C型利钠肽及其受体在水牛卵泡中的表达分析

为了探明C型利钠肽（C-type natriuretic peptide,CNP）及其受体（natriuretic peptide receptor,NPR）在水牛卵泡中的表达模式,本研究首先采用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测水牛卵巢中利钠肽家族主要成员A型、B型、C型利钠肽（ANP、BNP、CNP）及其Ⅰ型、Ⅱ型受体（NPR1、NPR2）的mRNA表达情况,然后利用免疫组化技术对水牛卵泡中CNP及NPR2蛋白进行定位,最后利用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测颗粒细胞和卵丘细胞中CNP及NPR2的mRNA表达规律。结果显示,水牛卵巢主要表达CNP及NPR2,且在各级卵泡中均有表达,其中,CNP主要在壁层颗粒细胞中表达,NPR2主要在卵丘细胞中表达;颗粒细胞上CNP mRNA表达水平显著高于卵母细胞周围的卵丘细胞（P<0.05）,而卵丘细胞上NPR2 mRNA表达水平显著高于颗粒细胞（P<0.05）。综上所述,在利钠肽主要家族成员和受体中,CNP和NPR2在水牛卵巢中呈现强表达,CNP主要在壁层颗粒细胞中表达,而NPR2主要在卵母细胞周围的卵丘细胞中表达。     

水牛水通道蛋白8基因克隆及表达分析

In this study, buffalo AQP8 gene was cloned and its eukaryotic expression vector was constructed, the expression pattern of AQP8 gene in buffalo ovary tissue was also assayed. The results showed that the CDS length of cloned buffalo AQP8 gene was 732 bp, and it shared 100% homology of amino acid sequence with cattle and mouse. AQP8 protein was detected in different developmental stages of buffalo follicles, it had significantly higher expression in the secondary follicles than that of in the primordial and the primary follicles (P＜0.05), and it mainly expressed in the granulosa cells of the secondary follicles. Clear EGFP green fluorescent was observed in transfected cell groups with transfection of the pEGFP-N1-AQP8 eukaryotic expression plasmid into HEK293T cells by Lipofectamine^R LTX and PLUS^TM reagent. The above results lay foundation to further investigate the function of AQP8 gene in the buffalo follicle development and granulosa cell apopotosis.     

多浪羊CNP基因克隆及其在初情期组织表达特性分析

【目的】 克隆多浪羊C型利钠肽(CNP)基因,并进行生物信息学分析,探讨其在多浪羊初情期启动前后下丘脑、垂体、输卵管、卵巢、子宫中的表达规律,以期为研究CNP基因在多浪羊初情期启动过程中的作用机制提供参考。【方法】 参考GeneBank中绵羊CNP基因的序列(登录号:XM_027974523.1)设计引物,以初情期前、初情期、初情期后的多浪羊为试验对象,采用RT-PCR技术扩增多浪羊CNP基因并进行克隆测序;用DNAMAN软件同其他物种进行相似性比对,并使用Mega 5.0构建系统发育树。用生物信息学软件分析CNP基因的核苷酸序列及其编码蛋白的疏水性、信号肽、磷酸化位点、跨膜结构域等理化性质和二级结构、三级结构信息;用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测多浪羊下丘脑、垂体、输卵管、卵巢、子宫中CNP基因的表达量。【结果】 多浪羊CNP基因序列大小为2 227 bp,其中包括5'-UTR 50 bp、3'-UTR 914 bp和CDS区1 263 bp。相似性比对和系统发育树结果显示,多浪羊与山羊的亲缘关系最近,与鸡的亲缘关系最远;多浪羊CNP基因共编码420个氨基酸,其编码蛋白是亲水性蛋白质,无跨膜结构域和信号肽。多浪羊CNP蛋白的二级结构主要是α-螺旋和无规则卷曲;三级结构预测显示CNP蛋白无配体结构;实时荧光定量PCR结果显示,在初情期启动的3个发育阶段,下丘脑中CNP基因表达量显著高于其他组织(P<0.05);初情期下丘脑中CNP基因的表达量显著低于初情期前(P<0.05);子宫中初情期前CNP基因的表达量显著高于初情期和初情期后(P<0.05)。【结论】 本研究成功克隆了多浪羊CNP基因,其主要在下丘脑和子宫中表达;在初情期前、初情期、初情期后的发育过程中,下丘脑组织中CNP基因的表达量先降低再升高,提示CNP基因可能在初情期的启动过程中参与调控。     

Effect of growth differentiation factor‐9 (GDF‐9) on the progression of buffalo follicles in vitrified–warmed ovarian tissues

To improve the reproductive performance of water buffalo to level can satisfy our needs, the mechanisms controlling ovarian follicular growth and development should be thoroughly investigated. Therefore, in this study, the expressions of growth differentiation factor‐9 (GDF‐9) in buffalo ovaries were examined by immunohistochemistry, and the effects of GDF‐9 treatment on follicle progression were investigated using a buffalo ovary organ culture system. Frozen–thawed buffalo ovarian follicles within slices of ovarian cortical tissue were cultured for 14 days in the presence or absence of GDF‐9. After culture, ovarian slices were fixed, sectioned and stained. The follicles were morphologically analysed and counted. Expression pattern of GDF‐9 was detected in oocytes from primordial follicles onwards, besides, also presented in granulosa cells. Moreover, GDF‐9 was detected in mural granulosa cells and theca cells of pre‐antral follicles. In antral follicles, cumulus cells and theca cells displayed positive expression of GDF‐9. In corpora lutea, GDF‐9 was expressed in both granulosa and theca lutein cells. After in vitro culture, there was no difference in the number of primordial follicles between cultured plus GDF‐9 and cultured control that indicated the GDF‐9 treatment has no effect on the primordial to primary follicle transition. GDF‐9 treatment caused a significant decrease in the number of primary and secondary follicles compared with controls accompanied with a significant increase in pre‐antral and antral follicles. These results suggest that a larger number of primary and secondary follicles were stimulated to progress to later developmental stages when treated with GDF‐9. Vitrification/warming of buffalo ovarian tissue had a little remarkable effect, in contrast to culturing for 14 days, on the expression of GDF‐9. In conclusion, treatment with GDF‐9 was found to promote progression of primary follicle that could provide an alternative approach to stimulate early follicle development and to improve therapies for the most common infertility problem in buffaloes (ovarian inactivity).     

Natriuretic peptide system regulation in granulosa cells during follicle deviation and ovulation in cattle

Natriuretic peptides (NPs) are known to regulate reproductive events in polyovulatory species, but their function and regulation in monovulatory species remain to be fully characterized. Using a well‐established in vivo model, we found that bovine granulosa cells from follicles near the deviation stage express mRNA for the three NP receptors (NPR1, NPR2 and NPR3), but not for NP precursors (NPPA, NPPB and NPPC). The abundance of NPR3 mRNA was higher in dominant compared to subordinate follicles at the expected time of follicular deviation. After deviation, mRNA for all NP receptors was significantly more abundant in the dominant follicle. Intrafollicular inhibition of oestrogen receptors downregulated NPR1 mRNA in dominant follicles. In granulosa cells from preovulatory follicles, NPPC mRNA increased at 3 and 6 h after systemic GnRH treatment, but decreased at 12 and 24 h to similar levels observed in samples collected at 0 h. After GnRH treatment, NPR1 mRNA was upregulated at 24 h, NPR3 mRNA gradually decreased after 3 h, while NPR2 mRNA was not regulated. The mRNA expression of the enzyme FURIN increased at 24 h after GnRH treatment. These findings revealed that the expression of mRNA encoding important components of the NP system is regulated in bovine granulosa cells during follicular deviation and in response to GnRH treatment, which suggests a role of NP system in the modulation of these processes in monovulatory species.     

The localization and expression of epidermal growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptor in bovine ovary during oestrous cycle

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is one of the important regulatory factors of EGF family. EGF has been indicated to effectively inhibit the apoptosis of follicular cells, to promote the proliferation of granulosa cells and the maturation of oocytes, and to induce ovulation process via binding to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). However, little is known about the distribution and expression of EGF and EGFR in cattle ovary especially during oestrous cycle. In this study, the localization and expression rule of EGF and EGFR in cattle ovaries of follicular phase and luteal phase at different time points in oestrous cycle were investigated by using IHC and real-time qPCR. The results showed that EGF and EGFR in cattle ovary were mainly expressed in granulosa cells, cumulus cells, oocytes, zona pellucida, follicular fluid and theca folliculi externa of follicles. The protein and mRNA expression of EGF/EGFR in follicles changed regularly with the follicular growth wave both in follicular and in luteal phase ovaries. In follicular phase ovaries, the protein expression of EGF and EGFR was higher in antral follicles than that of those in other follicles during follicular growth stage, and the mRNA expression of EGFR was also increased in stage of dominant follicle selection. However, in luteal phase ovaries, the growth of follicles was impeded during corpus luteum development under the action of progesterone secreted by granular lutein cell. The mRNA and protein expressions of EGF and EGFR in ovarian follicles during oestrous cycle indicate that they play a role in promoting follicular development in follicular growth waves and mediating the selection process of dominant follicles.     

猪各级卵泡内EGF mRNA表达的研究

研究EGF mRNA在猪各级卵泡内的表达。采用RT－PCR技术检测猪大卵泡，中卵泡和小卵泡中，以及各级卵泡卵母细胞和颗粒细胞中EGF的mRNA的表达。结果表明大卵泡，中卵泡和小卵泡中都有EGF的mRNA表达，但看不出明显的强弱变化，卵母细胞和颗粒细胞中也有表达，且从小卵泡到中卵泡到大卵泡有明显减少的趋势，卵母细胞比颗粒细胞表达强烈。进一步证实EGF在猪卵泡及卵母细胞发育中起着重要作用。     

RT-PCR技术检测绵羊卵巢内Ghrelin的表达

为了明确Ghrelin在绵羊卵巢有腔卵泡上是否存在表达,本研究利用实时定量RT-PCR技术检测了绵羊卵巢有腔卵泡内的卵母细胞、卵丘细胞和壁层颗粒细胞的Ghrelin蛋白的表达量情况。结果揭示绵羊卵巢有腔卵泡内各类型细胞Ghrelin mRNA的相对表达量大致相同。绵羊卵巢有腔卵泡内各类型细胞Ghrelin蛋白的表达及Ghrelin mRNA的表达模式,尤其是卵母细胞中的表达,揭示这一新型分子在绵羊卵巢上具有潜在的调控作用。     

Gene expression and immunolocalization of fibroblast growth factor 2 in the ovary and its effect on the in vitro culture of caprine preantral ovarian follicles

This study quantified Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) mRNA and localized FGF-2 protein in different categories of follicles isolated from goat ovaries. In addition, we verified the effects of this factor on the in vitro culture of preantral follicles isolated from goats. For mRNA quantification, we performed real-time PCR using primordial, primary and secondary follicles, as well as cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) and mural granulosa and theca cells of small and large antral follicles. For FGF-2 protein localization, the ovaries were subjected to conventional immunohistochemical procedures. Preantral follicles were isolated and cultured in vitro for 12 days in either control (basic) or supplemented with FGF-2 medium. The expression of FGF-2 mRNA was detected in all categories of follicles and there was no difference in preantral follicles and COCs or granulosa/theca cells from small and large antral follicles. However, in large antral follicles, COCs showed expression levels significantly lower than in granulosa/theca cells (p < 0.05). We observed moderate expression of FGF-2 protein in preantral follicles but not in granulosa cells of primordial follicles and theca cells of secondary follicles. In both small and large antral follicles, strong, moderate and weak staining was observed in oocytes, granulosa and theca cells, respectively. The addition of FGF-2 caused a significant increase in the daily follicular growth rate compared to the control group. We conclude that FGF-2 mRNA is expressed throughout follicular development and that its protein can be found in different patterns in preantral and antral follicles. Furthermore, FGF-2 increases the follicular growth rate in vitro.     

Mechanism of C-type Natriuretic Peptide Regulating Lipid Deposition of Intramuscular Adipocytes in Chickens

The aim of this study was to investigate the regulatory effect and mechanism of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) on the proliferation,differentiation and lipolysis of intramuscular preadipocytes (IMPs) in breast muscle of chickens,and lay a foundation on further elucidating the molecular mechanism of intramuscular fat deposition in chickens.The IMPs of breast muscle in Yellow-feathered broilers were used as the model in vitro,the preadipocytes were induced by 10^-7 mol/L CNP.The proliferation,differentiation and lipolysis of IMPs were observed by CCK8,Edu staining,Oil Red O staining and isopropanol extraction,respectively.The concentration of cGMP and glycerin were detected by cGMP and glycerin kit,respectively.The expression of NPRA,NPRB and NPRC genes mRNA was detected by Real-time quantitative PCR.The results showed that compared with control group,the cell proliferation in CNP treatment group was enhanced significantly at 1 and 3 d (P<0.05).The cell differentiation and lipid deposition were extremely significantly decreased at 3 and 6 d (P<0.01),the intracellular cGMP concentration and glycerin concentration in the medium at 3 and 6 d were extremely significantly increased (P<0.01).The expression of NPRB and NPRC genes mRNA in CNP treatment group was extremely significantly or significantly higher than control group (P<0.01;P<0.05),and the expression of NPRA gene mRNA had no significant difference (P>0.05).The results revealed that CNP regulated the lipid deposition of intramuscular adipocytes through NPRB/NPRC-cGMP pathway in chickens.     

水牛卵丘细胞和颗粒细胞单层对卵母细胞体外受精及其胚胎发育的影响

[目的]探讨卵丘细胞对水牛卵母细胞体外成熟、体外受精及颗粒细胞单层对水牛体外胚胎发育的影响。[方法]①按卵母细胞有无卵丘细胞情况分为五个组：即自然裸卵组（Ⅰ组）、自然裸卵＋卵丘细胞共成熟组（Ⅱ组）、人为裸卵＋卵丘细胞共成熟组（Ⅲ组）、AB级卵母细胞成熟后去除卵丘细胞受精组（Ⅳ组）、AB级卵母细胞对照组（Ⅴ组）分别进行体...     

C-型利钠肽调控鸡肌内脂肪细胞脂肪沉积的作用机制研究

本研究旨在探讨C型利钠肽（CNP）对鸡胸肌组织肌内前脂肪细胞的增殖、分化和分解的调控作用及机制，为进一步阐明肌内脂肪沉积的分子机制奠定基础。以黄羽肉鸡胸肌组织的肌内前脂肪细胞作为体外研究模型，利用10^-7 mol/L CNP激素外源诱导前脂肪细胞，采用CCK8、Edu染色法观察肌内前脂肪细胞增殖的变化，油红O染色和异丙醇萃取法观察脂肪分化和沉积的变化；利用试剂盒检测细胞内cGMP及甘油浓度变化；实时荧光定量PCR检测利钠肽受体A、B、C（NPRA、NPRB和NPRC）的表达变化。结果显示，与对照组相比，CNP诱导前脂肪细胞1和3 d后，细胞的增殖能力显著升高（P<0.05）；CNP诱导3和6 d后，诱导组脂肪细胞的分化和脂滴沉积能力极显著降低（P<0.01），释放到培养基的甘油浓度及细胞中的cGMP的浓度极显著升高（P<0.01）。NPRB和NPRC基因mRNA的表达极显著和显著高于对照组（P<0.01；P<0.05），NPRA基因mRNA的表达无显著变化（P>0.05）。本试验结果表明，CNP通过NPRB/NPRC-cGMP通路调控肉鸡肌内脂肪细胞的脂代谢过程。     

Androgen receptor mRNA expression in the bovine ovary

Previous studies have shown that androgen receptor (AR) is expressed in granulosa cells of healthy, growing ovarian follicles in rats and primates. However, AR expression in the bovine ovary has not been examined. Therefore, a 346-base pair segment of the bovine AR was cloned and sequenced. Using a ribonuclease protection assay, AR expression was detected in total RNA from bovine ovarian cortex. Expression (absence or presence) of AR mRNA was detected by in situ hybridization in bovine ovarian cortex. Follicles (n = 32) were classified as follows: type 1 (1 layer of flattened granulosa cells), type 2 (1-1.5 layers of cuboidal granulosa cells), type 3 (2-3 layers of granulosa cells), type 4 (4-6 layers of cuboidal granulosa cells and formation of thecal layer), and type 5 (>6 layers of cuboidal granulosa cells, defined theca layer, and antrum formation). Frequency of AR mRNA expression increased (P < 0.001) as follicles entered the growing pool. Expression of AR mRNA was absent in type 1 follicles (n = 8), but present in the granulosa cells of 41% of type 2 follicles (n = 12). In types 3-5 follicles, AR mRNA expression was present in granulosa cells of 100% of follicles examined (n = 4, 4, and 4, respectively) and was greater than type 1 follicles (P = 0.002). These data provide evidence of AR mRNA expression in bovine follicles and suggest that AR mRNA increases during early follicle development.     

水牛缝隙连接蛋白43基因克隆及表达

本研究克隆了水牛缝隙连接蛋白43(connexin 43,Cx43)基因序列,并运用生物信息学方法对其核苷酸序列的保守性和氨基酸的理化性质、蛋白质结构进行了系统分析,对Cx43基因在水牛不同组织和不同发育阶段卵泡中的表达差异进行了检测。结果表明,应用RT-PCR技术克隆获得了水牛Cx43基因序列,其中编码区全长1152 bp,编码383个氨基酸,蛋白质理论分子质量43.13 ku,等电点为8.88。多重序列比对结果显示,水牛Cx43核苷酸序列与牛、羊、猪、马和人相应序列的同源性分别为99%、98%、94%、93%和92%,系统进化树分析结果推测,Cx43基因在不同物种进化过程中具有高度保守性;对水牛Cx43蛋白的二级和三级结构分析发现,其具有缝隙连接蛋白的特有结构。定量RT-PCR结果显示,Cx43在水牛卵巢组织中相对表达量最高,睾丸、肾脏、心脏和皮肤次之,肝脏和大脑表达量较低。免疫组化结果发现,Cx43蛋白表达随卵泡发育时期的不同而变化,Cx43蛋白随卵泡发育表达逐渐增强。     

水牛水通道蛋白9基因克隆及其表达分析

本研究旨在对水牛水通道蛋白9 (aquaporins 9,AQP9) 基因进行克隆,并对其在水牛不同组织中的表达规律及其在水牛卵巢和睾丸组织中的表达差异进行探索。根据GenBank上黄牛AQP9基因序列(登录号:NM_001205833.1)设计特异性引物,以水牛睾丸组织cDNA为模板,应用RT-PCR方法扩增AQP9基因编码区片段;运用生物信息学方法分析其核苷酸序列的保守性和氨基酸的理化性质;应用实时荧光定量PCR技术分析AQP9基因在水牛组织中的表达情况;免疫组织化学方法分析AQP9蛋白在不同发育阶段水牛卵泡及睾丸组织中的表达差异。结果表明,克隆获得了888 bp的水牛AQP9基因编码区序列,其编码295个氨基酸。多重序列比较显示,水牛AQP9核苷酸序列与牛、猪、绵羊和人相应序列相似性分别为99%、90%、97%、88%;氨基酸序列的同源性分别为99%、86%、97%、83%,系统进化树分析结果推测,AQP9基因在物种进化过程中具有高度保守性。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示,AQP9基因在水牛肝脏、肺脏、大脑、皮肤、睾丸和卵巢组织中有不同程度的表达,在肝脏组织中表达最高,皮肤和睾丸次之,肺脏和卵巢表达较低。免疫组化结果显示,在卵巢组织中,AQP9蛋白表达随卵泡发育时期的不同而变化,并随着卵泡发育其表达逐渐增强;在睾丸组织中,AQP9蛋白在各级精母细胞和间质细胞中均有表达。结果提示,成功克隆得到水牛AQP9基因序列;AQP9在水牛卵巢和睾丸中的表达及其功能可能与水牛卵泡发育和精子发生有重要的关联。     

WNT2在绵羊卵泡颗粒细胞的表达及功能研究

旨在探究WNT2在绵羊卵泡颗粒细胞（GCs）中的表达及功能。本研究选取4~6月龄健康母羊20只,采集双侧卵巢,免疫组化技术检测WNT2蛋白在卵泡中的表达定位;qRT-PCR及Western blot技术检测其在不同发育阶段卵泡颗粒细胞中的表达差异;siRNA沉默GCs中的 Wnt2基因后,qRT-PCR技术检测Wnt2基因及参与经典WNT信号通路关键基因CTNNB1的相对表达量,并测定GCs凋亡情况。结果表明：1）WNT2蛋白在绵羊卵泡内膜细胞、颗粒细胞以及卵丘细胞内均有表达。2）qRT-PCR及Western blot结果基本一致,均表明Wnt2 mRNA及蛋白在不同发育阶段卵泡颗粒细胞表达差异显著（P<0.05）,且在大卵泡颗粒细胞内表达量显著高于中卵泡颗粒细胞（P<0.05）,中卵泡颗粒细胞内表达量显著高于小卵泡颗粒细胞（P<0.05）。3）基因沉默后,沉默组Wnt2和CTNNB1的表达量均显著低于无义序列siRNA组（NC组）以及空白对照组（P<0.05）,而Wnt2基因沉默组细胞凋亡率显著高于其他两组（P<0.05）。综上表明,WNT2是通过WNT2/CTNNB1信号通路促进绵羊卵泡颗粒细胞生物学功能的。     

Expression of adiponectin and its receptors (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2) in chicken ovary: potential role in ovarian steroidogenesis

Adiponectin and its receptors (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2) mRNAs are expressed in various chicken tissues including ovary. However, the cellular expression and the role of adiponectin system have never been investigated in chicken ovary. Here, we have shown that the level of adiponectin mRNA is about 10- to 30-fold higher (p < 0.001) in theca cells than in granulosa cells from each hierarchical yellow follicle studied (F4–F1). In contrast, the level of AdipoR1 mRNA expression was about two-fold lower in theca cells than in granulosa cells (p < 0.05) whereas those of AdipoR2 was similar in both ovarian cells. Whereas expression of adiponectin mRNA increased with follicular differentiation in theca cells, it decreased in granulosa cells. In contrast, mRNA expression of AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 in both theca and granulosa cells remained stable during yellow follicle development. To determine whether adiponectin is involved in the ovarian steroidogenesis, LH (100 ng/ml)-, FSH (100 ng/ml)- and IGF-1 (100 ng/ml)-induced progesterone production was measured in absence or presence of human recombinant adiponectin (10 μg/ml) for 36 h in cultured granulosa cells from F1, F2 and mixed F3 and F4 follicles. In absence of LH, FSH and IGF-1, adiponectin treatment had no effects on progesterone production whatever vitollegenic follicle studied. However, it increased by about two-fold IGF-1-induced progesterone secretion in F2 and F3/4 follicles whereas it halved progesterone production in response to gonadotropins (LH and FSH) in F3/4 follicles. Thus, in chicken, adiponectin, mainly expressed in theca cells, could exert paracrine or autocrine effect on the ovarian steroidogenesis.     

Cloning of Buffalo AQP9 Gene and Analysing its Expression in the Buffalo Tissues

Cloning buffalo AQP9 gene and analyzing its expression in buffalo tissues.A pair of primers was designed according to the released bovine AQP9 sequences in GenBank,which was used to clone buffalo AQP9 gene.The AQP9 gene was amplified by RT-PCR,whose nucleotide sequence and protein structure were analyzed by bioinformatics methods.The expression of AQP9 in buffalo tissues was assayed by Real-time quantitative PCR.The expression of AQP9 gene in buffalo ovary and testis tissue was detected by immunohistochemical staining method.The results showed that the cloned ORF length of buffalo AQP9 gene was 888 bp,which coded 295 amino acids.The results of multiple sequence comparison showed that the nucleotide sequence of buffalo AQP9 shared 99%,90%,97% and 88% homologeous compared with that of Bos taurus,Sus scrofa,Ovis ariessis and Homo sapiens,respectively,while shared 99%,86%,97%,83% homologeous for amino acids,respectively.Phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that AQP9 gene was highly conservative in the evolutionary process.Real-time quantitative PCR results showed that AQP9 gene expressed in buffalo liver,lung,brain,skin,testis and ovary tissues with different levels,had the most abundant expression in liver,followed by in skin and testis,less observed in lung and ovary.The results of immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression of AQP9 protein varied with the development of buffalo ovarian tissue,and gradually enhanced with follicle development.In testicular tissue,AQP9 protein expressed in spermatocyte and leydig cells of developmental stage testis.These results indicated that we had successfully cloned buffalo AQP9 gene sequences.The expression and its function of AQP9 in buffalo ovaries and testes might play an important role in follicle development and spermatogenesis.     

Immunohistochemical Localization of Androgen Receptor in Two Subpopulations of Porcine Granulosa Cells In Vitro

In the ovarian follicles of mammals, androgens are utilized as substrates for estrogen synthesis or can act via androgen receptor (AR). Within the ovary, granulosa cells generally display the strongest immunoreactivity for AR protein. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to analyse possible changes in the intensity of AR staining in cultured mural and antral granulosa cells isolated from follicles at various stages of development. Porcine ovaries were obtained at a local slaughterhouse and the follicles were classified as small, medium and large dependently on their diameter. Isolated granulosa cells were separated into two populations, mural and antral, and then the cells were cultured during 48 h. After this time the cells were fixed and immunostained to visualize the AR. Androgen receptor immunostaining was detected in both, antral and mural granulosa cell cultures isolated from follicles at all stages of the development. In the mural granulosa cultures the immunostaining was comparatively weaker than that in the antral granulosa cells originating from all types of follicles. Our results provide immunohistochemical evidence that antral granulosa layer is the main site of AR immunoexpression.