Vasoactive peptides in the luteolytic process activated by PGF2alpha in pseudopregnant rabbits at different luteal stages

To study the role of endothelial factors in luteal function, the dynamic profiles of genes for endothelin 1 (EDN1), its receptor subtypes, EDNRA and EDNRB, and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) were examined in corpora lutea (CL) obtained from rabbits on Days 4 and 9 of pseudopregnancy after prostaglandin (PG) F2alpha analogue (alfaprostol) treatment. The cell type distribution of EDN1 in the ovaries and its mechanisms of actions in vitro and in vivo were also studied. Positive immunostaining for EDN1 was localized in the luteal and endothelial cells, in granulosa cells of the follicles, and in the ovarian epithelium. The basal mRNA levels for EDNRA, EDNRB, and ACE were lower (P </= 0.01) in Day-4 CL than in Day-9 CL, whereas those for EDN1 did not differ between these two time-points. On Day 4, the luteal EDN1, EDNRA, EDNRB, and ACE mRNA levels were similarly increased two-fold (P </= 0.01) 1.5 h after alfaprostol injection, and did not show further changes in the subsequent 24 h. On Day 9, alfaprostol challenge transiently up-regulated (P </= 0.01) the luteal ACE transcripts at 1.5 h, and those of EDN1 at 1.5 h and 3 h, whereas the EDNRA and EDNRB transcript levels remained unchanged during the course of luteal regression. EDN1 decreased (P </= 0.01) progesterone release and increased (P </= 0.01) PGF2alpha secretion and NOS activity via the PLC/PKC pathway in Day-9 CL, but not in Day-4 CL, cultured in vitro. EDN1-induced, but not alfaprostol-induced luteolysis, was blocked by cotreatment in vivo with the ACE antagonist captopril. These findings support the hypothesis that PGF2alpha regulates luteolysis through intraluteal activation of the renin-angiotensin/EDN1 systems in CL that have acquired luteolytic competence.