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Release of norepinephrine from human ovary

Coupling to steroidogenic response

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Abstract

We investigated the possibility that norepinephrine from the human ovary is released after nerve stimulation and that this neurotransmitter is coupled to a steroidogenic response. Biologically significant levels of both norepinephrine and dopamine were found in human ovarian biopsies. [3H]norepinephrine incorporated in vitro was readily released by electrical stimulation in a Ca2+-dependent process. Ovarian membrane preparations exhibited specific binding sites for the β-adrenergic antagonist [3H]dihydroalprenolol. displacement of [3H]dihydroalprenolol with zinterol (a specific β2-agonist, indicated that 72% of these sites were type β2-receptors. β-receptors were also present on granulosa cells. Stimulation of granulosa cells with luteinizing hormone or the β-agonist isoproterenol increased the release of progesterone after 4 d in culture. These results suggest that the sympathetic nerves present in human ovary are coupled to β-adrenergic receptors present in endocrine cells and, as in nonprimate mammals, appear to participate in the regulation of ovarian function.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Neurobioquímica, Departamento de Bioquimica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, PO Box 233, Santiago, Chile, Chile

    Hernán E. Lara & Sandra M. Luza

  2. Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Campus Oriente Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, PO Box 233, Santiago, Chile, Chile

    Arnaldo Porcile

  3. Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Hospital Clínico, Universidad de Chile, PO Box 233, Santiago, Chile, Chile

    Jaime Espinoza, Carmen Romero & Cristian Miranda

  4. Hospital San Josè, PO Box 233, Santiago, Chile

    Juan Fuhrer

  5. Clínica Alemana, PO Box 233, Santiago, Chile

    Luis Roblero

Authors
  1. Hernán E. Lara
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  2. Arnaldo Porcile
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  3. Jaime Espinoza
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  4. Carmen Romero
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  5. Sandra M. Luza
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  6. Juan Fuhrer
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  7. Cristian Miranda
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  8. Luis Roblero
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Correspondence to Hernán E. Lara.

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Lara, H.E., Porcile, A., Espinoza, J. et al. Release of norepinephrine from human ovary. Endocr 15, 187–192 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1385/ENDO:15:2:187

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/ENDO:15:2:187

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