228. In vivo evidence for a role of bone morphogenetic protein-4 in ovarian function

2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 89
Author(s):  
P. S. Tanwar ◽  
J. R. McFarlane

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) were first identified on the basis of their bone inducing capacity, and later shown to be members of the transforming growth factor β (TGF β) super family. Nilsson et al.1 studied the effect of BMP-4 on follicular development in rat ovaries and found that the addition of BMP-4 to whole ovary cultures led to more numbers of developing primary follicles but less numbers of primordial follicles. Their studies indicate that BMP-4 acts as a transition factor for the conversion of primordial follicles to primary follicles. To test this hypothesis in-vivo, we conducted passive immunization studies against BMP-4 in prepubertal female mice. The mice were divided in to four groups (n = 5), and given daily SC injections of the following treatment: anti BMP-4 (50μg), PMSG (10 IU) (pregnant mare serum gonadotropin) with and without anti BMP-4 (0.5 mg/mL) and PBS for 3 days. All experimentation was approved by animal ethics committee, University of New England, Armidale, NSW. On the fourth day the mice were killed and the ovaries removed and weighed. The mice treated with anti BMP-4 had significantly smaller ovaries (4.1 ± 0.4 mg) than the control group (8.6 ± 0.9 mg). PMSG stimulated ovarian weight (21.0 ± 1.2 mg) but anti BMP-4 (23.2 ± 1.3 mg) did not significantly affect the weight of the stimulated ovaries. This data confirms BMP-4 is important in ovarian function; however, it is unclear whether this effect is on the ovary directly or via FSH. (1)Nilsson, E. E., Skinner, M.K. (2003). Bone morphogenetic protein-4 acts as an ovarian follicle survival factor and promotes primordial follicle development. Biology of Reproduction 69, 1265–1272.

Development ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 115 (2) ◽  
pp. 573-585 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Dale ◽  
G. Howes ◽  
B.M. Price ◽  
J.C. Smith

The mesoderm of amphibian embryos such as Xenopus laevis arises through an inductive interaction in which cells of the vegetal hemisphere of the embryo act on overlying equatorial and animal pole cells. Three classes of ‘mesoderm-inducing factor’ (MIF) that might be responsible for this interaction in vivo have been discovered. These are members of the transforming growth factor type beta (TGF-beta), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and Wnt families. Among the most potent MIFs are the activins, members of the TGF-beta family, but RNA for activin A and B is not detectable in the Xenopus embryo until neurula and late blastula stages, respectively, and this is probably too late for the molecules to act as natural inducers. In this paper, we use the polymerase chain reaction to clone additional members of the TGF-beta family that might possess mesoderm-inducing activity. We show that transcripts encoding Xenopus bone morphogenetic protein 4 (XBMP-4) are detectable in the unfertilized egg, and that injection of XBMP-4 RNA into the animal hemisphere of Xenopus eggs causes animal caps isolated from the resulting blastulae to express mesoderm-specific markers. Surprisingly, however, XBMP-4 preferentially induces ventral mesoderm, whereas the closely related activin induces axial tissues. Furthermore, the action of XBMP-4 is ‘dominant’ over that of activin. In this respect, XBMP-4 differs from basic FGF, another ventral inducer, where simultaneous treatment with FGF and activin results in activin-like responses. The dominance of XBMP-4 over activin may account for the ability of injected XBMP-4 RNA to ‘ventralize’ whole Xenopus embryos. It is interesting, however, that blastopore formation in such embryos can occur perfectly normally. This contrasts with embryos ventralized by UV-irradiation and suggests that XBMP-4-induced ventralization occurs after the onset of gastrulation.


Reproduction ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 138 (4) ◽  
pp. 689-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chantelle Ruoss ◽  
Amanda Tadros ◽  
Tim O'Shea ◽  
Jim McFarlane ◽  
Ghanim Almahbobi

The role of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) in the regulation of ovarian function has been extensively investigated but the mechanism of regulation is not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of mutation in the BMP receptor in Booroola sheep on the number of primordial follicles and rate of follicle recruitment in comparison with that in normal merino sheep in vivo. Whole sheep ovaries at the time of birth, 1.5 and 5 years old were collected and processed for the follicle quantification, using computerised stereological methods and statistical analyses. At birth, the total number of primordial follicles in Booroola sheep was significantly lower than in merino sheep. At 1.5 and 5 years, a reversed pattern in favour of Booroola ewes was seen with significantly more primordial follicles than merino. In parallel, the rate of primordial follicle recruitment to developing cohort was substantially lower in Booroola ewes with only 51 and 66% of primordial follicle consumption at 1.5 and 5 years respectively compared to 92 and 97% in merino ewes. On other hand, the mean numbers of developing primary follicles were smaller in Booroola sheep at the time of birth, yet, Booroola ewes possess more primary follicles than merino at 1.5 years. These findings suggest that attenuation of the intraovarian signalling pathway of BMPs may in fact be a successful means of rationalising follicle consumption, preventing unnecessary loss of follicles from the initial primordial follicle pool, hence increasing reproductive longevity and fertility.


Endocrinology ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 149 (6) ◽  
pp. 2807-2815 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather E. McMahon ◽  
Osamu Hashimoto ◽  
Pamela L. Mellon ◽  
Shunichi Shimasaki

Whereas mutations in the bmp15 gene cause infertility in ewes and women due to defects in folliculogenesis, most defects in female mice lacking bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-15 are confined to the ovulation process, supportive of the observation that functional mouse BMP-15 is barely detected in oocytes in vivo until after the LH surge. In addition, the mouse BMP-15 proprotein is not processed into the functional mature protein in transfected cells. However, a chimeric protein consisting of the human proregion, human cleavage site, and mouse mature region (termed hhmBMP-15) is processed and the mature protein secreted. To study the role of BMP-15 in folliculogenesis, we generated transgenic mice overexpressing hhmBMP-15, exclusively in oocytes during folliculogenesis and confirmed the overexpression of mouse BMP-15 mature protein. Immature transgenic mice exhibited accelerated follicle growth with decreased primary follicles and an increase in secondary follicles. Granulosa cells of immature mice displayed an increased mitotic index and decreased FSH receptor mRNA expression. Adult mice had normal litter sizes but an increased number of atretic antral follicles. Interestingly, aging mice exhibited an early onset of acyclicity marked by increased diestrus length and early occurrence of constant diestrus. These findings indicate the role of BMP-15 in vivo in promoting follicle growth and preventing follicle maturation, resulting in an early decline in the ovarian reserve of transgenic mice. Therefore, the lack of mouse BMP-15 during early folliculogenesis in the wild-type mice may be relevant to their polyovulatory nature as well as the preservation of ovarian function as the mice age.


2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (18) ◽  
pp. 1338
Author(s):  
Bianka M. Zanini ◽  
Kelvin R. S. Andrade ◽  
Jorgea Pradiee ◽  
Gabriel B. Veiga ◽  
Driele N. Garcia ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of calorie restriction (CR) during pregnancy in mice on metabolism and ovarian function in the offspring. Pregnant female mice were divided into two groups, a control group and a CR group (n=7 in each). Mice in the CR group were fed 50% of the amount consumed by control females from Day 10 of gestation until delivery. After weaning, the offspring received diet ad libitum until 3 months of age, when ovaries were collected. Ovaries were serially cut and every sixth section was used for follicle counting. Female offspring from CR dams tended to have increased bodyweight compared with offspring from control females (P=0.08). Interestingly, fewer primordial follicles (60% reduction; P=0.001), transitional follicles (P=0.0006) and total follicles (P=0.006) were observed in offspring from CR mothers. The number of primary, secondary and tertiary follicles did not differ between the groups (P>0.05). The CR offspring had fewer DNA double-strand breaks in primary follicle oocytes (P=0.03). In summary, CR during the second half of gestation decreased primordial ovarian follicle reserve in female offspring. These findings suggest that undernutrition during the second half of gestation may decrease the reproductive lifespan of female offspring.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinwei Yao ◽  
Yanfen Ma ◽  
Xin Lin ◽  
Shuo Zhou ◽  
Yuling Mi ◽  
...  

In the poultry, only less than 5% primordial follicles in the ovary can develop into the prehierarchical follicles (PHFs) leading to progressive development, ovulation, and egg formation. This low rate of recruitment indicates a huge potential for improvement of the laying performance. A great reduction in egg production is caused by aging with extensive follicular atresia. In this study, age-related changes in the laying performance and ovarian status were compared between the peak-lay (D280) and aged (D580) chickens. Subsequently, a cross coculture of PHFs and granulosa cells (GCs) from D280 or D580 hens was adopted to reveal the mechanism of declined follicle development. Results showed that persistent endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in GCs of the aged hens was accompanied with intensified apoptosis. Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) secreted by GCs of PHFs in D280 hens was capable of relieving ER stress and improving follicular dominance for selection in D580 hens. During this action, BMP4 reduced free calreticulin (CALR, an ER marker) content and attenuated cell apoptosis in PHFs of D580 hens via the PERK-CHOP-BCL2/caspase3 or CALR-Ca2+-BCL2-caspase12 pathway. Furthermore, BMP4 prevented follicular atresia by promoting production of steroid hormones to improve survival of GCs in PHFs from the aged hens. In conclusion, intensified ER stress and apoptosis occurred in GCs of PHFs in aged chickens, while BMP4 secreted by GCs was capable of improving follicular viability by alleviating ER stress to promote follicular development.


2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (11) ◽  
pp. 2605-2618
Author(s):  
Anne L. Theilmann ◽  
Lindsey G. Hawke ◽  
L. Rhiannon Hilton ◽  
Mara K.M. Whitford ◽  
Devon V. Cole ◽  
...  

Objective: Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a disease of proliferative vascular occlusion that is strongly linked to mutations in BMPR2 —the gene encoding the BMPR-II (BMP [bone morphogenetic protein] type II receptor). The endothelial-selective BMPR-II ligand, BMP9, reverses disease in animal models of pulmonary arterial hypertension and suppresses the proliferation of healthy endothelial cells. However, the impact of BMPR2 loss on the antiproliferative actions of BMP9 has yet to be assessed. Approach and Results: BMP9 suppressed proliferation in blood outgrowth endothelial cells from healthy control subjects but increased proliferation in blood outgrowth endothelial cells from pulmonary arterial hypertension patients with BMPR2 mutations. This shift from growth suppression to enhanced proliferation was recapitulated in control human pulmonary artery endothelial cells following siRNA-mediated BMPR2 silencing, as well as in mouse pulmonary endothelial cells isolated from endothelial-conditional Bmpr2 knockout mice ( Bmpr2 EC −/− ). BMP9-induced proliferation was not attributable to altered metabolic activity or elevated TGFβ (transforming growth factor beta) signaling but was linked to the prolonged induction of the canonical BMP target ID1 in the context of BMPR2 loss. In vivo, daily BMP9 administration to neonatal mice impaired both retinal and lung vascular patterning in control mice ( Bmpr2 EC+/+ ) but had no measurable effect on mice bearing a heterozygous endothelial Bmpr2 deletion ( Bmpr2 EC +/− ) and caused excessive angiogenesis in both vascular beds for Bmpr2 EC −/− mice. Conclusions: BMPR2 loss reverses the endothelial response to BMP9, causing enhanced proliferation. This finding has potential implications for the proposed translation of BMP9 as a treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension and suggests the need for focused patient selection in clinical trials.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document