HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (3) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Arai, K. Y Articles by Taya, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Arai, K. Y Articles by Taya, K.

Department of Tissue Physiology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
¹ Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
² Laboratory of Animal Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
³ Department of Basic Veterinary Science, The United Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan
⁴ Air Pollutants Health Effect Team, National Institute of Environmental Studies, Ibaraki 305-0053, Japan
⁵ Ecological Effect Research Team, National Institute of Environmental Studies, Ibaraki 305-0053, Japan

(Requests for offprints should be addressed to K Taya; Email: taya{at}cc.tuat.ac.jp)

To elucidate changing patterns of inhibin/activin subunit mRNAs in the ovary of the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) during the oestrous cycle, inhibin/activin subunit cDNAs of this species were cloned and ribonuclease protection assay and in situ hybridization were carried out. Inhibin -subunit mRNA was localized in granulosa cells of primary, secondary, tertiary and atretic follicles throughout the 4-day oestrous cycle. It was also expressed in luteal cells on days 1 (oestrus), 2 (metoestrus) and 3 (dioestrus). ßA-subunit mRNA was localized in granulosa cells of large secondary (>200 µm) and tertiary follicles throughout the oestrous cycle. ßB-subunit mRNA was confined to granulosa cells of large secondary and tertiary follicles. Both - and ßA-subunit mRNAs were also found in ovarian interstitial cells and theca interna cells of tertiary and atretic follicles in the evening of day 4 (pro-oestrus). A striking increase in ßA-subunit mRNA levels was also observed during the preovulatory period. The expression pattern of ßA-subunit mRNA during the preovulatory period is unique and not found in other species. An i.v. injection of anti-luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) serum before the LH surge abolished the expression of - and ßA-subunit mRNAs in ovarian interstitial cells and theca interna cells. The treatment also abolished the preovulatory increase in ßA-subunit mRNA. Furthermore, administration of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), which followed the injection of anti-LHRH serum, restored the expression patterns of - and ßA-subunit mRNAs. The present study revealed that the golden hamster showed a unique expression pattern of ßA-subunit mRNA in response to the LH surge.