International Journal of Molecular and Cellular Medicine
مجله بین المللی سلولی و مولکولی
Int J Mol Cell Med
Medical Sciences
http://ijmcmed.org
1
admin
2251-9637
2251-9645
10.22088/IJMCM.BUMS
en
jalali
1393
3
1
gregorian
2014
6
1
3
3
online
1
fulltext
en
Hypothalamic Expression of Melanocortin-4 Receptor and Agouti-related Peptide mRNAs During the Estrous Cycle of Rats
Other
Other
Original Article
Original Article
Melanocortin- 4 receptor (MC4R) and agouti- related peptide (AgRP) are involved in energy homeostasis in rats. According to MC4R and AgRP effects on luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion, they may influence the estrous cycle of rats. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the expression of MC4R and AgRP mRNAs at different stages of estrous cycle in the rat’s hypothalamus. The estrous cycle stages (proestrus, estrus, metestrus and diestrus) were determined in 20 adult female rats using vaginal smears. The rats were divided into four equal groups (n=5). Four ovariectomized rats were selected as controls two weeks after surgery. Using real- time PCR, relative expressions (compared to controls) of MC4R and AgRP mRNAs in the hypothalamus of rats were compared in four different groups of estrous cycle. The relative expression of MC4R mRNA in the hypothalamus of female rats during proestrus stage was higher than those in other stages (P=0.001). Despite a lower mean of relative expression of AgRP mRNA at proestrus stage, the relative expression of AgRP mRNA of the four stages of estrous cycle did not differ (P>0.05). In conclusion, changes in the relative expression of MC4R and AgRP mRNAs in four stages of rat estrous cycle indicated a stimulatory role of MC4R in the proestrus and preovulatory stages and an inhibitory role of AgRP in gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and LH secretions.
Melanocortin- 4 receptor, agouti- related peptide, hypothalamus, estrous cycle, rat
183
189
http://ijmcmed.org/browse.php?a_code=A-10-212-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1
Mohammad Reza
Zandi
mrzandi_1357@yahoo.com
10031947532846003497
10031947532846003497
No
Department of Animal Sciences, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
Mohammad Reza
Jafarzadeh Shirazi
mrjaafarzadeh@yahoo.com
10031947532846003498
10031947532846003498
No
Department of Animal Sciences, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
Amin
Tamadon
amintamaddon@yahoo.com
10031947532846003499
10031947532846003499
Yes
Transgenic Technology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Amir
Akhlaghi
aakhlaghi@shirazu.ac.ir
10031947532846003500
10031947532846003500
No
Department of Animal Sciences, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
Mohammad Saied
Salehi
saied.salehi@gmail.com
10031947532846003501
10031947532846003501
No
Department of Animal Sciences, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
Ali
Niazi
niazi@shirazu.ac.ir
10031947532846003502
10031947532846003502
No
Biotechnology Research Center, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
Ali
Moghadam
aamoghadam@shirazu.ac.ir
10031947532846003503
10031947532846003503
No
Biotechnology Research Center, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.