Semester
Fall
Date of Graduation
2001
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MS
College
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Biology
Abstract
In porcine ovaries, endothelin-1 (ET-1) may have an autocrine/paracrine role in follicular development. Endothelin-converting enzyme-1 (ECE-1) converts big endothelin-1 to ET-1. In situ hybridization was used to determine the ovarian compartment that synthesizes ECE-1. ECE-1 mRNA was detected in granulosa cells of large (10 mm) and medium (3 mm) antral follicles. This study, in conjunction with previous studies suggests a novel autocrine role of ET-1 as a possible local ovarian factor of follicular development. ET-1 may play a role during prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha-induced luteal regression in the cow. Effects of PGF2 alpha treatment were examined during early and mid-luteal phases on ECE-1, ETA and ET-1 of bovine corpora lutea (CL). Semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate mRNA encoding ECE-1, ETA and ET-1. ECE-1 and ETA proteins were evaluated by semi-quantitative Western Blotting. ET-1 was the most likely target for PGF2 alpha regulation during the mid-luteal phase CL.
Recommended Citation
Wright, Marietta Felicidad, "Studies of the mammalian ovarian endothelin system" (2001). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 1332.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/1332