Androgen receptors in coeliac ganglion in late pregnant rat

Androstenedione acts on the coeliac ganglion and modulates luteal function via the superior ovarian nerve in the postpartum rat

“…The accumulation of progesterone in the ovarian compartment of day 4 postpartum, non-lactating animals that were stimulated with androstenedione in the ganglion compartment reached values that could be observed in untreated ovaries obtained from day 21 of pregnancy [6,15], and without modifying 3␤-HSD and 20␣-HSD enzyme activities or mRNA expression. This suggests that the regressing corpora lutea of pregnancy present in postpartum ovaries are still capable of functioning if timely stimulated, in this case through a neural stimulus.…”

“…We further demonstrated that androgen receptor immunoreactive proteins are present in the neurons of the CG before parturition, suggesting that the indirect luteotropic activity of androstenedione may be mediated by these receptors and that they can eventually modulate the synthesis of neurotransmitters by the SON [6]. In the present study we utilized the integrated ex vivo CG-SON-ovary system to assess whether androstenedione at the ganglion is capable of transmitting a luteotropic signal via the SON to the ovary containing corpora lutea of pregnancy undergoing regression after parturition.…”

“…We have shown that under our experimental ex vivo conditions the SON releases catecholamines and nitric oxide to the ovarian compartment [6,14,16]. It has been shown that the CG expresses the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase that controls the synthesis of norepinephrine [30].…”

“…In the ovary, these fibres form a net of varicosities surrounding the theca and secondary interstitial cells, responsible for the androgens synthesis, without entering the follicle and with little visible relation with the corpus luteum [2] yet express ␤ 1 and ␤ 2 adrenergic receptors that transduce positive inputs to luteal steroidogenesis [3,4]. The CG has an ample microvasculature and contains many neurotransmitters, receptors for neurotransmitters [5], and as shown recently by our laboratory, androgen receptors [6]. Among the neurotransmitters released into the ovarian interstitial tissue are norepinephrine [4,7] and nitric oxide [8].…”

“…Our laboratory has demonstrated that in addition to the mainstream hormonal regulators such as oestradiol and prolactin, the physiology of the rat corpus luteum of pregnancy is modulated by the peripheral nervous system [6,[14][15][16][17].…”