Gene expression data throughout spontaneous functional regression of the rhesus macaque corpus luteum.. Macaca mulatta

Luteolysis of the corpus luteum (CL) during non-fertile cycles involves a cessation of progesterone (P4) synthesis (functional regression) and subsequent structural remodeling. The molecular processes responsible for initiation of luteal regression in the primate CL are poorly defined. Therefore, a genomic approach was utilized to systematically identify differentially expressed genes in the rhesus macaque CL during spontaneous luteolysis. CL were collected prior to (days 10-11 post-LH surge, mid-late [ML] stage) or during (days 14-16, late stage) functional regression. Based on P4 levels, late stage CL were subdivided into functional late (FL, serum P4 > 1.5 ng/ml) and functionally-regressed late (FRL, serum P4 2-fold change; p 1.5 ng/ml were considered to be functional, and those with serum P4 < 0.5 ng/ml were considered to have completed functional regression. Measuring mRNA levels in CL collected from these groups provides a comprehensive analysis of the primate transcriptome throughout the normal period of functional regression in the macaque CL. There were 12 biological replicates: n = 4 per group, 3 groups in total. The mid-late CL were used as the baseline reference for gene expression.