Thymosin gene expression is modulated by pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin, human chorionic gonadotropin, and prostaglandin F2 alpha in the immature rat ovary.

We have investigated thymosin beta 10 mRNA levels in the PMSG/hCG-treated immature rat ovary. Thymosin beta 10 mRNA was constitutively expressed as a single (greater than 600-nucleotide) abundant transcript in the immature rat ovary. Administration of a single dose (50 IU/rat) of PMSG to immature rats resulted in a gradual increase in steady state ovarian thymosin beta 10 mRNA content detectable as early as 12 h and maximal (2-to 3-fold stimulation above preinjection levels) 48 h after PMSG treatment. Ovarian thymosin beta 10 mRNA levels declined thereafter. In separate experiments treatment of PMSG (50 IU)-primed rats with hCG (25 IU) precipitated a dramatic (80%) inhibition of ambient ovarian thymosin beta 10 protein and thymosin beta 10 mRNA; both parameters remained suppressed for the duration of the hormone-induced pseudopregnancy (15 days). HPLC analysis also indicated the presence in the ovary of thymosin beta 4, a variant member of the same protein family; in general, ovarian thymosin beta 4 levels fluctuated in a manner reciprocal to that exhibited by thymosin beta 10. A luteolytic dose of prostaglandin F2 alpha (500 micrograms/rat) had little impact on ovarian thymosin beta 10 gene expression. These findings show that 1) PMSG stimulation of ovarian thymosin beta 10 biosynthesis involves increased expression of the thymosin beta 10 gene; 2) decreased expression of thymosin beta 10 is associated with luteinization, while increased thymosin beta 4 levels characterize this process; and that 3) thymosin beta 4 and beta 10 are coexpressed in this tissue and may play a significant but, as of yet, undefined role(s) in the ovary.