醋酸铅对小鼠卵巢组织结构和卵巢颗粒细胞凋亡的影响

将40只20日龄雌性昆明系小鼠随机分成3个处理组和1个对照组,每组10只。给3个处理组小鼠分别连续2d腹腔按体质量注射醋酸铅10,20,40mg/kg,对照组小鼠注射等体积的生理盐水。于注射后24,72h分离卵巢,用原位末端标记法(TUNEL)测定卵巢颗粒细胞的凋亡率,研究卵巢组织结构及卵巢颗粒细胞凋亡的变化。结果显示,醋酸铅可使小鼠卵巢组织结构发生病变,加速卵巢颗粒细胞的凋亡,且凋亡率随着攻毒剂量的增加和时间的延长而升高,与对照组相比,差异极显著(P0.01);表明醋酸铅对小鼠卵巢具有毒性作用,可诱导卵巢颗粒细胞发生凋亡,并呈现一定的剂量-时间依赖关系。     

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.     

Metabonomics analysis of Zi goose follicular granulosa cells using ENO1 gene expression interference

The Zi goose is native to North-east China and is noted for its high egg production. Alpha enolase (ENO1) is a glycolytic enzyme which functions as a plasminogen receptor in follicular granulosa cells (FGCs), with several studies showing that FGCs can support follicular development. By transfecting the ENO1 interfering plasmid (shRNA) into FGCs, ENO1 expression in these cells was downregulated, suggesting the successful knock-down of ENO1 in these cells. In this knock-down model, we detected 13 metabolites from FGCs using LC/MS. When compared with the non-coding shRNA (NC) group, the lower level metabolites were (R)-(+)-citronellic acid, altretamine, 3-hydroxycaproic acid, heptadecanoic acid, cholecalciferol vitamin D3, indole, benzoic acid, capric acid, caffeic acid, azelaic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyhydrocinnamic acid and cholic acid, while oleic acid was detected at high levels. To further examine the results of metabolomics, six key metabolites were verified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). We found that vitamin D3, indole, benzoic acid, capric acid and cholic acid were significantly downregulated in the shRNA group, while oleic acid was significantly upregulated. This observation was consistent with the metabolomics data. Through these studies, we found that decreased ENO1 levels altered certain metabolite levels in FGCs.     

Effects of 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine on hormone secretion and epigenetic regulation in sika deer ovarian granulosa cells

5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-dC), an inhibitor of DNA methyltransferases, is an effective treatment for various cancers and has improved the development rate of cloned embryos. Previous studies have reported the effect of 5-Aza-dC on fibroblasts; however, the mechanism whereby 5-Aza-dC affects sika deer granulosa cells and hormone secretion is presently unknown. Here, we showed that the cell cycle after treatment with different doses of 5-Aza-dC was significantly altered. The number of cells in the S phase was significantly increased in response to a concentration of 0.1 μM 5-Aza-dC. The rate of apoptosis was increased when cells were treated with 0.1 μM and 5 μM 5-Aza-dC. We showed that the protein level of H3K9me2 was significantly decreased in response to 5-Aza-dC. The activity levels of DNA methyltransferase were reduced by a moderate dose of 5-Aza-dC. Furthermore, the secretion of E₂ and P₄ was influenced by different doses of 5-Aza-dC. Our study suggested that 5-Aza-dC affected hormone secretion in sika deer granulosa cells through cell development and epigenetic regulation. The findings of this study lay the foundation for further epigenetic studies in sika deer.     

Co-culture model reveals the characteristics of theca cells and the effect of granulosa cells on theca cells at different stages of follicular development

Theca cells (TCs) play an important role in follicular development, which cannot be separated from granulosa cells (GCs). However, compared with mammals, the TCs and the effects of GCs on TCs at different follicular development stages (FDSs) have specific characteristics in avian species, but none of them have been clearly defined. In this study, we established an in vitro co-culture (with GC at the corresponding stage) model of goose TCs at different FDSs (pre-hierarchical, hierarchical and F1) by using a transwell system. The properties of TCs in co-culture at the three FDSs, including cell morphology, activity and intracellular lipid content, as well as the expression of key genes involved in de novo lipogenesis, steroidogenesis, proliferation and apoptosis, were examined and defined. We further compared the mono-culture and co-culture groups. After co-culture, the activity of TCs showed significant (p < .01) increases in all stages; moreover, in pre-hierarchical TCs, the expression levels of FAS, SREBP, 3β-HSD and CCND1 were promoted, and PPARγ, CYP19, BCL2 and CAS3 were inhibited (p < .05); in the hierarchical TCs, the expression levels of PPARγ, FAS, CYP19, CCND1 and BCL2 were promoted, and SREBP, STAR, 3β-HSD and CAS3 were inhibited (p < .05), whereas in the F1 TCs, the expression levels of PPARγ, FAS, 3β-HSD, CYP19 and CCND1 were promoted, and STAR and CAS3 were inhibited (p < .05). These results suggested that GCs at the three FDSs have dynamic and complex influences on the physiological characteristics of TCs, and the influences on TCs at the three FDSs were varied.     

VEGF对绵羊卵泡颗粒细胞FSHR、E2R表达的影响

血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)可以促进颗粒细胞的增殖,但是否影响同样分布于颗粒细胞上的FSHR、E2R表达效果尚属未知.因此,通过Western blotting和荧光定量PCR分别对添加0、5、10、15、20、25 μg/L VEGF卵泡颗粒细胞中FSHR、E2R表达量及FSHR mRNA、E2R mRNA表达量进行检测.Western blotting蛋白检测结果表明,空白对照组和各个不同质量浓度VEGF处理组的颗粒细胞上均有FSHR和E2R蛋白表达,FSHR相对分子质量为75 000,E2R相对分子质量为56 000；荧光定量PCR检测结果表明,添加VEGF的各个处理组中FSHR mR-NA、E2R mRNA表达量均显著高于对照组(P＜0.05),各处理组间的FSHR mRNA之间差异不显著(P＞0.05),而VEGF添加量20、25 μg/L组的E2R mRNA表达量显著高于其他3个处理组(P＜0.05),并且这2个组间则差异不显著(P＞0.05),其余3个处理组间亦差异不显著(P＞0.05).     

Comparison of effects of leptin and ghrelin on porcine ovarian granulosa cells

The aim of our studies was to compare the roles of leptin and ghrelin in the direct control of proliferation, apoptosis, and secretory activity by porcine ovarian cells. In our in vitro experiments, we analyzed the effects of leptin and ghrelin treatments (at 0, 1, 10, or 100 ng/mL medium) on the accumulation of proliferation-related peptides (PCNA, cyclin B1, MAP kinase [MAPK]) and apoptosis-associated peptides (Bax, caspase 3, p53), and on progesterone secretion by cultured porcine granulosa cells, using immunocytochemistry, SDS PAGE-Western immunoblotting, and radioimmunoassay (RIA). Leptin stimulated proliferation (PCNA, cyclin B1, MAPK), apoptosis (Bax, p53), and progesterone secretion. Ghrelin promoted proliferation (PCNA, cyclin B1, MAPK) and progesterone secretion but suppressed apoptosis (Bax, caspase 3, p53). These observations suggest that both leptin and ghrelin directly control proliferation, apoptosis, and secretory activity by porcine ovarian cells. At the level of the ovary, in contrast to the hypothalamo-hypophysial system, leptin and ghrelin may have similar action in promoting granulosa cell proliferation and progesterone secretion, but they may be antagonistic to one another (leptin, stimulator; ghrelin, inhibitor) in controlling apoptosis.     

Raf‐ERK1/2 signalling pathways mediate steroid hormone synthesis in bovine ovarian granulosa cells

Steroid hormones are required for normal reproductive function of female. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Raf‐ERK1/2 on steroid hormone synthesis in bovine ovarian granulosa cells. Immunohistochemistry assay showed that both B‐Raf and C‐Raf were expressed in granulosa cells, theca cells and Sertoli cells. The protein expression of Raf or ERK1/2 was clearly decreased by Raf inhibitor GSK2118436 or ERK1/2 inhibitor SCH772984, respectively (p < 0.05). In addition, western blotting was performed for investigating the crosstalk between Raf and ERK1/2, the data showed that Raf positively regulated ERK1/2, whereas ERK1/2 had a negative feedback effect on Raf. The biosynthesis of oestradiol or testosterone was significantly decreased by treatment with GSK2118436 or SCH772984 (p < 0.05). Conversely, the progesterone biosynthesis was clearly increased by treatment with those inhibitors (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the mRNA expression of STAR, aromatase and CYP17 was blocked by Raf‐ERK1/2 signalling inhibition, which oppositely induced the mRNA expression of CYP11. Together, these findings suggested that Raf‐ERK1/2 signalling pathways mediate steroid hormone synthesis via affecting the expression of steroidogenic enzymes.     

Histological and immunohistochemical evaluation of granulosa cells during different stages of folliculogenesis in bovine ovaries

Bovine granulosa cells (GC) vary in their morphological aspect during different stages of folliculogenesis. In this study, 10 morphologically normal bovine ovaries were collected to study the structural aspects of different stages of GC using intermediate filament protein antibodies including cytokeratin AE1/AE3 (AE1/AE3), vimentin, nectin‐4 and desmin. Hormonal immunolocalization was assessed using the immunomarkers anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin alpha. In addition, tumour markers and proliferation markers using c‐erbB‐2 oncoprotein and proliferating cell nuclear antigen, respectively, were investigated. The immunolabelling of AE1/AE3 in GC was strongest in the early follicle stage and gradually decreased when reaching the Graafian follicle stage. Its immunolabelling increased again as the stage progressed from stage I to stage III. The immunolabelling of inhibin alpha was inversely proportional to that of AE1/AE3 in the developing ovarian follicles as their immunolabelling is opposite to each other during folliculogenesis. AMH was immunopositive in almost all GC stages in different intensities and percentages, except for some negative staining in the atretic IV follicles. The atretic IV follicle is a unique type of atretic follicle that shows Call‐Exner body formation, which was mainly found in older cows in this study. The distinct patterns of immunoreactivity for various types of immunomarkers in the different GC stages will play an important role in diagnostic assistance of various follicle conditions, including cystic ovaries and GC tumours.     

CTSD对黔北麻羊卵泡颗粒细胞的调控机制及功能分析

旨在分析组织蛋白酶D(cathepsin D,CTSD)对黔北麻羊卵泡颗粒细胞的调控机制并初步探究其对产羔性状的影响机理.本研究以36周龄、健康、多胎黔北麻羊母羊(n=5)为研究对象,屠宰后采集卵巢组织分离培养卵泡颗粒细胞,构建真核表达载体pEGFP-N3-CTSD,将其导入细胞后在转录与翻译水平验证真核表达效率;通过...     

miR-1307在猪卵巢颗粒细胞周期中的作用

为了解猪miR-1307序列和结构特征,阐明其在猪卵巢颗粒细胞周期中的作用,利用生物信息学方法分析猪miR-1307的序列特征、染色体定位和潜在的生物学功能;在体外培养的猪卵巢颗粒细胞中转染miR-1307模拟物(mimics)和抑制剂(inhibitor),利用流式细胞术检测细胞周期。结果显示:猪miR-1307前体序列长度为80 bp,其核苷酸序列(包括成熟序列和种子序列)和基因组定位等与哺乳动物其他物种高度一致;功能富集分析发现miR-1307靶基因富集在rRNA分解代谢进程和蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酶活性等多个重要的生物学进程和分子功能中;在猪卵巢颗粒细胞中,过表达miR-1307可使G0/G1期细胞比例增加,S期细胞比例显著降低(P<0.05);抑制miR-1307可使G0/G1期细胞比例降低,S期细胞比例显著增加(P<0.05)。结果表明:miR-1307是猪卵巢颗粒细胞周期的重要调节因子。     

miR-18a通过靶向结合CTGF调控猪颗粒细胞凋亡

为探究miR-18a对猪卵巢颗粒细胞凋亡的调控作用,利用生物信息学分析、荧光素酶活性检测和体外培养颗粒细胞试验验证miR-18a对CTGF的靶向作用及其在猪颗粒细胞中对CTGF基因表达的影响,并通过流式细胞技术检测其对猪卵巢颗粒细胞凋亡的调控作用。生物信息学分析结果表明,CTGF是miR-18a的潜在靶基因,荧光素酶活性检测进一步验证了miR-18a与CTGF的结合。在培养的颗粒细胞中转染miR-18a模拟物后,qRT-PCR和Western blot结果显示CTGF的mRNA和蛋白水平均显著降低,流式细胞技术检测表明miR-18a显著促进颗粒细胞的凋亡。而转染miR-18a抑制剂后,猪颗粒细胞的凋亡率显著降低,共转染miR-18a抑制剂和CTGF的干扰RNA后,颗粒细胞的凋亡率呈现回升。试验结果表明miR-18a通过靶向结合CTGF基因调控猪颗粒细胞的凋亡。     

Bisphenol A attenuates thyroxine‐induced apoptosis in ovarian granulosa cells of pigs

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical of high production volume that is used widely in many industries and is known as a xenooestrogen and anti‐thyroid hormone endocrine disrupter. There is little information regarding the effects of BPA in the presence of thyroid hormone on porcine granulosa cell development. Thus, the primary granulosa cells were treated with thyroxine (T4, 10 nM), BPA (10 µM) or T4 plus BPA; we subsequently evaluated the effects of T4 or BPA on 17β‐estradiol synthesis, cellular proliferation and apoptosis. Our data showed that BPA significantly increased the accumulation of 17β‐estradiol and promoted granulosa cell proliferation, whereas T4 significantly decreased 17β‐estradiol and had no effect on cellular proliferation. In addition, it was noteworthy that T4 treatment induced apoptosis in porcine granulosa cells and BPA co‐incubation attenuated T4‐induced apoptosis as shown from flow cytometric assay analysis. We hypothesized that BPA attenuates T4‐induced apoptosis by regulating 17β‐estradiol accumulation and oestrogen receptor‐mediated signalling pathways. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that T4 affected 17β‐estradiol accumulation and induced cellular apoptosis, but did not affect granulosa cell proliferation. Exposure to BPA increased 17β‐estradiol accumulation, promoted granulosa cell proliferation and attenuated T4‐induced apoptosis in porcine granulosa cells in vitro.     

Theca cell-conditioned medium enhances steroidogenesis competence of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) granulosa cells

Theca cells (TCs) play a crucial role in follicular development and atresia. TCs synthesize androgens that act as substrate for granulosa cells (GCs) aromatization to oestrogens needed for follicular growth. However, the effects of TCs in the form of conditioned medium on steroidogenesis in buffalo GCs remain unclear. In the present study, the impacts of TC-conditioned medium (TCCM) on oestrogen synthesis in buffalo GCs were examined. The results showed that TCs secreted principally testosterone, but almost no androstenedione or oestradiol into TCCM. TCs at passage 3 had a stronger secretion capacity of testosterone in TCCM. Furthermore, TCCM collected at 72 hr improved both the expression levels of oestrogen synthesis-related genes (CYP11A1, CYP19A1, 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD) and the secretion levels of estradiol in GCs. The treatment of 72 hr in TCCM promoted both the expression levels of oestrogen synthesis-related genes (CYP11A1, CYP19A1 and 3β-HSD) and the secretion levels of estradiol in GCs. Besides, TCCM that was collected at 72 hr and applied to GCs for 72 hr (72 & 72 hr) improved the sensitivity of buffalo GCs to FSH. This study indicates that TCCM (72 & 72 hr) enhances the steroidogenesis competence of GCs mainly through facilitating the responsiveness of GCs to FSH in buffalo.     

The impact of bisphenol S on bovine granulosa and theca cells

Bisphenol S (BPS) is an endocrine‐disrupting chemical with multiple potential mechanisms of action, including as an oestrogen receptor agonist. BPS is increasingly used in plastics and thermal receipts as a substitute for bisphenol A, which has been phased out due to concerns about human health implications. The ability of BPS to alter female reproductive function in mammals has not been widely studied, despite the importance of normal hormone signalling for female reproduction. The aim of this study was to investigate how BPS (in a wide range of doses, including very low doses) affects granulosa cell and theca cell steroid hormone production and cell viability in the bovine. Granulosa cell oestradiol production was stimulated when cells were exposed to 100 μM BPS under basal conditions, but there was no effect of BPS when cells were stimulated with follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH). Additionally, there was no effect of BPS on granulosa cell progesterone production or cell viability under basal or FSH‐stimulated conditions. BPS did not affect theca cell androstenedione or progesterone production, or theca cell viability under basal or luteinizing hormone‐stimulated conditions. This study suggests for the first time that BPS may alter oestradiol production by bovine granulosa cells, albeit at a concentration that is unlikely to be physiologically relevant. Further studies are needed to determine the effects of BPS on the bovine oocyte and on other functions of follicular cells.     

水牛卵泡颗粒细胞对卵母细胞体外成熟的影响

为了系统研究颗粒细胞对水牛卵母细胞体外成熟的影响,使用颗粒细胞条件液处理或单层颗粒细胞和卵母细胞共培养的方法,探讨颗粒细胞共培养对水牛卵母细胞体外成熟和早期胚胎发育的影响.结果显示,添加颗粒细胞传代接种第2天收集的20％颗粒细胞条件液到水牛卵母细胞成熟液中能显著提高水牛卵母细胞体外成熟率和囊胚发育率(P＜0.05);然...