连接蛋白Cx43和Cx37在卵泡发育中的作用

卵泡中的颗粒细胞通过间隙连接彼此交流,也与卵母细胞相互联系.连接蛋白是组成间隙连接的基本结构单位,其中Cx43和Cx37是卵泡发育所必需的.Cx43介导的间隙连接偶联通道对于胚胎生殖嵴的发育和出生后的卵泡发生都是必不可少的.Cx37除了对卵母细胞和颗粒细胞之间的交流发挥作用外,还能在紧邻卵母细胞的颗粒细胞之间形成交流通道,缺失Cx37会影响到有腔卵泡的发育,并且卵母细胞不能发育至成熟,故Cx43和Cx37对卵泡发育至关重要.     

Production of immunoactive inhibin by bovine granulosa cells in serum-free culture: Effects of exogenous steroids and FSH

Granulosa cells from pooled bovine follicles were cultured under chemically-defined (serum-free) conditions to study the effects of exogenous steroids and FSH on production of immunoactive (ia) inhibin, oestradiol and progesterone. Levels of ia-inhibin in media samples and cell lysates were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) using an antiserum raised against a synthetic fragment of human inhibin -subunit [hI(1–32)].

Cells secreted measurable amounts of ia-inhibin, oestradiol and progesterone for at least 7 d of culture, although intracellular levels of inhibin were very low, indicating that newly-synthesized ia-inhibin is rapidly released from the cells. Treatment with androstenedione (0.2μmol/l) or testosterone (0.2μmol/l) increased ia-inhibin secretion markedly; levels on Day 5 of culture were approximately 6-fold (P<0.005) higher than control values. In contrast, treatment with the non-aromatizable androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT; 0.2μmol/l) resulted in only a one- to two-fold increase (P<0.05) over control values (Day 5). Addition of exogenous oestradiol (8nmol/l) markedly increased ia-inhibin secretion (8–9 fold on Day 5; P<0.05) compared with basal levels, whereas progesterone had no effect. Secretion of oestradiol, undetectable in the absence of exogenous androgens, rose daily in the presence of either androstenedione or testosterone, levels rising approximately 6-fold and 9-fold respectively over a 4-d treatment period. Progesterone secretion increased 2-fold over the culture period and was unaffected by any steroid treatment.

Treatment with ovine FSH (10ng/ml) alone stimulated secretion of progesterone over basal levels (3-fold higher on Day 6; P<0.005), but did not affect output of either ia-inhibin or oestradiol. However, exposure to FSH in the presence of androstenedione not only promoted a further 4-fold increase in progesterone output but also led to a dose-dependent suppression of both ia-inhibin (90% lower on Day 6; P<0.001) and oestradiol (80% lower on Day 6; P<0.001) secretion compared to cells treated with androstenedione alone.

These observations indicate that the secretion of ia-inhibin by bovine granulosa cells in culture is positively regulated by oestradiol, implying an autocrine/paracrine role for this hormone in control of ovarian inhibin production. The ability of aromatizable androgens to stimulate secretion of inhibin, coupled with the inability of the non-aromatizable androgen DHT to elicit such an effect, suggests that inhibin output is largely unaffected by androgens prior to their conversion to oestradiol. The absence of any change in output of ia-inhibin or oestradiol following treatment with exogenous progesterone argues against a local role for this steroid hormone in regulation of inhibin or oestradiol production in the bovine follicle. Finally, the observation that co-treatment with FSH and andostenedione not only stimulated progesterone output but also suppressed secretion of ia-inhibin and oestradiol, indicates a synergistic positive effect of FSH and androgens on cellular luteinization.     

Cryopreservation of pig granulosa cells: effect of FSH addition to freezing medium

We cryopreserved swine granulosa cells by a slow cooling rate system; FSH was added to the freezing medium to test its effectiveness in protecting the cells. After thawing, proliferative activity, viability, steroidogenesis and apoptosis were tested; moreover, we determined heat shock protein (HSP70) production, to investigate the recovery from stress and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activity to evaluate a possible impairment of the antioxidant pathway. E2 production was enhanced by cryopreservation in particular with FSH; on the contrary, P4 production was inhibited by the freezing process in particular without FSH. Only the higher FSH concentration (10 ng/ml) stimulated steroid secretion in freshly collected cells; P4 production by cells cryopreserved in the presence and in absence of FSH was increased by both 5 and 10 ng/ml while the lowest concentration was effective in stimulating E2 production only when FSH was added to freezing medium. Freezing did not modify proliferative activity, while apoptosis was higher in frozen than in fresh cells. HSP70 production was lower in cells cryopreserved in presence of FSH, whose antioxidant metabolism was also conserved: SOD and catalase activities were similar to control. In conclusion, cryopreservation does not seem to markedly affect granulosa cells, in particular if they are frozen in presence of FSH; the gonadotrophin somehow improves their performances after thawing, probably stimulating E2 production and the antioxidant metabolism.     

High doses of FSH induce autophagy in bovine ovarian granulosa cells via the AKT/mTOR pathway

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) plays a critical role in follicular growth and granulosa cell function; however, the mechanism by which the aggressive stimulation of FSH leads to poorer oocyte quality and embryo development potential is unclear. In this study, bovine ovarian granulosa cells (BGCs) were challenged with FSH doses (vehicle, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 ng/ml) to investigate the effects of FSH on BGCs. The results indicated that the relative viability of BGCs was significantly increased in cells challenged with 1 ng/ml FSH, whereas the viability was significantly decreased with 100 ng/ml FSH treatment. The mRNA abundance of FSHR, CYP19, StAR and BAX was significantly upregulated with 1, 10 and 100 ng/ml of FSH, while the BCL-2 mRNA level was downregulated with higher concentrations of FSH (10 and 100 ng/ml). Furthermore, BGC autophagy was detected in cells treated with 10 and 100 ng/ml FSH by MDC staining, and the mRNA abundance of LC3, BECN1, BNIP3, ATG3 and ATG7 was upregulated with increasing FSH concentration. Meanwhile, the protein expression of LC3 was increased in cells treated with 10 and 100 ng/ml FSH. 1 and 10 ng/ml FSH significantly increased E2 production, whereas 10 and 100 ng/ml FSH significantly increased P4 production. FSH significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of AKT in cells treated with higher concentrations (1, 10 and 100 ng/ml), while activating mTOR phosphorylation at concentrations of 10 and 100 ng/ml of FSH. In summary, we can conclude that higher doses of FSH (10 and 100 ng/ml) induce BGC autophagy via the AKT/mTOR signalling pathway.     

Expression of ski in the granulosa cells of atretic follicles in the rat ovary

The aim of the present study was to locate Ski protein, a product of cellular protooncogene c-ski, in rat ovaries in order to predict the possible involvement of Ski in follicular development and atresia. First, expression of c-ski mRNA in the ovaries of adult female rats was confirmed by RT-PCR. Then, ovaries obtained on the day of estrus were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis for Ski and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in combination with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL). Ski was expressed in granulosa cells that were positive for TUNEL, but negative for PCNA, regardless of the size of follicles. Expression of Ski in TUNEL-positive granulosa cells, but not in PCNA-positive granulosa cells, was also verified in immature hypophysectomized rats having a single generation of developing and atretic follicles by treatment with equine chorionic gonadotropin. These results indicate that Ski is profoundly expressed in the granulosa cells of atretic follicles, but not in growing follicles, and suggests that Ski plays a role in apoptosis of granulosa cells during follicular atresia.     

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulates the expression of Pin1, a peptidyl-prolyl isomerase, in the bovine granulosa cells

A peptidyl-prolyl isomerase, Pin 1, has been shown to play a role in the regulation of cell cycle progression, both in vitro and in vivo. However, the involvement of Pin 1 during follicular development is not well understood. The aim of this study was first to investigate the expression of Pin 1 mRNA in the granulosa and theca cells of the follicle at different developmental stages of follicles in the bovine ovary, and second, to examine the effects of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2) on the expression of Pin 1 in the cultured bovine granulosa cells. Follicles were classified into four groups based on the diameter (dominant follicles >8.5mm in diameter, subordinate follicles <8.5mm in diameter) and the relative levels of E2 and progesterone (P4) (E2:P4>1, estrogen active; E2:P4<1, estrogen inactive): i.e. preovulatory dominant follicles (POFs); E2 active dominant follicles (EADs); E2 inactive dominant follicles (EIDs); small follicles (SFs). The expression of the Pin 1 gene was significantly increased in the granulosa cells of EADs as compared with those of other follicles, whereas its expression in theca cells did not differ among follicles at different developmental stages. The concentration of 5 ng/ml FSH alone and the combination of 1 ng/ml E2 and 5 ng/ml FSH stimulated the expression of the Pin 1 gene in bovine granulosa cells. Our data provide the first evidence that Pin 1 expression in the granulosa cells but not the theca cells changes during follicular development, and that FSH stimulate the expression of the Pin 1 gene. These results suggest that Pin 1 regulates the timing of cell proliferation and may act as an intracellular signal responder in the granulosa cells during bovine follicle development.     

OSP-1启动子在奶山羊卵巢颗粒细胞中的转录活性

采用大鼠OSP-1启动子替换掉pcDNA3.1(+)中的CMV启动子,在其下游插入EGFP基因片段,构建载体pOSP-1-EGFP,脂质体转染不同细胞,利用荧光检测、RT-PCR以及相对定量PCR鉴定该启动子启动基因表达的活性.结果表明,在卵巢颗粒细胞、人卵巢癌细胞系HO-8910中可看到有绿色荧光;OSP-1片段只在卵巢颗粒细胞和人卵巢癌细胞系HO-8910有表达,并在人卵巢癌细胞系HO-8910中表达量较高,但是两者之间差异不显著.说明OSP-1启动子可调控外源基因在奶山羊卵巢颗粒细胞中特异性的表达.     

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.     

T-2毒素对大鼠离体培养卵巢颗粒细胞凋亡的影响

将未成熟的Wistar大鼠卵巢颗粒细胞进行原代培养,用不同浓度的T-2毒素染毒细胞24 h.染毒结束后,采用MTT法检测细胞相对活力,荧光染料Hoechst 33258检测卵巢颗粒细胞的凋亡变化,RT-PCR检测凋亡调控基因Bcl-2、Bax和P53 mRNA的表达.结果显示,随着T-2毒素染毒剂量的增加,颗粒细胞的细胞活力逐渐下降;而细胞凋亡率、Bcb2、Bax、P53 mRNA表达水平、Bax mRNA/Bcl-2 mRNA比值则逐渐上升;除1 nmol/L剂量组外,其余各剂量组与对照组比较差异显著(P＜0.05).结果表明,T-2毒素可显著抑制大鼠卵巢颗粒细胞活力,诱导颗粒细胞凋亡,并呈浓度依赖关系.     

Periplaneta americana peptide decreases apoptosis of pig-ovary granulosa cells induced by H2O2 through FoxO1

Oxidative stress can induce apoptosis of granulosa cells and lead to follicular atresia, thereby reducing the number of pigs giving birth. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of Periplaneta americana peptide (PAP) on the apoptosis of the granulosa cells of pig ovaries (PGCs) induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) via FoxO1. PGCs were treated with H₂O₂ to establish a cell apoptosis model. Cell viability was measured using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, and cell apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry. The malondialdehyde (MDA) level and nitric oxide (NO) content were detected to reflect the oxidative stress. Western blotting, qRT-PCR and overexpression were undertaken to determine the expression of FoxO1 and caspase-3, and immunofluorescence was used to detect FoxO1 in the nucleus and cytoplasm. PGCs were treated with 100 μM H₂O₂ for 6 hr, which resulted in oxidative damage and apoptosis and an apoptosis rate for PGCs of 32.95%. Next, PGCs were treated with 400 μg/ml PAP for 24 hr to repair the apoptosis induced by H₂O₂. PAP improved cell viability in H₂O₂-stimulated PGCs, the increased MDA level and NO content caused by H₂O₂ stimulation were reversed and the apoptotic rate of PGCs was reduced. The qRT-PCR and Western blotting results indicated that PAP decreased the H₂O₂-induced apoptosis and the expression of FoxO1 and caspase-3 in PGCs. The effect of PAP was the same following FoxO1 overexpression. FoxO1 was expressed in the nucleus when stimulated by H₂O₂ or overexpression; however, it migrated to the cytoplasm following PAP treatment. PAP decreased the apoptosis of PGCs induced by H₂O₂ by regulating FoxO1 expression and nuclear translocation.     

VEGF modulates the effects of gonadotropins in granulosa cells

Follicle selection is associated with an increase in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors in granulosa cells, however, the roles of VEGF in regulating the function of these or other non-endothelial cells in the ovary have not been explored in detail. The current study used bovine cell cultures to investigate potential roles of VEGF in the regulation of granulosa cell function during follicle development. Granulosa cells were obtained from morphologically healthy follicles 4 to 8 mm or 9 to 14 mm in diameter (corresponding to diameters before and after the establishment of dominance, respectively, during a bovine follicular wave) and exposed to a range of VEGF concentrations (1 to 100 ng/mL) encompassing concentrations found naturally in bovine dominant follicles. A concentration of VEGF of 1 ng/mL induced significant proliferation of granulosa cells from 4- to 8-mm follicles (P = 0.024) and increased the proliferative response of these cells to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH; P = 0.045); whereas higher doses of VEGF had no effect on proliferation (P = 0.9). Treatment with VEGF induced an overall increase in mean extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation (P = 0.02). In contrast, VEGF, alone or in combination with FSH, had no effect on expression of the steroidogenic enzyme, CYP11A1, by cells from 4- to 8-mm follicles (P = 0.9). Granulosa cells from 9- to 14-mm follicles responded to 1 ng/mL VEGF with an increase in expression of the ovulation-associated gene, PTGS2 (P = 0.003) but higher VEGF doses had no effect (P = 0.9). The PTGS2 response to 1 ng/mL VEGF was similar to that induced by treatment with luteinizing hormone (LH). Interestingly, the stimulatory effects of LH on ERK1/2 phosphorylation (P = 0.003) and PTGS2 expression (P < 0.01) in granulosa cells from 9- to 14-mm follicles were abolished (P = 0.2) by specific chemical inhibition of VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2). These results suggest novel and important roles of VEGF and its receptor, VEGFR2, in mediating and/or enhancing the effects of gonadotropins in granulosa cells.     

Evaluation of steroidogenic capacity after follicle stimulating hormone stimulation in bovine granulosa cells of Revalor 200~ implanted heifers

Background： Heifers not used as breeding stock are often implanted with steroids to increase growth efficiency thereby altering hormone profiles and potentially changing the environment in which ovarian follicles develop. Because bovine granulosa cell culture is a commonly used technique and often bovine ovaries are collected from abattoirs with no record of implant status, the objective of this study was to determine if the presence of an implant during bovine granulosa cell development impacts follicle stimulating hormone-regulated steroidogenic enzyme expression. Paired ovaries were collected from 16 feedlot heifers subjected to 1 of 3 treatments： non-implanted （n = 5）, Revalor 200 for 28 d （n = 5）, or Revalor 200 for 84 d （n = 6）. Small follicle （1 to 5 mm） granulosa cells were isolated from each pair and incubated with phosphate buffered saline （n = 16） or 100 ng/mL follicle stimulating hormone （n = 16） for 24 h. Results： Granulosa cells of implanted heifers treated with follicle stimulating hormone produced medium concentrations of progesterone similar （P = 0.22） to non-implanted heifers, while medium estradiol concentrations were increased （P 〈 0.10） at 28 and 84 d compared to non-implanted heifers indicating efficacy of treatment. Additionally, real-time PCR analysis in response to follicle stimulating hormone treatment demonstrated a decrease in steroidogenic acute regulatory protein （P = 0.05） mRNA expression in heifers implanted for 84 d and an increase in P450 side chain cleavage mRNA in granulosa cells of heifers implanted for 28 （P 〈 0.10） or 84 d （P 〈 0.05） compared to non-implanted females. However, no difference in expression of 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase （P= 0.57） and aromatase （P = 0.23） were demonstrated in implanted or non-implanted heifers. Conclusions： These results indicate follicles which develop in the presence of high concentrations of androgenic and estrogenic steroids via an implant tend to demonstrate an alter     

Evoked potentials induced by transcranial stimulation in dogs

Evoked potentials were induced by transcranial stimulation and recovered from the spinal cord, and the radial and sciatic nerves in six dogs. Stimulation was accomplished with an anode placed on the skin over the area of the motor cortex. Evoked potentials were recovered from the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord by electrodes placed transcutaneously in the ligamentum flavum. Evoked potentials were recovered from the radial and sciatic nerves by surgical exposure and electrodes placed in the perineurium. Signals from 100 repetitive stimuli were averaged and analyzed. Waveforms were analyzed for amplitude and latency. Conduction velocities were estimated from wave latencies and distance traveled. The technique allowed recovery of evoked potentials that had similar characteristics among all dogs. Conduction velocities of potentials recovered from the radial and sciatic nerves suggested stimulation of motor pathways; however, the exact origin and pathway of these waves is unknown.     

TCDD increases inhibin A production by human luteinized granulosa cells in vitro

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is the most toxic of the halogenated dioxins and one of the most poisonous substances known to man. The major toxic effects of TCDD on reproduction are decreased fertility and diminished ability to maintain a pregnancy. Granulosa cells obtained from hormonally stimulated women participating in an in-vitro fertilization program were cultured with 3.1 femtomolar, 3.1 picomolar and 3.1 nanomolar TCDD. While inhibin B production was not altered, inhibin A production increased significantly after 4 hours of exposure to both nanomolar and micromolar TCDD concentrations. By 8 hours of exposure to these concentrations of dioxin, human luteinizing granulosa cells exhibited a pronounced increase in inhibin A, nearly quadrupling secretion from unexposed control cells. TCDD continued to increase inhibin A secretion at the picomolar concentration at 24 and 36 hours. It is conceivable that TCDD may act at the ovary to augment inhibin A secretion, thereby reducing FSH-stimulable estrogen secretion by granulosa cells.