Expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in the corpus luteum of the rat

The known accumulation of macrophages in corpora lutea (CL) at the time of luteal regression prompted us to investigate whether the chemoattractant protein monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is expressed in the rat CL. On the day of confirmed mating (Day 0 of pregnancy), regressing CL from the previous (nonfertile) estrous cycle contained immunodetectable MCP-1 and numerous monocytes/macrophages, whereas the newly formed CL of pregnancy, within the same ovary, contained little MCP-1 and few monocytes/macrophages. MCP-1 diminished in the regressing CL on Days 3 and 9 of pregnancy, although numerous monocytes/macrophages remained. The CL of pregnancy on Days 3 and 9 of pregnancy contained minimal MCP-1 and relatively few monocytes/macrophages. By Days 17 and 21 of pregnancy, however, prior to parturition and prior to an accumulation of monocytes/macrophages, expression of MCP-1 increased in the CL of pregnancy. Northern blots revealed a resurgence of luteal MCP-1 mRNA on Day 21 of pregnancy: 3805 +/- 1077 on Day 21 vs. 1059 +/- 177 on Day 9 (p < 0.05; expressed as densitometric units relative to beta-actin). In conclusion, the expression of MCP-1 in the rat CL in association with, or preceding, the appearance of monocytes/macrophages at the time of luteal regression is consistent with the known role of MCP-1 as a potent chemoattractant for monocytes/macrophages. This suggests that MCP-1 might have a prominent role in the immunological process of luteal regression.