The Role of the Guanosine Nucleotide-Binding Protein in the Corpus Luteum

Abstract

The corpus luteum is a temporary endocrine gland in the ovary. In the ovarian cycle, repeated patterns of specific cellular proliferation, differentiation, and transformation occur that accompany the formation and regression of the corpus luteum. Molecular mechanism events in the ovarian microenvironment, such as angiogenesis and apoptosis, are complex. Recently, we focused on the role of RAS protein in the ovarian corpus luteum. RAS protein plays a vital role in the modulation of cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation by molecular pathway signaling. Additionally, reproductive hormones regulate RAS activity in the cellular physiological function of ovarian follicles during pre-ovulatory maturation and ovulation. Thus, we have reviewed the role of RAS protein related to the biological events of the corpus luteum in the ovary.

Iron accumulation in ovarian microenvironment damages the local redox balance and oocyte quality in aging mice

“…This may be due to the ovary is a highly vascularized organ [ 1 , 40 , 46 ]. The ovaries experience periodic events of follicle development, rupture, ovulation and luteinization during female reproductive life span, that means repeated cycles of angiogenesis and bleeding [ 1 , 40 , 47 ], and thereby continuous accumulation of erythrocyte degradation products. As a support for this assumption, we detected an increased hemosiderin deposition and HO-1 expression in ovarian tissue of aging mice, this implies constant and high iron release from heme decomposition [ 48 ].…”