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The Amphibian ( Rana esculenta ) Brain Progesterone Receptor: Relationship to Plasma Steroids and Vitellogenic Cycle during the Gonadal Recovery Phase
Author(s) -
Guerriero Giulia,
Roselli Charles E.,
Ciarcia Gaetano
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04438.x
Subject(s) - endocrinology , medicine , vitellogenin , vitellogenesis , rana , progesterone receptor , amphibian , ovariectomized rat , biology , follicular phase , steroid , receptor , luteal phase , estrogen , chemistry , estrogen receptor , hormone , fish <actinopterygii> , oocyte , microbiology and biotechnology , embryo , ecology , cancer , fishery , breast cancer
We report the presence of a progesterone receptor (PR) in the brain of the female amphibian Rana esculenta and changes in the levels of this PR during the gonadal recovery phase in relation to different circulating steroid levels and steroid treatment. The highest level of the PR in the nuclear brain extract corresponded to a low level of plasma progesterone and occurred when vitellogenin synthesis was at a minimum. The lowest level was found during follicular growth, concomitant with increased plasma 17β‐estradiol and progesterone levels. The PR levels were significantly higher in ovariectomized female R. esculenta than in intact and sham‐operated female frogs. Treatment with 17β‐estradiol and progesterone downregulated the frog brain PR, indicating that a possible progesterone–receptor interaction is involved in the modulation of vitellogenin.