Adropin may regulate ovarian functions by improving antioxidant potential in adult mouse

• Published in: The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology 2024-09, Vol.242, p.106524, Article 106524
• Main Authors: Maurya, Shweta, Tripathi, Shashank, Arora, Taruna, Singh, Ajit
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adropin; Animals; Antioxidant; Antioxidants - metabolism; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Apoptosis - drug effects; Corpus luteum; Corpus Luteum - drug effects; Corpus Luteum - metabolism; Female; hCG; Mice; Ovary; Ovary - drug effects; Ovary - metabolism; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Peptide Hormones - genetics; Peptide Hormones - metabolism; Progesterone - metabolism; Progesterone - pharmacology; Steroidogenesis
• ISSN: 0960-0760; 1879-1220; 1879-1220
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2024.106524

The corpus luteum (CL) is a temporary endocrine gland that synthesizes progesterone. The luteal progesterone plays a central role in the regulation of the estrous cycle as well as the implantation and maintenance of pregnancy. Our previous study showed the expression of adropin and its receptor, GPR19, in the luteal cells and its significant role in luteinization. The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro effect of adropin on hCG-induced ovarian functions in adult mice. We also evaluated the effect of exogenous treatment with adropin on ovarian steroidogenesis and anti-oxidant parameters, with special emphasis on CL function. Our results demonstrated that adropin acts synergistically with hCG to promote ovarian steroidogenesis and survival by increasing the expression of StAR, 3β-HSD, and aromatase proteins and decreasing the BAX/BCL2 ratio. Exogenous adropin treatment increased progesterone production by increasing the expression of GPR19, StAR and 3β-HSD enzymes in the mouse ovary. Also, adropin inhibited the luteal oxidative stress by increasing nuclear translocation of NRF-2 in CL, which resulted in increased HO-1 expression and SOD, catalase activity. Decreased oxidative stress might inhibit the translocation of NF-κB into the nucleus of luteal cells, resulting into increased survival and decreased apoptosis, as evident by decreased lipid peroxidation, BAX/BCL2 ratio, caspase 3, active caspase 3 expression, and TUNEL-positive cells in adropin treated mice. Our findings suggest that adropin can be a promising candidate that can enhance the survivability of the CL. •Adropin acts synergistically with hCG to promote ovarian steroidogenesis and survival.•Adropin enhances antioxidant potential by increasing the expression of NRF-2 and HO-1.•Exogenous adropin administration decreases luteal cell apoptosis.•Adropin inhibits the nuclear translocation of NF-κB while promotes nuclear translocation of NRF-2 in corpus luteum.