Chueh-Ko Yang1, Rick Sai-Chuen Wu2, Cheng-Hsuan Wu3, Theodore Rong-Yei Lin4, Horng-Der Tsai5. 1. Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan, ROC. 2. Department of Anesthesiology, China Medical University and Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC. 3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan, ROC. 4. School of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, Ireland. 5. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: 64420@cch.org.tw.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Sleep deprivation (SD) leads to the disturbance of the estrous cycle. Serotonin, the levels of which increase with SD, has been shown to inhibit luteinizing hormone production and the receptor has been found in the follicles. In this study, the serotonin effect on preovulatory follicular steroidogenesis is investigated and the underlying mechanisms are elucidated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female rats were subjected to SD for a time span of 1-4 days using the dish-over-water-method with a Rechtschaffen apparatus. Serum estradiol and serotonin concentrations were assessed; thereafter, they were evaluated with the effect of serotonin on the estradiol production and steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein expression in a serum-free culture system. Preovulatory follicles were dissected mechanically from the ovaries of 21-day-old rats, which induced follicle growth, and cultured for 24 hours with or without recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the presence or absence of serotonin. RESULTS: SD, led to a significant decrease in serum estradiol concentrations, while serotonin concentrations were significantly elevated (all p < 0.05). Follicles were cultured with a constant dose of FSH (50 mIU/mL) and increasing doses of serotonin, estradiol production was reduced by 20%. The inhibitory effect of serotonin was concentration dependent. The addition of serotonin (0.1 μg/mL) decreased FSH-induced estradiol production and attenuated FSH-stimulated follicular StAR protein expression. The inhibitory effects of serotonin could be reduced by the serotonin receptor antagonist ketanserin. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that decreased serum estradiol concentrations in SD rats may be the result of serotonin-related inhibition of estradiol production and decreased large follicle expression of StAR protein.
OBJECTIVE: Sleep deprivation (SD) leads to the disturbance of the estrous cycle. Serotonin, the levels of which increase with SD, has been shown to inhibit luteinizing hormone production and the receptor has been found in the follicles. In this study, the serotonin effect on preovulatory follicular steroidogenesis is investigated and the underlying mechanisms are elucidated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female rats were subjected to SD for a time span of 1-4 days using the dish-over-water-method with a Rechtschaffen apparatus. Serum estradiol and serotonin concentrations were assessed; thereafter, they were evaluated with the effect of serotonin on the estradiol production and steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein expression in a serum-free culture system. Preovulatory follicles were dissected mechanically from the ovaries of 21-day-old rats, which induced follicle growth, and cultured for 24 hours with or without recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the presence or absence of serotonin. RESULTS: SD, led to a significant decrease in serum estradiol concentrations, while serotonin concentrations were significantly elevated (all p < 0.05). Follicles were cultured with a constant dose of FSH (50 mIU/mL) and increasing doses of serotonin, estradiol production was reduced by 20%. The inhibitory effect of serotonin was concentration dependent. The addition of serotonin (0.1 μg/mL) decreased FSH-induced estradiol production and attenuated FSH-stimulated follicular StAR protein expression. The inhibitory effects of serotonin could be reduced by the serotonin receptor antagonist ketanserin. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that decreased serum estradiol concentrations in SD rats may be the result of serotonin-related inhibition of estradiol production and decreased large follicle expression of StAR protein.
Authors: Mahmoud Suleiman Abu-Samak; Beisan Ali Mohammad; May Ibrahim Abu-Taha; Luai Zidan Hasoun; Shady Helmi Awwad Journal: Am J Mens Health Date: 2017-10-13