Nuclear Progestin Receptor–mediated Linkage of Blood Coagulation and Ovulation

Abstract Ovulation is a dramatic remodeling process that includes rupture of blood capillaries and clotting, but coagulation is not thought to directly regulate this process. Herein, we report remarkable increases of coagulation factors V (f5, ~3145-fold) and tissue factor (f3a, ~120-fold) in zebrafish ovarian follicle cells during ovulation. This increase was mediated through the nuclear progestin receptor (Pgr), which is essential for ovulation in zebrafish, and was totally abolished in ovarian follicular cells from pgr–/– mutants. In addition, promoter activities of f5 and f3a were significantly enhanced by progestin (DHP) via Pgr. Similar regulation of human F5 promoter activity was induced via human PGRB, suggesting a conserved mechanism. Site-directed mutagenesis of the zebrafish f5 promoter further demonstrated a direct regulation of coagulation factors via progestin response elements. Moreover, a stark increase of erythrocytes occurred in capillaries meshed in wild-type preovulatory follicles but was absent in pgr–/– mutants. Interestingly, anticoagulants significantly inhibited ovulation both in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Furthermore, reduced fecundity was observed in f5+/– female zebrafish. Taken together, our study provides plausible evidence for steroid regulation of coagulation factors, and a new hypothesis for blood clotting–triggered ovulation in vertebrates.