial inclusion cysts were found. The concentration of FSH and LH in the blood serum of women studied increased significantly with time from menopause. Significant differences between analyzed menopausal groups were found. The highest FSH and LH concentration in blood serum were found in women with the longest period of time from menopause. Quantitatively similar expression of FSHR and LHR was found in ovarian surface epithelial cells, in epithelial inclusion cysts and in the connective tissue cells of ovarian stroma. The intensity of the immunohistochemical reaction decreased with time from menopause and with age.     

Luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone receptors and their transcribed genes (mRNA) are present in the lower urinary tract of intact male and female dogs

In dogs, one of the side effects of neutering is the development of urinary incontinence. The relationship between neutering and urinary incontinence caused by acquired urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence (USMI) has been reported. Recently, GnRH analogue treatment that suppresses elevated plasma gonadotrophin concentrations post-spaying has been successfully used in incontinent bitches. These data and the fact that non-gonadal tissues may contain receptors for LH (LHR) and FSH (FSHR) suggest that there might be a functional relationship between gonadotrophins and the lower urinary tract in dogs. This study aimed to investigate the presence of LHR and FSHR in the lower urinary tract of intact male and female dogs. Four regions of the lower urinary tract, i.e. (i) body of the bladder, (ii) neck of the bladder, (iii) proximal urethra and (iv) distal urethra were collected from 10 healthy dogs (5 males and 5 anoestrous females). In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were performed to characterise the presence of receptor mRNA and receptor protein. Staining was rated semi-quantitatively, incorporating both the distribution and intensity of specific staining. The distribution of receptor expression in different tissue layers (epithelium, subepithelial stroma and muscle) in each region was statistically analyzed. Luteinizing hormone receptor and FSHR mRNA and protein were present in all four regions and in three tissue layers of males and females. Irrespective of region and layer, female dogs expressed significantly higher expression for LHR mRNA (P<0.001), LHR protein (P<0.05) and FSHR protein (P<0.001). The expression of LHR and FSHR mRNA and protein was not uniform and depended on region, tissue layer and gender. The expression of LHR mRNA was higher in the bladder, compared to the urethra (P<0.05). The FSHR mRNA significantly increased from the bladder to the urethra. Protein expression for LHR and FSHR was highest in the proximal urethra (P<0.05). The overall expression for LHR and FSHR at both mRNA and protein levels was highest in the epithelium, intermediate to low in the subepithelial stroma and muscle. A significant interaction between region and tissue layer showed that mRNA and protein expression for LHR and FSHR decreased from the bladder to the urethra in the epithelium and subepithelial stroma. In contrast, it gradually increased from the bladder to the urethra in the muscle. In conclusion, the present study showed that both mRNA and protein for LHR and FSHR were expressed in the canine lower urinary tract, and the expression levels varied between genders and among regions and tissue layers. The presence of these receptors suggests that gonadotrophins have a role in the physiology and/or pathology of the lower urinary tract function in the dog.     

Expression of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor in the dog prostate

A possible role for gonadotrophins luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the prostate physiology has been suggested in humans and rats. This study aimed at investigating the presence of receptors for LH and FSH (LHR and FSHR) in the canine prostate. Prostates were collected at post mortem from 6 clinically healthy, sexually intact beagles free from any prostatic disorder. Tissue was sampled from dorsal, middle and ventral regions of each prostate. Immunohistochemical localization was performed on wax-embedded sections using polyclonal antibodies for LHR or FSHR. The pattern and intensity of staining in the parenchyma (glandular epithelium) and stroma were determined using a semiquantitative histologic assessment. Receptors for LH and FSH were consistently present in both the glandular epithelium and the stroma in all tissue samples examined. Expression for both receptors was higher in the glandular epithelium than the stroma of all prostatic regions (P < 0.001). In the glandular epithelium, LHR (P < 0.01) and FSHR (P < 0.05) expression was lower in the lateral than the other regions, and there was no difference between dorsal and ventral regions. However, variations in the expression for LHR and FSHR among prostatic regions were not found in the stroma. These findings have demonstrated that LHR and FSHR are expressed in the dog prostate, and the variation observed in their levels of expression among its regions and tissue layers suggests a potential role of gonadotrophins LH and FSH in the regulation of the prostate physiology, particularly the glandular epithelium.     

Effects of polymorphisms of LHR and FSHR genes on sexual precocity in a Bos taurus x Bos indicus beef composite population

The purpose of the present research was to investigate the effects of polymorphisms of luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) genes, evaluated by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism in European-Zebu composite beef heifers from six different breed compositions. The polymorphism site analysis from digestion with HhaI and AluI restriction endonucleases allowed the genotype identification for LHR (TT, CT and CC) and FSHR (GG, CG and CC) genes. A high frequency of heterozygous animals was recorded in all breed compositions for both genes, except in two compositions for LHR. The probability of pregnancy (PP) at first breeding was used to evaluate the polymorphism effect on sexual precocity. The PP was analyzed as a binary trait, with a value of 1 (success) assigned to heifers that were diagnosed pregnant by rectal palpation and a value of 0 (failure) assigned to those that were not pregnant at that time. Heterozygous heifers showed a higher pregnancy rate (67 and 66% for LHR and FSHR genes, respectively), but no significant effects were observed for the genes studied (P = 0.9188 and 0.8831 for LHR and FSHR, respectively) on the PP. These results do not justify the inclusion of LHR and FSHR restriction fragment length polymorphism markers in selection programs for sexual precocity in beef heifers. Nevertheless, these markers make possible the genotype characterization and may be used in additional studies to evaluate the genetic structure in other bovine populations.     

Hormone interactions to Leu-rich repeats in the gonadotropin receptors. I. Analysis of Leu-rich repeats of human luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin receptor and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor

The luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) have an approximately 350-amino acid-long, N-terminal extracellular exodomain. This exodomain binds hormone with high affinity and specificity and contains eight to nine putative Leu-rich repeat (LRR) sequences. LRRs are known to assume the horseshoe structure in ribonuclease inhibitors, and the inner lining of the horseshoe consists of the beta-stranded Leu/Ile-X-Leu/Ile motif. In the case of ribonuclease inhibitors, these beta strands interact with ribonuclease. However, it is unclear whether the putative LRRs of LHR and FSHR play any role in the structure and function. In this work, the beta-stranded Leu/Ile residues in all LRRs of the human LHR and FSHR were Ala-scanned and characterized. In addition, the 23 residues around LRR2 of LHR were Ala-scanned. The results show that beta-stranded Leu and Ile residues in all LRRs are important but not equally. These Leu/Ile-X-Leu/Ile motifs appear to form the hydrophobic core of the LRR loop, crucial for the LRR structure. Interestingly, the hot spots are primarily in the upstream and downstream LRRs of the LHR exodomain, whereas important LRRs spread throughout the FSHR exodomain. This may explain the distinct hormone specificity despite the structural similarity of the two receptors.     

Immunolocalization of GnRHRI,gonadotropin receptors,PGR, and PGRMCI during follicular development in the rabbit ovary

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and localization of gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor-I (GnRHRI), gonadotropin receptors (FSHR, LHR), progesterone receptor (PGR), and progesterone receptor membrane-binding component-I (PGRMCI) in the different developmental stages of the rabbit follicle. The ovaries were collected from four healthy New Zealand white rabbits, and the mRNA expression and protein levels of GnRHRI, FSHR, LHR, PGR, and PGRMCI were examined with real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. The results showed that GnRHRI, FSHR, LHR, PGR, and PGRMCI mRNA was expressed in the ovary; furthermore, we show cell-type specific and follicular development stage-specific expression of these receptors at the protein level. Specifically, all of the receptors were detected in the oocytes from the primordial to the tertiary follicles and in the granulosa and theca cells from the secondary and tertiary follicles. In the mature follicles, all receptors were primarily localized in the granulosa and theca cells. In addition, LHR was also localized in the granulosa cells from the primordial and primary follicles. With follicular development, the expression level of all of the receptors, except GnRHRI, in the follicles showed a tendency to decrease because the area of the follicle increased sharply. The expression level of GnRHRI, FSHR, and PGR in the granulosa and theca cells showed an increasing trend with ongoing follicular development. Interestingly, the expression level of FSHR in the oocytes obviously decreased from the primary to the tertiary follicles, whereas LHR in the oocytes increased from the secondary to tertiary follicles. In conclusion, the expression of GnRHRI, the gonadotropin receptors, PGR, and PGRMCI decreased from the preantral follicles (primordial, primary, and secondary follicles) to the tertiary follicles. The expression of GnRHRI and LHR in the oocytes increased from the secondary to the tertiary follicles, whereas FSHR decreased from the primary to the tertiary follicles. The expression of GnRHRI and PGR in the granulosa and theca cells increased from the secondary to the mature follicles. These observations suggest that these receptors play roles in follicular development and participate in the regulation of follicular development.     

Expression of messenger RNA for gonadotropin receptor in the granulosa layer during the ovulatory cycle of hens.

The present experiments were conducted to evaluate the mRNA levels of luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) in granulosa layers during the ovulatory cycle of hens, in relation to the release of LH and steroid hormones. After the release of LH, progesterone (P4) and estradiol-17beta (E2), found 4-5 h before ovulation, LHR and FSHR mRNA levels were observed to decrease in the granulosa layers of the largest (F1) and second largest (F2) preovulatory follicles, with the greatest in the LHR mRNA level of F1. P4 concentrations in the granulosa layers of F1 and F2 increased 4-5 h before ovulation, with greater in F1 than in F2. F2 concentrations in the theca layers were greater in F2 than in F1 throughout the ovulatory cycle. Also, the injection of ovine LH caused decreases in the mRNA levels of LHR and FSHR in the granulosa layers. However, these decreases were abolished by the injection of aminoglutethimide, an inhibitor of steroid synthesis. These results suggest that in hen granulosa cells, the mRNA levels of not only LHR but also FSHR are down-regulated by LH and the down-regulation may be mediated steroid hormones.