Effects of RFRP‑3 on an ovariectomized estrogen‑primed rat model and HEC‑1A human endometrial carcinoma cells

. The hypothalamic peptide gonadotropin inhibi‑ tory hormone (GnIH) is a relatively novel hypothalamic neuropeptide, identified in 2000. It can influence the hypothalamic‑pituitary‑gonadal axis and reproductive func‑ tion through various neuroendocrine systems. The present study aimed to explore the effects and potential under‑ lying molecular mechanism of RFamide‑related peptide‑3 (RFRP‑3) injection on the uterine fluid protein profile of ovariectomized estrogen‑primed (OEP) rats using proteomics. In addition, the possible effects of RFRP‑3 on the viability and apoptosis of the human endometrial cancer cell line HEC‑1A and associated molecular mechanism were investi‑ gated. The OEP rat model was established through injection with GnIH/RFRP‑3 through the lateral ventricle. At 6 h after injection, the protein components of uterine fluid of rats in the experimental and control groups were analyzed using liquid chromatography (LC)‑tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were analyzed using the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases. Protein‑protein interac‑ tions (PPI) were investigated using the STRING database. PPI networks were then established before hub proteins were selected using OmicsBean software. The expression of one of the hub proteins, Kras, was then detected using western blot analysis. Cell Counting Kit‑8, Annexin V‑FITC/PI, reverse