Expression patterns and role of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthases, prostaglandin E synthases, prostacyclin synthase, prostacyclin receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta and retinoid x receptor alpha in rat endometrium during artificially-induced decidualization

Abstract

To determine if changes in endometrial expression of the enzymes and receptors involved in prostaglandin (PG) synthesis and action might provide insights into the PGs involved in the initiation of decidualization, ovariectomized steroid-treated rats at the equivalent of day 5 of pseudopregnancy were given a deciduogenic stimulus and killed at various times up to 32 h thereafter. The expression of PG-endoperoxide synthases (PTGS1 and PTGS2), microsomal PGE synthases (PTGES and PTGES2), cytosolic PGE synthase (PTGES3), prostacyclin synthase (PTGIS), prostacyclin receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor d (PPARD) and retinoid x receptor a (RXRA) in endometrium was assessed by semiquantitative RT-PCR, western blot analyses and immunohistochemistry. In addition, to determine which PG is involved in mediating decidualization, we compared the ability of PGE 2 , stable analogues of PGI 2 , L165041 (an agonist of PPARD), and docasahexanoic acid (an agonist of RXRA) to increase endometrial vascular permeability (EVP, an early event in decidualization), and decidualization when infused into the uterine horns of rats sensitized for the decidual cell reaction (DCR). EVP was assessed by uterine concentrations of Evans blue 10 h after initiation of infusions. DCR was assessed by the uterine mass 5 days after the initiation of the infusions. Because enzymes associated with the synthesis of PGE 2 , including PTGS2, are up-regulated in response to a deciduogenic stimulus and because PGE 2 was more effective than the PGI 2 analogues and PPARD and RXRA agonists in increasing EVP and inducing decidualization, we suggest that PGE 2 is most likely the PG involved in the initiation of decidualization in the rat.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors in the regulation of female reproductive functions

“…This ability suggests that the effects of PGI 2 may be mediated by PPARb in mouse, rat and sheep uterus [49,66,67]. An interaction between PGI 2 and PPARb facilitated implantation in mouse by increasing the number of implanted embryos [63].…”

Diverse Roles of Prostaglandins in Blastocyst Implantation

“…PGE 2 was found to be more effective than prostacyclin (PGI 2 ), PPAR- δ , and retinoic acid (RXRA) in causing an increase in endometrial vascular permeability in rats [40]. PGE 2 mediates sex-steroid effect on VEGF and angiopoietin [34] expression which resulted in increased vascular permeability and angiogenesis during implantation and decidualization, respectively [41].…”

Novel intrathecal and subcutaneous catheter delivery systems in the mouse

“…Continuous infusion of genes, small molecules, ligands, or other agents over extended periods of time is routinely used to study the underlying mechanisms of homeostatic processes, physiological systems, and behavioral phenotypes (de Yebenes et al 1987; Oladosu et al 2015) as well as to assess the therapeutic potential of various drugs (Kosumi et al 2001; Yu et al 2014). Sustained catheter drug delivery has been implemented via several different routes including intraperitoneal (Boudreau et al 2010), intracavitary (Casazza et al 2012), intrauterine (Gillio-Meina et al 2009), intravenous (Wedel et al 2014; Feng et al 2015), intra-arterial (Feng et al 2015), intraluminal (Sherwin et al 2010), intracerebroventricular (Altaner et al 2014), and intrathecal (i.t.) (Lindau et al 2014).…”