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Maximal expression of suppressors of cytokine signaling in the rat ovary occurs in late pregnancy

¹ School of Biomedical Sciences² , School of Animal Studies³ Institute for Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia

Correspondence should be addressed to S T Anderson at School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland; Email: stephen.anderson{at}uq.edu.au

Maintenance of the rodent corpus luteum (CL) during pregnancy requires prolactin receptor (PRLR) signal transduction via STAT5. At the end of pregnancy, prostaglandin F2 (PGF₂) induces luteal regression through many mechanisms, including downregulation of PRLR signaling. We have previously shown that a PGF₂ analog upregulates suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins in the CL of day 19 pregnant rats leading to reduced STAT5 signaling. Here, we examined endogenous SOCS expression and STAT5 signaling in the rat ovary during normal pregnancy and luteolysis. The mRNA expression of Socs1, Socs2, and Socs3 and related cytokine-inducible SH2-containing protein (Cish) was low in early pregnancy (day 7), but significantly increased at mid-pregnancy (days 10 and 13) associated with increased endogenous tyrosine phosphorylation (TyrP) of STAT5. In support of the notion that these changes are due to increasing placental lactogen levels at this time, we found that treatment with exogenous PRL on day 7 increased TyrP of STAT5 and induced SOCS mRNA expression, except Socs3. After mid-pregnancy, further significant increases in Socs3 and Cish mRNA expression were observed. Such changes in mRNA expression correlated with protein levels, with protein levels of both SOCS3 and CISH being maximal in late pregnancy (days 19–21). In addition, a significant reduction in TyrP of STAT5 was first observed on day 20, with a further substantial decrease on day 21. Therefore, these results are consistent with the hypothesis that increased SOCS expression in the rat ovary during late pregnancy reduces STAT5 signaling, which may be important in PGF₂-induced luteolysis.