Objective: To analyze the role of the local renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the female reproductive system to modulate ovarian steroidogenesis and its relationship with alpha(1)adrenergic receptors.
Design: Observational study.
Setting: University laboratory.
Animal(s): Adult female Wistar rats treated with doxazosin (10 mg/kg) or vehicle for 15 days.
Intervention(s): Samples from the whole right ovary were dissected after perfusion with saline. The soluble and membrane-bound fractions were obtained from these samples. Also, blood samples were used to obtain the serum.
Main outcome measure(s): Fluorometric measurement of soluble and membrane-bound RAS-regulating proteolytic regulatory enzyme activities by using arylamide derivatives as substrates. Time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay of serum E(2) and P.
Result(s): alpha(1)Adrenergic receptor blockade increases ovarian soluble and membrane-bound aminopeptidase A and decreases membrane-bound aminopeptidase N and aminopeptidase B. Furthermore, serum P levels increased, whereas serum E(2) did not change.
Conclusion(s): Ovarian P production, at least in the rat, is regulated by noradrenaline through a mechanism of action in which the RAS is involved, with a main role for angiotensin III.