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Asymmetric steroidogenic response by the ovaries to the vasoactive intestinal peptide

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Abstract

In vitro the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) stimulates progesterone, androgens, and estradiol secretion, and the effects are time-dependent. The present study analyzed the acute (1 h) and sub-acute (24 h) effects of unilateral injection of VIP into the ovarian bursa on each day of the estrous cycle on progesterone, testosterone, and estradiol serum levels. Cyclic 60-day-old virgin female rats on diestrus-1, diestrus-2, proestrus, or estrus were injected with saline or VIP 10−6 M into the left or right ovarian bursa. One hour after saline injection on each day of estrus cycle, progesterone levels were higher than in control animals. The acute effects of saline solution on testosterone and estradiol levels were asymmetric and varied during the estrous cycle. In comparison with saline groups, the effects of VIPergic stimulation on progesterone, testosterone, and estradiol serum levels depend on the time elapsed between treatment and autopsy and vary during the estrous cycle. An acute asymmetric response from the ovaries to the VIP was observed at diestrus-1, diestrus-2, and proestrus on progesterone and estradiol levels. The asymmetries on testosterone levels were observed at diestrus-1, diestrus-2, and estrus days. The present results suggest that in the cyclic rat, each ovary has different sensitivities to VIPergic stimulation which depends on the endocrine status of the animal.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grant UNAM-DGAPA-PAPIIT IN211813. We want to thank for the support given to in the realization of this study to the “Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, UNAM” and CONACyT. This work is a requirement for obtaining the degree of Doctor of Biological Sciences. We also thank Biol. R. Chavira having participated in performing the RIA’s to measure the hormones levels. We also want to thank M Sc A. Domínguez-González for the revision of the manuscript in English.

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The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biology of Reproduction Research Unit, Physiology of Reproduction Laboratory, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, UNAM, AP 9-020, CP 15000, Mexico, D.F., Mexico

    Gabriela Rosas, María Isabel Ramírez, Rosa Linares, Roberto Domínguez & Leticia Morales-Ledesma

  2. Escuela de Biología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Edificio 112A Ciudad Universitaria, CP 72570, Puebla, Mexico

    Angélica Trujillo

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  1. Gabriela Rosas
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Correspondence to Leticia Morales-Ledesma.

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Rosas, G., Ramírez, M.I., Linares, R. et al. Asymmetric steroidogenic response by the ovaries to the vasoactive intestinal peptide. Endocrine 48, 968–977 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-014-0449-x

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