Expression of the luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) gene in ovine non-gonadal tissues during estrous cycle

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Luteinizing hormone (LH) is an important glycoprotein hormone that regulates gonadal function in mammals and in turn regulates physiological status changes during the estrous cycle. The function of LH is mediated by luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR). In order to examine the expression patterns of the LHR gene in non-gonadal tissues during the 4 phases of the ovine estrous cycle, tissues from healthy non-pregnant adult Hu sheep were examined according to the estrous cycle for normal ovaries using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and ELISA methods with GAPDH as the reference gene. LHR mRNA expression levels were significantly correlated with protein concentrations and the LHR gene was abundantly expressed in olfactory bulb, hypothalamus, rumen, small intestine, kidney, and uterine tissues. When comparing the expression levels of LHR during the 4 estrous phases in particular tissues, the results showed that LHR expression levels were significantly different and relatively lower at the estrous stage in a number of non-gonadal tissues. The trends of change in LHR expression levels were highly significantly correlated between hypothalamus and rectum, hypophysis and oviduct, ileum and 3767 ©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 11 (4): 3766-3780 (2012) Expression of the LHR gene in ovine non-gonadal tissues uterus, and among jejunum, olfactory bulb, and kidney (P < 0.01), and there was also significant correlation between duodenum and oviduct, hypothalamus and medulla oblongata, jejunum and uterus, omasum and abomasum, and reticulum and colon (P < 0.05). These results indicate that the ovine LHR gene (or LH) might control important mechanisms in nongonadal tissues and that the level of LH activity in some tissues may be influenced by hormonal status during the estrous cycle.

Attenuation of radiation-induced gastrointestinal damage by epidermal growth factor and bone marrow transplantation in mice

“…Given the similar amount of GFP  cells in both parts of small intestine, mucosal GFP  cells do not appear to affect this outcome. Thus, we may only speculate that different expression of growth factor receptors and/or close relation of terminal ileum to Peyer's patches, which support epithelial regeneration, may play a more significant role (Saxena et al 1997, Pezeshki et al 2012, Wang et al 2012, Tanaka et al 2013.…”

A Comparative Proteomic Analysis of the Soluble Immune Factor Environment of Rectal and Oral Mucosa

“…For example, current research in women suggests that mucosal factors fluctuate with hormone levels during the menstrual cycle [34], [35]. As the rectal compartment contains hormone receptors, such as luteinizing hormone (LH) receptor, that have been found to fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle in mammalian rectal tissue [36], it is plausible that sex hormone differences between genders may impact mucosal immunity in the rectal compartment; however, further studies are needed to fully elucidate the role of LH and other sex hormones, such as estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, in mucosal immunity in both men and women to fully determine this impact. As well, the ethnic profile of our population may not apply to other populations for several reasons, including underlying genetic factors or environment.…”

Equine chorionic gonadotropin increases estradiol levels in the bovine oviduct and drives the transcription of genes related to fertilization in superstimulated cows

“…However, all the information is based on in vitro epithelial cell culture samples. In contrast, LHR and FSHR proteins are well described in mice (Zhang, Shi, Segaloff, Van Voorhis, & Zheng, ), pigs (Gawronska, Paukku, Huhtaniemi, Wasowicz, & Ziecik, ; Małysz‐Cymborska & Andronowska, ), sheep (Wang, Zhang, Gao, & Wang, ), and humans (Zheng, Magid, Kramer, & Chen, ). Therefore, to understand their function, the bovine LHR and FSHR transcripts and proteins should be further characterized in situ in oviductal cells, including splice variants.…”