Expression of melatonin and its related synthase and membrane receptors in the oestrous corpus luteum and corpus luteum verum of sheep

Melatonin is an important factor involved in regulating reproduction; it is synthesized enzymatically by the sequential action of melatonin-synthesizing enzymes, arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) and hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT), and exerts its biological functions mainly through receptor-mediated action. To evaluate the expression of melatonin, two melatonin-synthesizing enzymes (HIOMT and AANAT), and membrane receptors (MT1 and MT2) in oestrous corpus luteum (CL) and CL verum of sheep (Ovis aries), we performed ELISA, qRT-PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The quantitative results showed that melatonin, HIOMT and AANAT levels in the CL verum were significantly higher than those in oestrous CL (p<0.05), whereas MT1 and MT2 exhibited no change between the oestrous CL and CL verum (p>0.05); moreover, the localization results showed that HIOMT, AANAT, MT1 and MT2 were mainly expressed in large luteal cells (LLCs). In summary, the above results suggested that sheep CL has potential for the synthesis of melatonin; meanwhile, they also suggested that CL is one of the targets of melatonin. These results provide not only a basis for whether sheep CL can synthesize melatonin but also provide a reference for further study on the mechanism of melatonin in the CL.