Luteal estrogen receptor, interleukin-1, and apoptosis-associated genes during prostaglandin F2 alpha-induced luteolysis in rabbits at different stages of pseudopregnancy

In rabbits, several intraluteal pathways have emerged as potential mediators of the luteolytic action of prostaglandin F2αPGF2α, but the mechanisms that protect the developing corpora lutea (CL) from functional luteolysis to occur up to day 5 of pseudopregnancy are still unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to elucidate PGF2α-induced temporal expression changes for estrogen receptor (ERα), interleukin-1(IL-1β), p53, and Bcl-x genes in day 4 vs. day 9 CL, in order to further characterize their role in the acquisition of luteal capacity to PGF2α. In conclusion, these findings suggest that PGF2α regulates luteolysis by ERαmRNA downregulation and by modulation of pro- and antiapoptotic pathways in CL that have acquired luteolytic capacity.