Characterization of presynaptic 5-HT receptors on adrenergic nerves supplying the bovine ovarian follicle

Methiothepin Suppresses Human Ovarian Cancer Cell Growth by Repressing Mitochondrion-Mediated Metabolism and Inhibiting Angiogenesis In Vivo

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. Despite treatment, most patients experience relapse and the 5-year survival rate of ovarian cancer is less than 50%. Serotonin has cell growth-promoting functions in a variety of carcinomas, but the effect of serotonin receptor antagonists on ovarian cancer cells is unknown. In this study, it was confirmed that methiothepin, a serotonin receptor antagonist, suppresses the viability of, and induces apoptosis in, ovarian cancer cells. Methiothepin also induces mitochondrial dysfunction, represented by depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane and increased mitochondrion-specific Ca²⁺ levels, and causes metabolic disruption in cancer cells such as decreased ATP production and oxidative phosphorylation. Methiothepin also interferes with vascular development in transgenic zebrafish embryos. Combination treatment with methiothepin improves the anti-cancer effect of paclitaxel, a standard chemotherapeutic agent. In conclusion, this study revealed that methiothepin is a potential novel therapeutic agent for ovarian cancer treatment.

Human Cumulus Cells in Long-Term In Vitro Culture Reflect Differential Expression Profile of Genes Responsible for Planned Cell Death and Aging-A Study of New Molecular Markers

In the ovarian follicle, maturation of the oocyte increases in the presence of somatic cells called cumulus cells (CCs). These cells form a direct barrier between the oocyte and external environment. Thanks to bidirectional communication, they have a direct impact on the oocyte, its quality and development potential. Understanding the genetic profile of CCs appears to be important in elucidating the physiology of oocytes. Long-term in vitro culture of CCs collected from patients undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation during in vitro fertilization procedure was conducted. Using microarray expression analysis, transcript levels were assessed on day 1, 7, 15, and 30 of culture. Apoptosis and aging of CCs strictly influence oocyte quality and subsequently the outcome of assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Thus, particular attention was paid to the analysis of genes involved in programmed cell death, aging, and apoptosis. Due to the detailed level of expression analysis of each of the 133 analyzed genes, three groups were selected: first with significantly decreased expression during the culture; second with the statistically lowest increase in expression; and third with the highest significant increase in expression. COL3A1, SFRP4, CTGF, HTR2B, VCAM1, TNFRSF11B genes, belonging to the third group, were identified as potential carriers of information on oocyte quality.

Prejunctional alpha 2-adrenoreceptors modulate the stimulated release of noradrenaline in isolated follicle strips from bovine ovaries

1. Strips from the follicle wall of bovine ovaries were incubated in Krebs-Ringer solution containing 3H-noradrenaline for measurement of transmitter liberation during electrical field stimulation (5 Hz frequency, 1 ms pulse duration, 10 V between the electrodes). The effects of noradrenaline as well as selective alpha-adrenoreceptor agonists and antagonists were studied on the electrically induced efflux of radioactivity. 2. Noradrenaline (1 microM) inhibited the stimulated release of radioactivity. The alpha 2-adrenoreceptor agonist, oxymetazoline, significantly reduced the release of radioactivity in concentrations as low as 0.01 microM. The alpha 1-adrenoreceptor agonist, phenylephrine (0.01-1 microM), was without significant effect. 3. Phentolamine (0.01-1 microM) and the selective alpha 2-adrenoreceptor antagonist, idazoxan (0.01-1 microM) significantly enhanced the electrically evoked release. The alpha 1-adrenoreceptor antagonist, prazosin (0.01-1 microM), was without effect. Idazoxan (0.1 microM) reversed the inhibitory effect of oxymetazoline (0.1 microM). 4. It is concluded that administration of noradrenaline or the alpha 2-adrenoreceptor agonists reduces the release of labelled noradrenaline by acting on prejunctional alpha 2-adrenoreceptors in the noradrenergic nerves distributed in the wall of the bovine ovarian follicle. This is one of several prejunctional receptor mechanisms that modulate the activity of the sympathetic nerves innervating the smooth musculature of the follicle wall.

Serotonin uptake into cerebrovascular nerve fibers of rat, visualization by immunohistochemistry, disappearance following sympathectomy, and release during electrical stimulation

Immunohistochemistry as well as in vitro uptake and release of [3H]5-HT were performed on pial arteries of rat to investigate the nature of 5-HT containing nerve fibers. Immunoreactive fibers were constantly found only in the basilar, vertebral and superior cerebellar arteries, while in the other parts of the circle of Willis, 5-HT immunofluorescent fibers were absent. After systemic treatment with tryptophan following inhibition of monoamine oxidase with nialamide the immunofluorescence intensity was markedly enhanced. The 5-HT immunoreactive fibers disappeared after superior cervical ganglionectomy or intraventricular administration of 6-hydroxydopamine, but persisted after administration of 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine. When isolated vessels were incubated in low concentration of 5-HT (1 nM) together with nialamide, a very dense plexus of 5-HT immunoreactive fibers appeared in all branches of the circle of Willis. Uptake and release experiments were carried out by incubation of arterial preparations with 3 nM [3H]5-HT (together with nialamide), followed by electrical field stimulation, or by exposure to tyramine or 124 mM potassium, all of which induced a 100%-350% increase in the tritium release over prestimulation values. Preincubation with cocaine and bilateral superior cervical ganglionectomy abolished or markedly attenuated the release upon all modes of stimulation. The results suggested that the 5-HT observed by immunohistochemistry in pial arteries is located in sympathetic nerve terminals where it may serve as a neuromodulator that is released during nerve activation.

Partial agonistic activity of GR43175 at the inhibitory prejunctional 5-HT1-like receptor in rat kidney

1. The pharmacological effect of the selective 5-HT receptor agonist GR43175 has been studied in the isolated perfused rat kidney with particular reference to the inhibitory prejunctional 5-HT1-like receptor. 2. GR43175 (1 x 10(-8) to 1 x 10(-5) M) inhibited the electrically evoked release of tritium from renal noradrenergic nerves but did not affect the basal (non-stimulated) release of tritium or perfusion pressure. 3. The inhibitory prejunctional action of GR43175, as well as that of 5-HT, was blocked by methiothepin, suggesting that both agonists act at the inhibitory 5-HT1-like site. 4. GR43175, relative to 5-HT, acted as a weak partial agonist at the inhibitory prejunctional 5-HT1-like receptor and antagonized 5-HT-induced inhibition of tritium release, suggesting again that a common site of action is involved. 5. The results support the conclusion that the 5-HT1-like receptor activated by GR43175 in the rat kidney is very similar to that identified in dog saphenous vein and certain other tissues.

A heterogeneous population of alpha 1-adrenoceptors mediates contraction of the isolated follicle wall from the bovine ovary

Strips from Graafian follicles of bovine ovaries were tested for their contractile response in vitro in order to characterize the type of post-junctional alpha-adrenoceptor involved. Electrically induced contractions were inhibited concentration-dependently by the alpha 1-antagonist, prazosin. Besides noradrenaline the alpha 1-selective agonists, methoxamine and phenylephrine, caused the strips to contract, whereas the alpha 2-selective agonists clonidine, oxymetazoline and B-HT920 were without effect. However, the alpha 1-selective antagonist prazosin gave a line with a slope less than unity in the Schild plots with noradrenaline and methoxamine. From results obtained with or without the presence of two classes of neuronal uptake blockers (desipramine and cocaine) it is concluded that the post-junctional alpha 1-receptor population is inhomogeneous. The regular appearance of the Schild plot obtained with phenylephrine may be due to involvement also of a component of noradrenaline release by this agonist. The pA2 value in the test with phenylephrine was 9.27, with a corresponding kB of 3.81 +/- 1.15 X 10(-10) M.

Is serotonin involved in the ovulatory process of the rat ovary perfused in vitro?

The presence of 5-HT (serotonin) in ovarian tissue and its varying concentrations during the oestrous cycle suggests that it takes part in ovarian function and in the ovulatory process as one of several mediators of the inflammatory-type reaction preceding follicular rupture. With the aid of a recirculating perfusion model, in which the central stimulatory action of 5-HT was avoided, its direct ovarian effect on ovulation was studied using immature, pregnant, mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG)-treated rats. Four out of five ovaries ovulated after the addition of 5-HT to the perfusion medium, though the ovulation rate (0.8 per ovary) did not reach the order of magnitude seen after luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulation (5.4 per ovary). The selective 5-HT2 receptor antagonist, ketanserin, did not significantly reduce the 5-HT induced ovulations, and moreover, reduced the LH-stimulated ovulations. The calcium entry blocker, nifedipine, had no effect on either 5-HT or LH induction ovulations.

GABA suppresses stimulation-induced release of [3H]-noradrenaline from sympathetic nerve fibres in bovine ovarian follicles

1 Strips from the bovine ovarian follicle wall were incubated in Krebs-Ringer solution containing [3H]-noradrenaline in order to saturate sympathetic nerve fibres with radiolabelled transmitter. This allowed the study of field stimulation-evoked transmitter release. 80.3 +/- 3.9% of the tritium released upon stimulation (10 Hz, pulse duration 1 ms, 10 V between the electrodes) was noradrenaline. 2 The stimulated release of tritium was totally blocked in calcium-free, EGTA (1 mM) containing medium or by 1 microM tetrodotoxin. Chemical sympathectomy (6-hydroxydopamine treatment) in vitro reduced the tritium content of the strip by 85%. The neuronal amine uptake blocker desipramine (0.6 microM) was almost equally effective in inhibiting the incorporation of tritium. The extraneuronal amine uptake blocker normetanephrine (10 microM) reduced the tritium content by 30%. Together, the results suggest that the electrically evoked release of tritium reflects the release of [3H]-noradrenaline from sympathetic nerve fibres. 3 gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentration-dependently reduced the electrically evoked tritium release. Also the GABAB-receptor agonist baclofen (30 microM) reduced the stimulated tritium release whereas muscimol (100 microM), a GABAA-receptor agonist, failed to affect the release. 4 The selective GABAA-receptor antagonist bicuculline (3 and 100 microM) did not block the effect of GABA, while 3-amino-1-propanesulphonic acid (3-APA), a blocker of GABAB-receptors reversed the inhibitory effect of GABA. The results suggest that neuronal GABAB-receptors are involved in the GABA-evoked suppression of stimulated noradrenaline release.