Role of Ghrelin on Estrogen and Progesterone Secretion in the Adult Rat Ovary During Estrous Cycle

Figures & data

Table 1. Serum level of E₂ (mean ± SD) after i.c.v. injection of ghrelin in rats during the estrus cycle.

Group	proestrus(pg/mL)	estrus(pg/mL)	metestrus(pg/mL)	diestrus(pg/mL)
Control (0 nmol)	8.40 ± 1.84	5.62 ± 1.21	4.16 ± 0.34	3.82 ± 0.56
Ghrelin (3 nmol)	3.82 ± 1.13*	3.54 ± 0.65*	1.83 ± 0.41*	1.43 ± 0.59*

*indicates significant difference between control and ghrelin injected group ( P < 0.05)

Table 2. Serum level of P₄ (mean ± SD) after i.c.v. injection of ghrelin in rats during the estrus cycle.

Group	Proestrus (ng/mL)	estrus (ng/mL)	metestrus (ng/mL)	diestrus (ng/mL)
Control (0 nmol)	32.02 ± 7.65	11.93 ± 1.88	27.75 ± 3.44	56.05 ± 12.70
Ghrelin (3 nmol)	25.61 ± 5.67	10.05 ± 2.28	13.68 ± 2.63*	42.02 ± 7.56

*indicates significant difference between control and ghrelin injected group ( P < 0.05)

Figure 1.  A) Levels of ER_β mRNA in the ovary after i.c.v. injection of ghrelin during the estrus cycle. The RNA levels during proestrus, estrus, metestrus, and diestrus are compared to the saline control following ghrelin administration. B) Expression of PR_A+B mRNA in the ovary after i.c.v. injection of ghrelin in rats during the estrus cycle. *indicates significant difference between control and ghrelin injected group (P < 0.05)

Table 3. Real-time PCR primer and size of the amplification products of target genes (ER_β,PR_A+B) and housekeeping (β- actin).

Gene	Forward primer, 5′-3'	Reverse primer, 5'-3'	Product, bp
ERβ	GGCACAACTGCTCCCACT	GTCTCCTTTAGCGACCCA	145
PRA+B	AATCAGGGTTATCTGGTCATC	GGTTCCGCCACTCATCAA	205
β- actin	CAGTGGTTGACCCTGCTA	TGTTGTCCCTGTATGCCT	208