Spexin Expression in Porcine Corpus Luteum, Its Regulation and Modulatory Effect on Steroidogenesis

Spexin (SPX) is adipokine linked with the regulation of metabolism and reproduction. However, its role in the corpus luteum (CL) is unknown. Our aim was to determine the expression of SPX and galanin receptor 2 and 3 (GALR2/3), in the porcine CL during the luteal phase, its regulation and the effect of SPX on the luteal steroidogenesis. We demonstrated that SPX was higher at the mRNA level in the middle and late luteal phases, opposite to GALR2, while GALR3 protein was decreased with luteal phase progression. We observed SPX and its receptors in the cytoplasm of small and large luteal cells. Insulin, luteinizing hormone, and progesterone (P4) stimulated SPX and GALR2 mRNA levels, while prostaglandin F2 decreased the GALR2 transcript. Moreover, SPX decreased P4 secretion by reducing HSD3B protein levels via GALR2 and protein kinase A and directly stimulated STAR, CYP11A1, and aromatase protein expression with no effect on oestradiol secretion. SPX increased GALR2 protein levels, mitogen-activated kinase phosphorylation, and inhibited protein kinase B while modulating protein kinase A phosphorylation. To sum up, SPX is a new, important factor in luteal cell function by regulating steroid synthesis and may be an important player in metabolically related fertility control.