Expression of mRNAs encoding oestrogen receptor (ER) α and ERβ, androgen receptor and progesterone receptor during gonadal and follicular development in the marsupial brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa J. Haydon ◽  
Jennifer L. Juengel ◽  
Brian P. Thomson ◽  
Douglas C. Eckery
Keyword(s):  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Oestrogen Receptor ◽  
Follicular Development ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Trichosurus Vulpecula ◽  
Antral Follicles ◽  
Ovarian Cells ◽  
Preovulatory Follicles ◽  
Specific Manner ◽  
Medullary Cords

The objective of the present study was to determine which ovarian cells express mRNAs for oestrogen (ERα and ERβ), androgen (AR) and progesterone (PR) receptors during ovarian and follicular development in the brushtail possum. Expression of ERα and/or ERβ mRNA was observed from birth, initially in cells of the blastema, then in the medullary cords from Day 20. ERα was expressed in the oocytes and granulosa cells of secondary and antral follicles. Preovulatory follicles did not express ERα mRNA, although their oocytes were not examined for any gene. ERβ mRNA was observed in oocytes at all follicular stages examined, but was not consistently observed in granulosa or theca cells. Expression of AR mRNA before Day 40 was very faint; thereafter, expression was observed in the medullary cords, peaking between Days 60 and 120. Oocytes, granulosa cells and theca of secondary and antral, but not preovulatory, follicles expressed AR mRNA. PR mRNA was expressed throughout the gonad by Day 20. Granulosa cells of some secondary and antral follicles and theca of antral follicles expressed PR mRNA. Thus, the expression of mRNAs encoding steroidogenic receptors in a time- and cell-specific manner supports a role for steroids in the process of ovarian follicular formation and growth.

Expression of anti-Müllerian hormone mRNA during gonadal and follicular development in the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

2002 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Juengel ◽  
Lisa J. Whale ◽  
Katherine A. Wylde ◽  
Penny Greenwood ◽  
Kenneth P. McNatty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Sexual Differentiation ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Follicular Development ◽  
Surface Epithelium ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Postnatal Life ◽  
Preovulatory Follicles

The ontogeny of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) gene expression in the brushtail possum during formation of the ovary and growth of follicles was examined using in situ hybridization. For comparative purposes, the expression pattern of AMH was also examined in the developing testis. In the female, AMH mRNA was observed in the ovary of 50% (3/6) of pouch young collected around the time of sexual differentiation of the gonad (Days 1–5): the signal was predominately localized to the inner-cortical and outer-medullary region of the ovary. Thereafter, AMH mRNA was not observed in the developing ovary until Days 78–113 of postnatal life when follicles first formed at the cortical–medullary boundary. At this time, AMH mRNA was observed in the cuboidal granulosa cells of some early growing (i.e. transitional) follicles and in the granulosa cells of primary follicles. Thereafter, AMH mRNA was present in granulosa cells at all subsequent stages of follicular growth (i.e. primary through antral), but not in preovulatory follicles. In all cases, once follicles had formed, AMH mRNA was limited to the granulosa cells and was not observed in the surface epithelium, stromal cells, oocytes, theca, corpus luteum, medullary cords, rete or interstitial glands. In the possum testis, Sertoli cells strongly expressed AMH around the time of sexual differentiation of the gonad, but expression decreased to very low levels in adults, suggesting that AMH plays a similar role in brushtail possums to that observed in other mammalian species. In conclusion, localization of mRNA for AMH exclusively to granulosa cells of growing follicles in the brushtail possum is consistent with a central role for this hormone in control of granulosa cell function in marsupials. In addition, expression of AMH in the developing ovary around the time of morphological sexual differentiation raises intriguing questions regarding the possible role of AMH at this time.

scholarly journals The effects of IGF-I on bovine follicle development and IGFBP-2 expression are dose and stage dependent

Reproduction ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 131 (3) ◽  
pp. 515-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsty A Walters ◽  
John P Binnie ◽  
Bruce K Campbell ◽  
David G Armstrong ◽  
Evelyn E Telfer
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Size Range ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Follicular Development ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Insulin Like Growth Factor ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Antral Follicles ◽  
Igf I

This study aimed to determine the effect of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on early antral bovine follicular development, and the expression of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2). Antral follicles separated into three different size groups were cultured for 6 days in medium supplemented with either a low (10 ng/ml) or high (1 μg/ml) dose of human recombinant IGF-I. Oestradiol production by follicles in all size ranges, cultured in the presence of the high concentration of IGF-I, significantly increased by day 6 (P < 0.05). Follicles in the smallest size range, 165–215 μm, cultured in a high dose of IGF-I, were found to be significantly increased in size (P < 0.01). Oocyte health of the largest follicles (281–380 μm) was significantly improved by the addition of IGF-I to the culture medium. mRNA expression of IGFBP-2 was decreased in the granulosa cells of follicles, size range 216–280 μm, cultured with a high dose of IGF-I (P < 0.05). Granulosa cells (P < 0.05) and oocytes (P < 0.01) of the largest follicles (281–380 μm) showed a decrease in IGFBP-2 expression (protein) when cultured in the control and low-IGF-I treatment groups. Therefore, the response of a bovine follicle to IGF-I is both dose and stage dependent. This work supports a role for IGF-I in modulating somatic and germ-cell maturation and development in early antral follicles. Furthermore, the inverse relationship between the level of IGF-I stimulation and IGFBP-2 expression suggests a local regulatory system modulating IGF-I availability.

scholarly journals Laminin-alpha6beta1 integrin interaction enhances survival and proliferation and modulates steroidogenesis of ovine granulosa cells

2002 ◽  
Vol 172 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Le Bellego ◽  
C Pisselet ◽  
C Huet ◽  
P Monget ◽  
D Monniaux
Keyword(s):  
Estrous Cycle ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Follicular Development ◽  
Antral Follicles ◽  
Final Development ◽  
Beta 1 Integrin ◽  
Arginine Glycine Aspartic Acid

This study aimed to determine the physiological role of laminin (LN) and its receptor, alpha(6)beta(1) integrin, in controlling the functions of granulosa cells (GC) during follicular development in sheep ovary. Immunohistochemistry experiments showed the presence of increasing levels of LN (P<0.0001), and high levels of mature alpha(6)beta(1) integrin in GC layers of healthy antral follicles during the follicular and the preovulatory phases of the estrous cycle. In vitro, the addition of a function-blocking antibody raised against alpha(6) subunit (anti-alpha(6) IgG) to the medium of ovine GC cultured on LN impaired cell spreading (P<0.0001), decreased the proliferation rate (P<0.05) and increased the apoptosis rate (P<0.05). Furthermore, addition of anti-alpha(6) IgG enhanced estradiol (E2) secretion by GC in the presence or absence of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone or insulin-like growth factor-I in culture medium (P<0.0001), and inhibited progesterone (P4) secretion in basal conditions or in the presence of low (0.5 ng/ml) FSH concentrations only (P<0.0001). The anti-alpha(6) IgG effect was specific to an interaction of LN with alpha(6)beta(1) integrin since it was ineffective on GC cultured on heat-denatured LN, RGD (arginine-glycine-aspartic acid) peptides and non-coated substratum. Hence, this study established that alpha(6)beta(1) integrin 1) was expressed in GC of antral follicles, 2) mediated the actions of LN on survival, proliferation and steroidogenesis of GC, and 3) was able to dramatically modulate P4 and E2 secretion by GC in vitro. It is suggested that during the follicular and the preovulatory phases of the estrous cycle, the increasing levels of LN in GC of large antral follicles might support their final development to ovulation.

scholarly journals Species differences in the ovarian distribution of 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta5-->4 isomerase (3beta-HSD) in two marsupials: the brushtail possum Trichosurus vulpecula and the grey, short-tailed opossum Monodelphis domestica

Reproduction ◽  
2003 ◽  
pp. 65-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
SL Ullmann ◽  
AJ Russell ◽  
JI Mason ◽  
L Selwood
Keyword(s):  
Follicular Development ◽  
Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase ◽  
Monodelphis Domestica ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Interstitial Tissue ◽  
South American ◽  
Trichosurus Vulpecula ◽  
Strong Positive Reaction ◽  
Rabbit Polyclonal Antibody ◽  
Theca Interna

The ovarian distribution of the steroidogenic enzyme 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta(5-->4) isomerase (3beta-HSD) was investigated by immunocytochemistry in two marsupial species throughout the reproductive cycle, using a rabbit polyclonal antibody raised against human placental 3beta-HSD. In the polyoestrous and polyovular South American opossum Monodelphis domestica, immunostaining was positive for 3beta-HSD in the adrenal cortex, the ovarian interstitial tissue, the corpus luteum and the granulosa cells of antral and atretic follicles. The theca interna was weakly positive for 3beta-HSD, but only in late preantral to early antral stages of follicular development. The adrenal medulla and smaller preantral follicles were completely negative for 3beta-HSD. In contrast, in the polyoestrous and monovular Australian brushtail possum Trichosurus vulpecula, immunostaining showed a strong positive reaction for 3beta-HSD in the theca, whereas the granulosa layer remained predominantly negative for 3beta-HSD except in the largest follicles. The atretic follicles were completely negative for 3beta-HSD. The ovaries of pregnant animals contained grossly enlarged, persistent, antral follicles, which reacted positively for 3beta-HSD. The function of these follicles in T. vulpecula and the 3beta-HSD-positive atretic follicles in M. domestica has not been determined. The differences between the two marsupials represent species variations. The situation in M. domestica does not represent a marsupial-eutherian dichotomy as previously conjectured.

Steroidogenesis by avian ovarian cells: effects of luteinizing hormone and substrate availability

1983 ◽  
Vol 244 (5) ◽  
pp. E487-E493 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. L. Marrone ◽  
F. Hertelendy
Keyword(s):  
Luteinizing Hormone ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Synergistic Effects ◽  
Theca Cells ◽  
Ovarian Cells ◽  
P Accumulation ◽  
Preovulatory Follicles ◽  
Extensive Metabolism ◽  
Increased Sensitivity ◽  
Stimulation Of

The production of progesterone (P) and estrogen (E) by enzymatically dispersed granulosa and theca cells from chicken preovulatory follicles was examined in 3-h incubations. Accumulation of the P produced by granulosa cells was significantly reduced by the addition of theca cells, whereas E production was increased. The decrease in P accumulation was shown to be due to extensive metabolism of P by theca cells. There were no synergistic effects of luteinizing hormone (LH) and any substrate tested on E production by theca cells. Maturation of granulosa cells was characterized by an increased sensitivity to LH stimulation of P production, but there was no change in pregnenolone conversion to P. Conversely, maturation of theca cells was accompanied by decreased in both sensitivity to LH and the ability to convert substrates to E. The results are discussed in terms of the contribution of each cell type in the production of steroids by chicken follicles during maturation.

scholarly journals Morphological classification of bovine ovarian follicles

Reproduction ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 139 (2) ◽  
pp. 309-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
R J Rodgers ◽  
H F Irving-Rodgers
Keyword(s):  
Basal Lamina ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Follicular Development ◽  
Basal Cells ◽  
Morphological Classification ◽  
Primordial Follicles ◽  
Antral Follicles ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Biological Differences

Follicle classification is an important aid to the understanding of follicular development and atresia. Some bovine primordial follicles have the classical primordial shape, but ellipsoidal shaped follicles with some cuboidal granulosa cells at the poles are far more common. Preantral follicles have one of two basal lamina phenotypes, either a single aligned layer or one with additional layers. In antral follicles <5 mm diameter, half of the healthy follicles have columnar shaped basal granulosa cells and additional layers of basal lamina, which appear as loops in cross section (‘loopy’). The remainder have aligned single-layered follicular basal laminas with rounded basal cells, and contain better quality oocytes than the loopy/columnar follicles. In sizes >5 mm, only aligned/rounded phenotypes are present. Dominant and subordinate follicles can be identified by ultrasound and/or histological examination of pairs of ovaries. Atretic follicles <5 mm are either basal atretic or antral atretic, named on the basis of the location in the membrana granulosa where cells die first. Basal atretic follicles have considerable biological differences to antral atretic follicles. In follicles >5 mm, only antral atresia is observed. The concentrations of follicular fluid steroid hormones can be used to classify atresia and distinguish some of the different types of atresia; however, this method is unlikely to identify follicles early in atresia, and hence misclassify them as healthy. Other biochemical and histological methods can be used, but since cell death is a part of normal homoeostatis, deciding when a follicle has entered atresia remains somewhat subjective.

scholarly journals Determination of Steroidogenic Potential of Ovarian Cells of the Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)1

2003 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 947-958 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa J. Whale ◽  
Douglas C. Eckery ◽  
Jennifer L. Juengel
Keyword(s):  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Trichosurus Vulpecula ◽  
Ovarian Cells

scholarly journals Profiling of superoxide dismutase isoenzymes in compartments of the developing bovine antral follicles

Reproduction ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 139 (5) ◽  
pp. 871-881 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine M H Combelles ◽  
Emily A Holick ◽  
Louis J Paolella ◽  
David C Walker ◽  
Qiaqia Wu
Keyword(s):  
Superoxide Dismutase ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Follicular Fluid ◽  
Follicular Development ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Antral Follicle ◽  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Sod Activity ◽  
Antral Follicles ◽  
Sod Isoforms

The antral follicle constitutes a complex and regulated ovarian microenvironment that influences oocyte quality. Oxidative stress is a cellular state that may play a role during folliculogenesis and oogenesis, although direct supporting evidence is currently lacking. We thus evaluated the expression of the three isoforms (SOD1, SOD2, and SOD3) of the enzymatic antioxidant superoxide dismutase in all the cellular (granulosa cells, cumulus cells, and oocytes) and extracellular (follicular fluid) compartments of the follicle. Comparisons were made in bovine ovaries across progressive stages of antral follicular development. Follicular fluid possessed increased amounts of SOD1, SOD2, and SOD3 in small antral follicles when compared with large antral follicles; concomitantly, total SOD activity was highest in follicular fluids from smaller diameter follicles. SOD1, SOD2, and SOD3 proteins were expressed in granulosa cells without any fluctuations in follicle sizes. All three SOD isoforms were present, but were distributed differently in oocytes from small, medium, or large antral follicles. Cumulus cells expressed high levels of SOD3, some SOD2, but no detectable SOD1. Our studies provide a temporal and spatial expression profile of the three SOD isoforms in the different compartments of the developing bovine antral follicles. These results lay the ground for future investigations into the potential regulation and roles of antioxidants during folliculogenesis and oogenesis.

Oocyte-secreted factros regulate granulosa cell steroidogenesis

Zygote ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 4 (04) ◽  
pp. 317-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara C. Vanderhyden
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Germ Cell ◽  
Granulosa Cell ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Follicular Fluid ◽  
Follicular Development ◽  
Inhibitory Factor ◽  
Preovulatory Follicles ◽  
Loss Of Contact

Investigations of strains of mice defective in germ cell development have revealed the importance of oocytes for the initial stages of folliculogenesis (Pellaset al., 1991; Huanget al., 1993). Various aspects of follicular development are dependent upon and/or influenced by the presence of oocytes, including granulosa cell proliferation (Vanderhydenet al., 1990, 1992) and cumulus expansion (Buccioneet al., 1990; Salustriet al., 1990; Vanderhydenet al., 1990; Vanderhyden, 1993). We are investigating the possibility that oocytes influence one of the primary functions of granulosa cells: steroidogenesis. In many species, granulosa cells removed from preovulatory follicles luteinisein vitro(Channinget al., 1982), presumably due to loss of contact with follicular luteinisation inhibitory factor(s). Indeed, follicular fluid can prevent granulosa cell luteinisationin vitro(Ledwitz-Rigbyet al., 1977). Follicular fluid, however, may simply be the medium for transport of factors secreted by oocytes to regulate granulosa cell activities.

Ultrastructural localisation of calcium deposits in the mouse ovary

2003 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 415 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Sedmíková ◽  
R. Rajmon ◽  
J. Petr ◽  
M. Vaňková ◽  
J. Rozinek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Follicular Development ◽  
Mouse Ovary ◽  
Antral Follicles ◽  
Mouse Oocytes ◽  
Adult Mice ◽  
Calcium Deposits ◽  
Cellular Compartments ◽  
Meiotic Competence

Follicle-enclosed mouse oocytes contain numerous calcium deposits. The ultrastructural distribution of calcium deposits in the nuclei, mitochondria and cytoplasm of mouse oocytes and granulosa cells of primary, secondary and antral follicles was examined using the combined oxalate–pyroantimonate method. The mitochondria of oocytes from all types of follicles had the highest levels of calcium deposits of all oocyte compartments, with the exception of primary follicles, in which oocyte nuclei contained the same level of calcium deposits as the mitochondria. Calcium deposits in the cytoplasm of oocytes from primary follicles were significantly lower than those in the cytoplasm of oocytes from secondary and antral follicles. Calcium deposits in the cytoplasm of granulosa cells were significantly lower than calcium deposits in the mitochondria of granulosa cells and this difference persisted throughout all categories of follicles. Calcium deposits in the nuclei of granulosa cells did not differ from levels in the mitochondria in primary and secondary follicles. In contrast, the nuclei of granulosa cells from antral follicles had lower levels of calcium deposits than the mitochondria. The differences observed in calcium deposits in various cellular compartments in oocytes and granulosa cells in the follicles of ovaries of adult mice can be attributed to their acquisition of meiotic competence and follicular development.

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