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Ovarian kisspeptin expression is related to age and to monocyte chemoattractant protein-1

  • Reproductive Physiology and Disease
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that ovarian kisspeptin (kiss1) and its receptor (kiss1r) expression are affected by age, obesity, and the age- and obesity-related chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1).

Methods

Ovaries from reproductive-aged and older C57BL/6J mice fed normal chow (NC) or high-fat (HF) diet, ovaries from age-matched young MCP-1 knockout and young control mice on NC, and finally, cumulus and mural granulosa cells (GCs) from women who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) were collected. Kiss1, kiss1r, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), and AMH receptor (AMHR-II) messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels were quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results

In mouse ovaries, kiss1 and kiss1r mRNA levels were significantly higher in old compared to reproductive-aged mice, and diet-induced obesity did not alter kiss1 or kiss1r mRNA levels. Compared to young control mice, young MCP-1 knockout mice had significantly lower ovarian kiss1 mRNA but significantly higher AMH and AMHR-II mRNA levels. In human cumulus GCs, kiss1r mRNA levels were positively correlated with age but not with BMI. There was no expression of kiss1 mRNA in either cumulus or mural GCs.

Conclusion

These data suggest a possible age-related physiologic role for the kisspeptinergic system in ovarian physiology. Additionally, the inflammatory MCP-1 may be associated with kiss1 and AMH genes, which are important in ovulation and folliculogenesis, respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Biology, New York University School of Medicine, 180 Varick Street, sixth floor, New York, NY, 10014, USA

    Zaher Merhi

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, USA

    Kimberley Thornton, Maureen J. Charron & Erkan Buyuk

  3. Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA

    Elizabeth Bonney & Marilyn J. Cipolla

  4. Department of Neurological Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA

    Marilyn J. Cipolla

  5. Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, USA

    Maureen J. Charron

  6. Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, USA

    Maureen J. Charron

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  1. Zaher Merhi
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  2. Kimberley Thornton
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  3. Elizabeth Bonney
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  4. Marilyn J. Cipolla
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Correspondence to Zaher Merhi.

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Grant from Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc. to Z.M. and the American Diabetes Association to M.J.C.

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Capsule

These data suggest a possible age-related physiologic role for the kisspeptinergic system in ovarian physiology.

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Merhi, Z., Thornton, K., Bonney, E. et al. Ovarian kisspeptin expression is related to age and to monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. J Assist Reprod Genet 33, 535–543 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-016-0672-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-016-0672-x

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