Expression and Regulation of Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide in Rat Placental Cells

In this study, we used primary cultures of placental tissues from rats of 16 to 18 days gestation and examined the regulation and function of PACAP. The PACAP messenger RNA (mRNA) expression and PACAP-immunoreactive cells were detected in primary cultures of rat placental cells. The PACAP mRNA expression in placental cells was upregulated in the presence of the sex steroids estradiol and progesterone; however, their combined treatment failed to enhance their individual effects. When the cells were stimulated with kisspeptin, PACAP mRNA expression was increased. Similarly, GnRH had a stimulatory effect on PACAP expression. Conversely, kisspeptin expression in placental cells was increased by PACAP stimulation, whereas PACAP failed to stimulate GnRH mRNA expression in these cells. Finally, we found that PACAP had a stimulatory effect on human chorionic gonadotropin expression in placental cells. Our current observations suggest that the hypothalamic peptides PACAP, kisspeptin, and GnRH are interrelated and maintain placental functions.
Source: Reproductive Sciences - Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research