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Updated: Jan 26, 2026

Culture and Co-Culture of Mouse Ovaries and Ovarian Follicles
Published on: March 17, 2015
Gonadotropin regulates NUCB2/nesfatin-1 expression in the mouse ovary and uterus
Jinhee Kim1, Sojung Sun1, Darae Lee1
1Department of Bioenvironmental Technology, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul Women's University, Seoul 01797, South Korea.
Abstract:
NUCB2/nesfatin-1 is expressed in the hypothalamus and regulates food intake and energy metabolism. Recent studies showed that NUCB2/nesfatin-1 also plays a role in other organs. However, its expression pattern and function in female reproductive organs are unclear. Therefore, we investigated NUCB2/nesfatin-1 expression in the ovary and uterus of mice and determined whether it is regulated by gonadotropins and sex steroid hormones. NUCB2 mRNA and nesfatin-1 protein were detected in the ovary and uterus of mice. NUCB2/nesfatin-1 expression in both organs was highest in the estrus period of the estrus cycle. Administration of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) dose-dependently increased mRNA expression of NUCB2 in the ovary and uterus of mice. On the other hand, mRNA expression of NUCB2 in the uterus was dramatically decreased after ovariectomy and was not increased upon administration of PMSG. Injection of 17β-estradiol upregulated mRNA expression of NUCB2 in the uterus of ovariectomized mice, whereas injection of progesterone did not. These results suggest that NUCB2/nesfatin-1 expression in the ovary and uterus of mice is regulated through the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis and that NUCB2/nesfatin-1 is a local regulator of ovarian steroidogenesis and uterine function.
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