Luteinizing hormone induces mouse vas deferens protein expression in the murine ovary

The aim of our study was to isolate and identify novel proteins that are involved in the process of ovulation. To achieve this goal we used the technique of proteome analysis. Comparison of ovary protein patterns, obtained by high resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis from recombinant FSH (rFSH)- and rFSH + human CG (hCG)-treated mice, showed significant differences in protein spot positions and intensities. Subsequent analysis of one of these proteins was performed by mass spectrometry, resulting in the identification of the mouse vas deferens protein (MVDP). MVDP, which was absent in the two-dimensional gel electrophoresis protein pattern of rFSH-primed mice and appeared 3 h after the hCG surge, is a member of the aldo-keto reductase superfamily and was originally identified in the mouse vas deferens. This is the first study describing MVDP expression and regulation by LH in the ovary. Northern blot analysis of female mice tissues showed that mvdp messenger RNA (mRNA) was only present in adrenal glands and in hCG-treated ovaries. In situ hybridization studies localized the mvdp mRNA unequivocally to ovarian thecal and interstitial cells with an expression profile starting already 1.5 h, and decreasing 24 h, after LH treatment. In the adrenal glands, mvdp mRNA was not regulated by LH and localized in the cells of the zona fasciculata. In murine adrenocortical cells, a recent study proposed a detoxifying role of MVDP. MVDP might fulfill the same function in the ovary; however, because of its strong and early transcriptional induction by LH, it is also possible that MVDP catalyses another important step during the cascade of events occurring at the time of ovulation.