The corpus luteum and interstitial tissue in a marsupial, the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

Eckery, Douglas C.; Juengel, Jennifer L.; Whale, Lisa J.; Thomson, Brian; Lun, S.; McNatty, Kenneth P.

doi:10.1016/s0303-7207(02)00058-8

Cited by 14 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…However, the PRLR is expressed in the oviducts of these species (30)(31)(32). Similarly, the PRLR is expressed in the uterus of marsupials (33), but the expression of PRL in the uterine tissues of marsupials has not been directly tested. We assayed PRL and PRLR expression by RT-PCR in the female reproductive tissues and placenta of a gestating marsupial, the gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica), and found that PRL was not expressed in endometrium, myometrium, placenta, ovary, or wholestage 32 fetus in this species [supporting information (SI) Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adaptive changes in the transcription factor HoxA-11 are essential for the evolution of pregnancy in mammals

Lynch

Tanzer

Wang

et al. 2008

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Evolutionary change in gene regulation can result from changes in cis-regulatory elements, leading to differences in the temporal and spatial expression of genes or in the coding region of transcription factors leading to novel functions or both. Although there is a growing body of evidence supporting the importance of cisregulatory evolution, examples of protein-mediated evolution of novel developmental pathways have not been demonstrated. Here, we investigate the evolution of prolactin (PRL) expression in endometrial cells, which is essential for placentation/pregnancy in eutherian mammals and is a direct regulatory target of the transcription factor HoxA-11. Here, we show that (i) endometrial PRL expression is a derived feature of placental mammals, (ii) the PRL regulatory gene HoxA-11 experienced a period of strong positive selection in the stem-lineage of eutherian mammals, and (iii) only HoxA-11 proteins from placental mammals, including the reconstructed ancestral eutherian gene, are able to up-regulate PRL from the promoter used in endometrial cells. In contrast, HoxA-11 from the reconstructed therian ancestor, opossum, platypus, and chicken are unable to up-regulate PRL expression. These results demonstrate that the evolution of novel gene expression domains is not only mediated by the evolution of cis-regulatory elements but can also require evolutionary changes of transcription factor proteins themselves.evolution of development ͉ functional divergence ͉ molecular evolution ͉ trans-regulatory evolution

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adaptive changes in the transcription factor HoxA-11 are essential for the evolution of pregnancy in mammals

Lynch

Tanzer

Wang

et al. 2008

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…However, the preovulatory follicle of the brushtail possum is steroidogenically active; it strongly expresses mRNAs encoding proteins important for steroidogenesis and secretes estradiol [22,23]. The precise timing of downregulation of SF-1 expression and upregulation of the steroidogenic enzymes during antral follicular development in the brushtail possum is not known because follicles do not grow larger than approximately 2.5 mm during the luteal phase [5,20]. Decreased levels of SF-1 mRNA may not occur until after expression of the steroidogenic enzymes has been initiated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Numerous antral follicles are present throughout both the follicular phase (9-11 days duration) and luteal phase (16-18 days duration) of the estrous cycle (25-28 days duration) and during pregnancy (16-18 days duration, identical to the luteal phase of the estrous cycle). However, preovulatory-size follicles only develop during the follicular phase [5,20] of the estrous cycle. Although numerous healthy and atretic antral follicles are present during the early follicular phase of the estrous cycle, typically only a single follicle is selected for ovulation at each cycle [21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…corpus luteum develops from the ovulatory follicle and is a major source of progesterone during the last 8-10 days of the luteal phase [24,25]. The possum ovary contains numerous interstitial cells scattered throughout the ovarian stroma that morphologically appear to be steroidogenically active [20]. Although steroidogenically active interstitial tissue is present in several species [25,26], the steroidogenic characteristics of this tissue and its role in regulating reproductive activity in the brushtail possum is unknown.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Determination of Steroidogenic Potential of Ovarian Cells of the Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)1

Whale

Eckery

Juengel

2003

Biology of Reproduction

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The ovary of the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) secretes steroids; however, little is known about the identity of the steroidogenic cells in the ovary. The aim of the present study was to determine the identity of the ovarian cell types expressing mRNAs encoding proteins important for steroidogenesis and determine at what stage of follicular development they are expressed. The genes examined were those for steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cytochrome p450 side chain cleavage (P450scc), 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Delta5,Delta4 isomerase (3betaHSD), cytochrome p45017alphahydroxylase (p45017alphaOH), and p450 aromatase (p450arom). None of the genes examined were expressed in oocytes at any stage of follicular development. SF-1 was expressed in granulosa cells from the type 2 or the primary stage of development and thereafter to the preovulatory stage. In addition, the theca interna of small and medium-size antral but not preovulatory follicles and the interstitial glands and corpora lutea expressed SF-1 mRNA. Granulosa cells of preantral and small to medium-size antral follicles were not capable of synthesizing steroids from cholesterol because they did not contain p450scc mRNA. However, granulosa cells of many of the small to medium-size antral follicles expressed p450arom and 3betaHSD mRNA. The interstitial glands, theca interna, and corpus luteum expressed StAR, p450scc, 3betaHSD, and p45017alphaOH mRNA, suggesting that these tissues are capable of synthesizing progestins and androgens. The corpus luteum expressed p450arom, indicating that this tissue also has the potential to secrete estrogens in this species.

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“…Extensive follicular growth is observed in both juvenile and adult animals with a single follicle of around 5 mm in diameter ovulating each reproductive cycle in adults during the breeding season (Eckery et al 2002a(Eckery et al , 2002b. In eutherians, ovarian follicular growth is known to be controlled by both extraovarian and intraovarian factors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of IGFs in the regulation of ovarian follicular growth in the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

Juengel

Haydon²,

Mester³

et al. 2010

Reproduction

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IGFs are known to be key regulators of ovarian follicular growth in eutherian mammals, but little is known regarding their role in marsupials. To better understand the potential role of IGFs in the regulation of follicular growth in marsupials, expression of mRNAs encoding IGF1, IGF2, IGF1R, IGF-binding protein 2 (IGFBP2), IGFBP4 and IGFBP5 was localized by in situ hybridization in developing ovarian follicles of the brushtail possum. In addition, the effects of IGF1 and IGF2 on granulosa cell function were tested in vitro. Both granulosa and theca cells synthesize IGF mRNAs, with the theca expressing IGF1 mRNA and granulosa cell expressing IGF2 mRNA. Oocytes and granulosa cells express IGF1R. Granulosa and theca cells expressed IGFBP mRNAs, although the pattern of expression differed between the BPs. IGFBP5 mRNA was differentially expressed as the follicles developed with granulosa cells of antral follicles no longer expressing IGFBP5 mRNA, suggesting an increased IGF bioavailability in the antral follicle. The IGFBP protease, PAPPA mRNA, was also expressed in granulosa cells of growing follicles. Both IGF1 and IGF2 stimulated thymidine incorporation but had no effect on progesterone production. Thus, IGF may be an important regulator of ovarian follicular development in marsupials as has been shown in eutherian mammals.

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The corpus luteum and interstitial tissue in a marsupial, the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

Cited by 14 publications

References 44 publications

Adaptive changes in the transcription factor HoxA-11 are essential for the evolution of pregnancy in mammals

Adaptive changes in the transcription factor HoxA-11 are essential for the evolution of pregnancy in mammals

Determination of Steroidogenic Potential of Ovarian Cells of the Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)1

The role of IGFs in the regulation of ovarian follicular growth in the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

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