Ovarian expression, cellular localization, and hormonal regulation of rat secretory phospholipase A2: increased expression by interleukin-1 and by gonadotropins

• Published in: Biology of reproduction 1997-08, Vol.57 (2), p.217-225
• Main Authors: BEN-SHLOMO, I, KOL, S, ANDO, M, RUUTIAINEN ALTMAN, K, PUTOWSKI, L. T, ROHAN, R. M, ADASHI, E. Y
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Culture Media, Conditioned; Culture Techniques; Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - pharmacology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression - drug effects; Granulosa Cells - metabolism; Hormone metabolism and regulation; In Situ Hybridization; Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; Interleukin-1 - pharmacology; Luteinizing Hormone - pharmacology; Mammalian female genital system; Ovary - metabolism; Phospholipases A - analysis; Phospholipases A - genetics; Phospholipases A2; Prostaglandins - metabolism; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Sialoglycoproteins - pharmacology; Tissue Distribution; Vertebrates: reproduction
• ISSN: 0006-3363; 1529-7268
• DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod57.2.217

It has been suggested that ovulation may constitute a cyclic inflammatory-like process and that gonadotropin-inducible intraovarian interleukin (IL)-1, an established mediator of inflammation, may play a central role in this regard. In support of this hypothesis, our group has been able to document the ability of IL-1 to potently stimulate prostaglandin biosynthesis by cultured rat ovarian cells. Herein we explore the possibility that the prostaglandin-stimulating action of IL-1 is due, in part, to the enhanced expression of ovarian secretory phospholipase-A2 (sPLA2). A single sPLA2 transcript of 1.4 kilobases was noted in all extraovarian tissues of immature rat origin subjected to Northern blot analysis. However, only a barely detectable signal was apparent in ovarian tissue. In contrast, the more sensitive RNase protection assay revealed the unequivocal presence of ovarian sPLA2 transcripts. Cellular localization studies by way of in situ hybridization documented sPLA2 transcripts primarily in the granulosa cell of the periovulatory ovary. Molecular probing of untreated cultured whole ovarian dispersates disclosed spontaneous elaboration of sPLA2 transcripts as early as 20 h after the introduction of cells into culture. Treatment of cultured whole ovarian dispersates with IL-1beta for 48 h produced a 1.7-fold increase (over the value in untreated controls) in the relative expression of sPLA2 transcripts (p < 0.01) along with a 1.7-fold increase in media PLA2 activity (p < 0.01). A more marked increase was documented for IL-1beta-treated cultured isolated granulosa cells (12.5-fold increase, p < 0.001). Treatment of whole ovarian dispersates with an IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) produced a reduction in the basal expression of sPLA2 transcripts (55% at the 5 microg/ml dose level; p < 0.01) and PLA2 activity (40%; p < 0.01), thereby suggesting basal endogenous IL-1-like bioactivity. Treatment of cultured whole ovarian dispersates with either hCG or FSH led to 2.6-fold (p = 0.056) and 3-fold (p = 0.029) increases in the abundance of sPLA2 transcripts, respectively, effects blocked by the concurrent presence of IL-1RA. These observations 1) document the immature rat ovary as a site of sPLA2 gene expression, 2) localize the relevant transcripts to the postovulatory granulosa cell, 3) confirm the presence of functional secreted ovarian PLA2 activity, 4) reveal PLA2 expression to be IL-1- and gonadotropin-dependent, and 5) suggest the existence of endogenou