PMID- 11277879
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20010719
LR  - 20191104
IS  - 1470-1626 (Print)
IS  - 1470-1626 (Linking)
VI  - 121
IP  - 4
DP  - 2001 Apr
TI  - Immunolocalization of steroidogenic enzymes in the corpus luteum and placenta of 
      the Japanese black bear, Ursus thibetanus japonicus, during pregnancy.
PG  - 587-94
AB  - The Japanese black bear, Ursus thibetanus japonicus, is a seasonal breeder and 
      shows delayed implantation for several months during pregnancy. The objective of 
      this study was to clarify the steroidogenic capability of the corpus luteum and 
      placenta during pregnancy, including both delayed implantation and fetal 
      development, by immunolocalization of steroidogenic enzymes in these organs of 
      the Japanese black bear. Ovaries and placentae from 15 wild Japanese black bears, 
      which had been killed legally by hunters and were thought to be pregnant, were 
      used in an immunocytochemical study to localize the cholesterol side chain 
      cleavage cytochrome P450 (P450scc), 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 
      (3betaHSD), 17alpha-hydroxylase cytochrome P450 (P450c17) and aromatase 
      cytochrome P450 (P450arom) by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method using 
      polyclonal antisera raised in mammals against P450scc, 3betaHSD, P450c17 and 
      P450arom. P450scc and 3betaHSD were localized in all luteal cells throughout 
      pregnancy. P450c17 was present in a few luteal cells, especially in the outer 
      area of the corpus luteum throughout pregnancy, but the number of positively 
      immunostained cells decreased during the post-implantation period. Cells 
      positively immunostained for P450c17 were significantly smaller than negatively 
      immunostained cells (P < 0.01). P450arom was present sporadically in a few luteal 
      cells throughout pregnancy, but the number of positively immunostained cells 
      decreased during the post-implantation period. The size of cells positively 
      immunostained for P450arom was not significantly different from that of 
      negatively immunostained cells. The whole placenta was negatively immunostained 
      for P450scc, 3betaHSD and P450c17, but P450arom was present in the 
      syncytiotrophoblasts and endothelial cells of maternal blood vessels. These 
      results indicate that, in the Japanese black bear, corpora lutea are a source of 
      progesterone which may play an important role in the maintenance of delayed 
      implantation and fetal development during pregnancy. Corpora lutea have a minimum 
      capability to synthesize androgen in small luteal cells and oestrogen in 
      normal-sized luteal cells during pregnancy, and placentae have the ability to 
      synthesize oestrogen during late pregnancy.
FAU - Tsubota, T
AU  - Tsubota T
AD  - Laboratory of Theriogenology, Faculty of Agriculture, Gifu University, Gifu 
      501-11, Japan. tsubota@cc.gifu-u.ac.jp
FAU - Taki, S
AU  - Taki S
FAU - Nakayama, K
AU  - Nakayama K
FAU - Mason, J I
AU  - Mason JI
FAU - Kominami, S
AU  - Kominami S
FAU - Harada, N
AU  - Harada N
FAU - Kita, I
AU  - Kita I
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PL  - England
TA  - Reproduction
JT  - Reproduction (Cambridge, England)
JID - 100966036
RN  - 0 (Steroids)
RN  - EC 1.1.- (3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases)
RN  - EC 1.14.- (Steroid Hydroxylases)
RN  - EC 1.14.14.1 (Aromatase)
RN  - EC 1.14.14.19 (Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase)
RN  - EC 1.14.15.6 (Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme)
SB  - IM
MH  - 3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases/analysis
MH  - Animals
MH  - Aromatase/analysis
MH  - Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme/analysis
MH  - Corpus Luteum/*enzymology
MH  - Embryo Implantation
MH  - Embryonic and Fetal Development
MH  - Female
MH  - Immunoenzyme Techniques
MH  - Ovary/enzymology
MH  - Placenta/*enzymology
MH  - Pregnancy
MH  - Seasons
MH  - Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase/biosynthesis
MH  - Steroid Hydroxylases/analysis
MH  - Steroids/*biosynthesis
MH  - Trophoblasts/enzymology
MH  - Ursidae/*metabolism
EDAT- 2001/03/30 10:00
MHDA- 2001/07/20 10:01
CRDT- 2001/03/30 10:00
PHST- 2001/03/30 10:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2001/07/20 10:01 [medline]
PHST- 2001/03/30 10:00 [entrez]
AID - 10.1530/rep.0.1210587 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Reproduction. 2001 Apr;121(4):587-94. doi: 10.1530/rep.0.1210587.