Prostaglandin F2α Receptor in the Corpus Luteum: Recent Information on the Gene, Messenger Ribonucleic Acid, and Protein1

Abstract

The prostaglandin (PG) F(2alpha) receptor (FPr) in the corpus luteum is essential for maintaining normal reproductive cyclicity in many species. Activation of this seven-transmembrane spanning receptor at the end of the cycle leads to a decrease in progesterone and the demise of the corpus luteum (luteolysis). Recently, the gene structure of the FPr in three mammalian species has been elucidated; however, promoter regulation of the gene is still poorly understood. The FPr mRNA is extremely low in steroidogenic follicular cells (theca or granulosa) but is expressed at high levels in the corpus luteum, particularly in the large luteal cells. Treatment with PGF(2alpha) decreased FPr mRNA expression in luteal cells in most species that have been studied. Key amino acids have been suggested to be critical for binding of FPr to PGF(2alpha) based on three-dimensional modeling and comparisons with other G-protein-coupled receptors. Moieties of the PGF(2alpha) molecule that are essential for binding or specificity of binding to the FPr have been identified by radioreceptor binding studies. In this article, recent information is reviewed on the structure of the FPr gene, regulation of luteal FPr mRNA, and receptor/ligand interaction requirements for the FPr protein.

Cloning of a buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) prostaglandin F2α receptor: changes in its expression and concentration in the buffalo cow corpus luteum

“…Sequence alignment of the nucleotide and the deduced amino acid sequence of the buffalo FPr show a high degree of identity with the previously cloned FPr in other species including the cow (reviewed in Anderson et al 2001). In the present study, Northern blot analysis using a buffalo FPr cDNA (906 bp length) clone Pierce et al (1997) on the cloning of an FP prostanoid receptor isoform termed FP (B) that differed from the FP (A) in the carboxyl terminus.…”

Morphological features and vascularization study of caprine cyclic corpus luteum

“…According to Milvae et al (1996) the decrease of progesterone concentration at this stage is most commonly due to decreased ability of the esteroidogenic capacity of the individual luteal cells and the luteal blood flow. The PGF 2á would than connect to specific receptors placed in large-sized luteal cells (LLCs) (Anderson et al, 2001), where they adhere to the stimulatory G protein, inducing the activation of the phospholipase C (PLC) that through a signaling way stimulates the catalytic activity of the enzyme Ca ++ -dependent protein kinase C (PKC). It is believed that the PKC mediates many anti-esteroidogenic actions of the PGF 2á in the LLCs (Niswender et al 2000).…”

Prostaglandin F₂_α Regulates the Nitric Oxide Generating System in Bovine Luteal Endothelial Cells

“…Bovine luteal cell membranes have the ability to bind PGF throughout the estrous cycle [5,6]. However, there is no consensus on the presence of FPr in the bovine luteal vasculature.…”