Ovarian steroids modulate tumor necrosis factor-α and nitric oxide-regulated prostaglandin secretion by cultured bovine oviductal epithelial cells.

Ovarian steroids assure an optimum environment for the final maturation of oocytes, gamete transport, fertilization, and early embryonic development. The aim of experiment 1 was to examine the influence of ovarian steroids on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)- or nitric oxide (NO)-regulated prostaglandin (PG), and nitrite/nitrate (NO₂/NO₃) secretion by cultured bovine oviductal epithelial cells (BOECs). BOECs were pretreated with 17β-estradiol (E₂; 10⁻⁹ M) and/or progesterone (P₄; 10⁻⁷ M) for 24 h. For the next 24 h, BOECs were treated with TNF-α (10 ng/mL) or spermine nitric oxide complex (NONOate; 10⁻⁵ M). Prostaglandin F(2α) and PGE₂ secretion was measured in medium by ELISA. The pretreatment of cells with P₄ (progesterone), E₂ (17 β-estradiol), or E₂/P₄ augmented TNF-α-induced PGF(2α) and PGE₂ secretion (P < 0.01). The pretreatment of cells with E₂ or E₂/P₄ increased NONOate-induced PGF(2α) and PGE₂ secretion (P < 0.01). TNF-α induced NO₂/NO₃ production by BOECs. The pretreatment of cells with E₂ augmented only TNF-α-induced NO₂/NO₃ production (P < 0.05). The aim of experiment 2 was to examine the influence of TNF-α, NO, and ovarian steroids on the protein content of enzymes specifically involved in PG and NO production, PG synthases, and NO synthases (NOSs). BOECs were treated with TNF-α (10 ng/mL) or NONOate (10⁻⁵ M). TNF-α increased the protein content of PGG/H synthase, PGF synthase, and PGE synthase (P < 0.05) and endothelial and inducible NOSs (P < 0.05). Nitric oxide increased the protein content of PGF synthase, PGE synthase, endothelial NOS, and inducible NOS (P < 0.05). These results show possible linkage between TNF-α and NO, modulated by ovarian steroids, in the regulation of PG synthesis by BOECs that may be important for triggering the process of oviductal contractions.