Micro-RNA378 (miR-378) regulates ovarian estradiol production by targeting aromatase.

ABSTRACT: Estradiol is a steroid hormone that not only plays an important role in ovarian follicular development but also is associated with many reproductive disorders. Owing to the importance of aromatase in the production of estradiol, the regulation of aromatase gene expression at the transcriptional level has been an extensive area of study for over two decades. However, its regulation at the posttranscriptional level has remained unclear. Here, we show that micro-RNA378 (miR-378) is spatiotemporally expressed in porcine granulosa cells, the cells that generate estradiol in the ovary during follicular development, in an inverse manner compared with the expression of aromatase. In vitro overexpression and inhibition experiments revealed that aromatase expression, and therefore estradiol producti

SUBMITTER: Xu S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3176644 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature