The effect of progesterone replacement on gene expression in the corpus luteum during induced regression and late luteal phase in the bonnet monkey (Macaca radiata)

Abstract

Background: In higher primates, although LH/CG play a critical role in the control of corpus luteum (CL) function, the direct effects of progesterone (P4) in the maintenance of CL structure and function are unclear. Several experiments were conducted in the bonnet monkey to examine direct effects of P4 on gene expression changes in the CL, during induced luteolysis and the late luteal phase of natural cycles. Methods: To identify differentially expressed genes encoding PR, PR binding factors, cofactors and PR downstream signaling target genes, the genome-wide analysis data generated in CL of monkeys after LH/P 4 depletion and LH replacement were mined and validated by real-time RT-PCR analysis. Initially, expression of these P4 related genes were determined in CL during different stages of luteal phase. The recently reported model system of induced luteolysis, yet capable of responsive to tropic support, afforded an ideal situation to examine direct effects of P4 on structure and function of CL. For this purpose, P4 was infused via ALZET pumps into monkeys 24 h after LH/P4 depletion to maintain mid luteal phase circulating P4 concentration (P4 replacement). In another experiment, exogenous P4 was supplemented during late luteal phase to mimic early pregnancy.

Nonhuman Primates

“…Pig-tailed macaques (M. nemestrina) continue to serve as a good model in HIV/SHIV research, gene therapy, and immunology studies (Peterson et al, 2013;Xu et al, 2013). The bonnet macaque (M. radiata) has been used as a model for Kyasanur Forest disease (Kenyon et al, 1992) and in reproduction biology (Nimbkar-Joshi et al, 2012;Suresh et al, 2011). The bonnet macaque (M. radiata) has been used as a model for Kyasanur Forest disease (Kenyon et al, 1992) and in reproduction biology (Nimbkar-Joshi et al, 2012;Suresh et al, 2011).…”