Role of the 5'AMP-activated protein kinase in reproduction: a possible involvement in the central regulation

摘要

The 5'AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an enzyme regulating cellular energy homeostasis (Carling et al 1987) It allows cells to adapt to nutrient deprivation in vitro. We have recently characterised AMPK in mammalian and avian ovary and showed that its activation by some pharmacological agents such as 5-aminoimdazole-4-carboxamide-1-beta-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR) or Metformin modulated granulosa cell steroidogenesis (Tosca et al., 2005, 2006 and 2007). Thus AMPK could act directly at the ovarianlevel in order to regulate the functions of reproduction and the interactions reproduction/nutrition. Since AMPK is present and regulates food intake m the hypothalamus (Kim et al, 2004), we hypothesised that this kinase could also act upstream ot the gonadal axis at the central level (brain and pituitary). We checked this hypothesis by using m vivo and in vitro approaches.