Modulating effect of growth hormone on the functional state of cultured cells from hen preovulatory follicles

Author(s):  
A. Smekalova ◽  
O. Mityashova ◽  
O. Aleinikova ◽  
E. Montvila ◽  
I. Lebedeva

Somatotropic hormone (STH) is an important positive modulator of ovarian function in mammals. Local production of STH and the expression of the corresponding specific receptors were also detected in hen ovarian follicles, which indicates the participation of this hormone in the endocrine/paracrine control of folliculogenesis in birds. Nevertheless, the role of STH in the regulation of growth of avian follicles at the final stage of maturation is still not clear.Objective: To study in vitro the effect of STH on the proliferative activity and apoptotic changes of granulosa and theca cells from preovulatory follicles of domestic hens.Materials and methods. Young laying hens aged 34-35 weeks with a long clutch were used in the experiments. Granulosa and theca cells were isolated from the largest yellow follicle in the hierarchy (F1). The cells were cultured in a medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum until a monolayer was formed, and then for 24 h in the medium without serum in the absence (control) or in the presence of STH at various concentrations (1-100 ng/ml). The proliferative activity and apoptotic changes in the cells were assessed by immunocytochemical assay, based on the expression level of proliferating cell nuclear antigen PCNA and pro-apoptotic protein Bax, respectively.Results. The proportion of PCNA-positive granulosa cells increased 1.3-1.8 times (P<0.01-0.05) as compared to control with increasing the content of STH in the medium to 10-100 ng/ml. Furthermore, within this concentration range, the studied hormone reduced 1.2-1.6 times (P<0.05) the relative number of granulosa cells with the positive reaction to Bax. The sensitivity of theca cells to the growth-stimulating effect of STH was lower than that of granulosa cells. Such the effect of STH led to an increase in the proportion of PCNA-positive thecal cells by 1.2-1.3 times (P<0.05) and was detected only at concentrations of 25 and 100 ng/ml. Meanwhile, STH (25-100 ng/ml) increased 1.3 times (P<0.05) the level of Bax expression in theca cells.Conclusions. The results of the present study indicate the stimulating effect of STH in vitro on the proliferative activity of granulosa and theca cells from the most mature hen preovulatory follicle. In addition, STH is able to reduce the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax in granulosa cells and increase this expression in thecal cells. Thus, the data obtained indicate the possible participation of STH in the regulation of growth and development of follicles at the final stage of maturation during the period of maximum egg-laying intensity in laying hens.

Reproduction ◽  
2003 ◽  
pp. 709-716 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Maillet ◽  
A Benhaim ◽  
H Mittre ◽  
C Feral

Follicular atresia is characterized by a rapid loss of granulosa cells and, to a lesser extent, theca cells, via apoptosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible involvement of theca cell secretions in the regulation of apoptosis of rabbit granulosa cells. The annexin-V binding method based on externalization of phosphatidylserine to the outer layer of plasma membrane during apoptosis was used to detect apoptotic granulosa cells in flow cytometry. Regulation of apoptosis of granulosa cells was studied in three different culture systems: (i) isolated cultured granulosa cells, (ii) granulosa cells obtained from cultured preovulatory follicles and (iii) granulosa cells co-cultured with theca cells. The results of this study indicate that: (i) the rate of apoptosis of granulosa cells was significantly reduced when granulosa cells were co-cultured with theca cells or obtained from cultured preovulatory follicles in comparison with isolated cultured granulosa cells; (ii) FSH exerts its anti-apoptotic effect only on granulosa cells issued from cultured preovulatory follicles; (iii) ovarian steroids do not affect the percentage of isolated apoptotic granulosa cells; and (iv) the occurrence of an apoptotic process in rabbit theca cells could be upregulated in vitro by hCG and an analogue of the gonadotrophin second messenger cAMP. The results of this study indicate that in rabbits (i) steroids were ineffective in vitro in protecting isolated granulosa cells against apoptosis in comparison with observations in vivo in rats, and (ii) the presence of theca cells was efficient to reduce granulosa cell apoptosis but not sufficient to allow the anti-apoptotic effect of gonadotrophins observed in cultured follicles.


1976 ◽  
Vol 54 (7) ◽  
pp. 1128-1139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Nagahama ◽  
K. Chan ◽  
W. S. Hoar

Pre- and post-ovulatory follicles in the goldfish ovary were investigated histochemically and ultrastructurally. Special cells in the thecal layer of preovulatory follicles of yolk-laden oocytes showed 3β-hydroxy-Δ5-steroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD; EC 1.1.1.145) activity typical of steroid hormone synthesis. Ultrastructurally, these thecal cells possess organelles characteristic of steroid-producing cells: mitochondria with tubular cristae and agranular endoplasmic reticulum. Unlike thecal ceils, the granulosa cells contain organelles typical of protein-secreting cells. These findings strongly suggest that only the special theca cells are sites of estrogen synthesis in the goldfish ovary.Postovulatory follicles, 6–10 h after ovulation, were characterized by a highly vascular thecal layer and hypertrophied granulosa cells. A weak but definite 3β-HSD activity occurs in both special theca cells and granulosa cells. Ultrastructurally, the granulosa cells contain many lipid droplets and numerous Golgi elements, suggesting the possible immediate transformation of granulosa cells to lutein cells during the ovulation. However, 30 h after ovulation, both granulosa cells and special theca cells showed advanced degenerative features and these data do not seem to support the hypothesis of an endocrine role for the older postovulatory follicles of the goldfish.


Author(s):  
Er-Meng Gao ◽  
Bongkoch Turathum ◽  
Ling Wang ◽  
Di Zhang ◽  
Yu-Bing Liu ◽  
...  

AbstractThis study evaluated the differences in metabolites between cumulus cells (CCs) and mural granulosa cells (MGCs) from human preovulatory follicles to understand the mechanism of oocyte maturation involving CCs and MGCs. CCs and MGCs were collected from women who were undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment. The differences in morphology were determined by immunofluorescence. The metabolomics of CCs and MGCs was measured by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) followed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blot analysis to further confirm the genes and proteins involved in oocyte maturation. CCs and MGCs were cultured for 48 h in vitro, and the medium was collected for detection of hormone levels. There were minor morphological differences between CCs and MGCs. LC-MS/MS analysis showed that there were differences in 101 metabolites between CCs and MGCs: 7 metabolites were upregulated in CCs, and 94 metabolites were upregulated in MGCs. The metabolites related to cholesterol transport and estradiol production were enriched in CCs, while metabolites related to antiapoptosis were enriched in MGCs. The expression of genes and proteins involved in cholesterol transport (ABCA1, LDLR, and SCARB1) and estradiol production (SULT2B1 and CYP19A1) was significantly higher in CCs, and the expression of genes and proteins involved in antiapoptosis (CRLS1, LPCAT3, and PLA2G4A) was significantly higher in MGCs. The level of estrogen in CCs was significantly higher than that in MGCs, while the progesterone level showed no significant differences. There are differences between the metabolomes of CCs and MGCs. These differences may be involved in the regulation of oocyte maturation.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1652
Author(s):  
Dorota Katarzyńska-Banasik ◽  
Anna Kozubek ◽  
Małgorzata Grzesiak ◽  
Andrzej Sechman

The continuous development of poultry production related to the growing demand for eggs and chicken meat makes it necessary to use modern technologies. An answer to this demand may be the use of nanotechnology in poultry farming. One of the promising nanomaterials in this field are silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which are used as disinfectants, reducing microbial pollution and the amounts of greenhouse gases released. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of AgNPs on the proliferation and apoptosis process in the granulosa cells of chicken preovulatory follicles. The in vitro culture experiment revealed that both 13 nm and 50 nm AgNPs inhibited the proliferation of the granulosa cells. However, a faster action was observed in 50 nm AgNPs than in 13 nm ones. A size-dependent effect of AgNP was also demonstrated for the caspase-3 activity. AgNPs 13 nm in size increased the caspase-3 activity in granulosa cells, while 50 nm AgNPs did not exert an effect, which may indicate the induction of distinct cell death pathways by AgNPs. In conclusion, our study reveals that AgNPs in vitro inhibit granulosa cell proliferation and stimulate their apoptosis. These results suggest that AgNPs may disrupt the final stage of preovulatory follicle maturation and ovulation.


Reproduction ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 140 (2) ◽  
pp. 295-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L Juengel ◽  
Lisa J Haydon ◽  
Brigitta Mester ◽  
Brian P Thomson ◽  
Michael Beaumont ◽  
...  

IGFs are known to be key regulators of ovarian follicular growth in eutherian mammals, but little is known regarding their role in marsupials. To better understand the potential role of IGFs in the regulation of follicular growth in marsupials, expression of mRNAs encoding IGF1, IGF2, IGF1R, IGF-binding protein 2 (IGFBP2), IGFBP4 and IGFBP5 was localized by in situ hybridization in developing ovarian follicles of the brushtail possum. In addition, the effects of IGF1 and IGF2 on granulosa cell function were tested in vitro. Both granulosa and theca cells synthesize IGF mRNAs, with the theca expressing IGF1 mRNA and granulosa cell expressing IGF2 mRNA. Oocytes and granulosa cells express IGF1R. Granulosa and theca cells expressed IGFBP mRNAs, although the pattern of expression differed between the BPs. IGFBP5 mRNA was differentially expressed as the follicles developed with granulosa cells of antral follicles no longer expressing IGFBP5 mRNA, suggesting an increased IGF bioavailability in the antral follicle. The IGFBP protease, PAPPA mRNA, was also expressed in granulosa cells of growing follicles. Both IGF1 and IGF2 stimulated thymidine incorporation but had no effect on progesterone production. Thus, IGF may be an important regulator of ovarian follicular development in marsupials as has been shown in eutherian mammals.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylwia Ciesiółka ◽  
Joanna Budna ◽  
Karol Jopek ◽  
Artur Bryja ◽  
Wiesława Kranc ◽  
...  

The key mechanisms responsible for achievement of full reproductive and developmental capability in mammals are the differentiation and transformation of granulosa cells (GCs) during folliculogenesis, oogenesis, and oocyte maturation. Although the role of 17 beta-estradiol (E2) in ovarian activity is widely known, its effect on proliferative capacity, gap junction connection (GJC) formation, and GCs-luteal cells transformation requires further research. Therefore, the goal of this study was to assess the real-time proliferative activity of porcine GCs in vitro in relation to connexin (Cx), luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR), follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), and aromatase (CYP19A1) expression during short-term (168 h) primary culture. The cultured GCs were exposed to acute (at 96 h of culture) and/or prolonged (between 0 and 168 h of culture) administration of 1.8 and 3.6 μM E2. The relative abundance of Cx36, Cx37, Cx40, Cx43, LHR, FSHR, and CYP19A1 mRNA was measured. We conclude that the proliferation capability of GCs in vitro is substantially associated with expression of Cxs, LHR, FSHR, and CYP19A1. Furthermore, the GC-luteal cell transformation in vitro may be significantly accompanied by the proliferative activity of GCs in pigs.


Endocrinology ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 147 (10) ◽  
pp. 4713-4722 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Bridges ◽  
C. M. Komar ◽  
J. E. Fortune

Follicular production of prostaglandins (PGs) is essential for ovulation, but the factors mediating gonadotropin-induced secretion of PGE and PGF2α remain largely unknown. We tested the hypothesis that gonadotropin-induced changes in progesterone and its receptor (PR) mediate the increase in periovulatory PGs. Heifers were treated with PGF2α and GnRH to induce luteolysis and the LH/FSH surge (ovulation occurs ∼30 h after GnRH). Because there are two increases in intrafollicular progesterone/PR mRNA during the bovine periovulatory period, we first examined the temporal pattern of PG production by follicles collected at 0, 3.5, 6, 12, 18, and 24 h after GnRH. Although PGs did not increase in the follicular fluid until 24 h after GnRH, acute secretion of PGs by follicle wall (theca + granulosa cells) was initiated by 18 h and had increased manyfold by 24 h after GnRH. In vitro, FSH and LH induced dramatic transient increases in PG production by follicle wall and granulosa, but not theca, cells isolated from preovulatory follicles (0 h after GnRH). PG accumulation peaked on d 2 of culture, mimicking the secretion pattern after a gonadotropin surge in vivo. In cultures of follicle wall and granulosa cells, the PR antagonist mifepristone (MIFE, 1 μm) inhibited LH-induced PG secretion and the progestin medroxyprogesterone acetate (1 or 10 μm), but not the glucocorticoid dexamethasone (1 or 10 μm), overcame the effect of MIFE on PGs. Semiquantitative RT-PCR revealed that MIFE inhibited LH-induced expression of cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA in granulosa cells in vitro. Again, treatment with medroxyprogesterone acetate overcame the effect of MIFE. Together these results provide strong evidence that periovulatory increases in cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA, PGE, and PGF2α are mediated by gonadotropin-induced increases in progesterone/PR, indicating that in some species there is an important functional relationship between these pathways in the ovulatory cascade.


1991 ◽  
Vol 19 (02) ◽  
pp. 155-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satoshi Usuki

To examine the possible effects of Tokishakuyakusan (TS) on steroidogenesis by preovulatory follicles at the cell level, the expressed granulosa cells and remaining portion of follicles from pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMS)-treated immature rats were incubated in vitro with increasing concentrations of TS for 3 h. TS significantly stimulated progesterone and estradiol-17 b production, with a predominant stimulation of progesterone, by the expressed granulosa cells, while testosterone production was not stimulated. In the remaining portion of the follicle, TS also significantly stimulated progesterone, testosterone and estradiol-17 b production. Similar to the effect produced by granulosa cells, the stimulatory effect of TS was stronger on progesterone than on testosterone and estradiol-17 b production. These results suggest that TS has a potent, direct stimulatory effect on steroidogenesis, especially progesterone production, by constituent tissue compartments of rat preovulatory follicles in vitro.


1983 ◽  
Vol 244 (5) ◽  
pp. E487-E493 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. L. Marrone ◽  
F. Hertelendy

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.


Reproduction ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 140 (4) ◽  
pp. 489-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
J M Young ◽  
A S McNeilly

Theca cells function in a diverse range of necessary roles during folliculogenesis; to synthesize androgens, provide crosstalk with granulosa cells and oocytes during development, and provide structural support of the growing follicle as it progresses through the developmental stages to produce a mature and fertilizable oocyte. Thecal cells are thought to be recruited from surrounding stromal tissue by factors secreted from an activated primary follicle. The precise origin and identity of these recruiting factors are currently not clear, but it appears that thecal recruitment and/or differentiation involves not just one signal, but a complex and tightly controlled combination of multiple factors. It is clear that thecal cells are fundamental for follicular growth, providing all the androgens required by the developing follicle(s) for conversion into estrogens by the granulosa cells. Their function is enabled through the establishment of a vascular system providing communication with the pituitary axis throughout the reproductive cycle, and delivering essential nutrients to these highly active cells. During development, the majority of follicles undergo atresia, and the theca cells are often the final follicular cell type to die. For those follicles that do ovulate, the theca cells then undergo hormone-dependent differentiation into luteinized thecal cells of the corpus luteum. While the theca is an essential component of follicle development and ovulation, we do not yet fully understand the control of recruitment and function of theca cells, an important consideration since their function appears to be altered in certain causes of infertility.


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