Ovarian Biomechanics: From Health to Disease

Biomechanics is a physical phenomenon which mainly related with deformation and movement of life forms. As a mechanical signal, it participates in the growth and development of many tissues and organs, including ovary. Mechanical signals not only participate in multiple processes in the ovary but also play a critical role in ovarian growth and normal physiological functions. Additionally, the involvement of mechanical signals has been found in ovarian cancer and other ovarian diseases, prompting us to focus on the roles of mechanical signals in the process of ovarian health to disease. This review mainly discusses the effects and signal transduction of biomechanics (including elastic force, shear force, compressive stress and tensile stress) in ovarian development as a regulatory signal, as well as in the pathological process of normal ovarian diseases and cancer. This review also aims to provide new research ideas for the further research and treatment of ovarian-related diseases.

The Ovarian Development Genes of Bisexual and Parthenogenetic Haemaphysalis longicornis Evaluated by Transcriptomics and Proteomics

The tick Haemaphysalis longicornis has two reproductive groups: a bisexual group (HLBP) and a parthenogenetic group (HLPP). The comparative molecular regulation of ovarian development in these two groups is unexplored. We conducted transcriptome sequencing and quantitative proteomics on the ovaries of HLBP and HLPP, in different feeding stages, to evaluate the molecular function of genes associated with ovarian development. The ovarian tissues of HLBP and HLPP were divided into three feeding stages (early-fed, partially-fed and engorged). A total of 87,233 genes and 2,833 proteins were annotated in the ovary of H. longicornis in the different feeding stages. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of functional pathway analysis indicated that Lysosome, MAPK Signaling Pathway, Phagosome, Regulation of Actin Cytoskeleton, Endocytosis, Apoptosis, Insulin Signaling Pathway, Oxidative Phosphorylation, and Sphingolipid Metabolism were most abundant in the ovary of H. longicornis in the different feeding stages. Comparing the DEGs between HLBP and HLPP revealed that the ABC Transporter, PI3K-Akt Signaling Pathway and cAMP Signaling Pathway were the most enriched and suggested that the functions of signal transduction mechanisms may have changed during ovarian development. The functions of the annotated proteome of ovarian tissues were strongly correlated with the transcriptome annotation results, and these were further validated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). In the HLBP, the expression of cathepsin L, secreted proteins and glycosidase proteins was significantly up-regulated during feeding stages. In the HLPP, the lysozyme, yolk proteins, heat shock protein, glutathione S transferase, myosin and ATP synthase proteins were up-regulated during feeding stages. The significant differences of the gene expression between HLBP and HLPP indicated that variations in the genetic background and molecular function might exist in the two groups. These results provide a foundation for understanding the molecular mechanism and exploring the functions of genes in the ovarian development of different reproductive groups of H. longicornis.

Redundant functions of the SLC5A transporters Rumpel, Bumpel, and Kumpel in ensheathing glial cells

Neuronal processing is energy demanding, and relies on sugar metabolism. To nurture the Drosophila nervous system, the blood-brain barrier forming glial cells take up trehalose from the hemolymph and then distribute the metabolic products further to all neurons. This function is provided by glucose and lactate transporters of the solute carrier (SLC) 5A family. Here we identified three SLC5A genes that are specifically expressed in overlapping sets of CNS glial cells, rumpel, bumpel and kumpel. We generated mutants in all genes and all mutants are viable and fertile, lacking discernible phenotypes. Loss of rumpel causes subtle locomotor phenotypes and flies display increased daytime sleep. In addition, in bumpel kumpel double mutants, and to an even greater extent in rumpel bumpel kumpel triple mutants, oogenesis is disrupted at the onset of the vitollegenic phase. This indicates a partially redundant functions between these genes. Rescue experiments exploring this effect indicate that oogenesis can be affected by CNS glial cells. Moreover, expression of heterologous mammalian SLC5A transporters, with known transport properties, suggest that Bumpel and/or Kumpel transport glucose or lactate. Overall, our results imply a redundancy in SLC5A nutrient sensing functions in Drosophila glial cells, affecting ovarian development and behavior.

237 Incidence and Implications of Disparate Uterine and Ovarian Development Observed Among Heifers Evaluated During the Peripubertal Period

Rapid development in the reproductive tract occurs in the peripubertal period, with variable rates of development of reproductive tissues potentially resulting in perceived disparities in ovarian and uterine development at pre-breeding examination. Data collected from 22,173 heifers evaluated over five consecutive breeding seasons (2014–2018) were analyzed retrospectively to assess relationships between observed disparities in uterine and ovarian development and the timing of conception within the breeding season. Pre-breeding evaluations were conducted 35–45 days prior to breeding. Weight, hip height, and pelvic area were recorded. A single veterinarian conducted all reproductive evaluations via rectal palpation, and heifers were assigned individual scores for ovarian (2=infantile, 3=no significant structures, 4=large follicle and/or corpus luteum) and uterine (2=infantile, 3=mid-sized, distended tract, 4=well-vascularized, distended or coiled tract) development respectively. Heifers received artificial insemination (AI) based on detected estrus following the 14-day MGA-PG protocol. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed via transrectal ultrasonography. Pregnancy rates to AI (P/AI) were greater for scores 4-4 (n = 14,567) in comparison with 3-3 (n=3,941; P < 0.0001) or 2-2 (n = 44; P < 0.0001) and likewise were greater (P < 0.0001) for scores 3-3 in comparison with 2-2. Heifers with disparate scores of 2–3 (n = 38) did not differ (P = 0.53) from those with disparate scores of 3-2 (n = 53) with respect to P/AI, but either disparity was associated with greater (P < 0.01) P/AI relative to scores of 2-2 and reduced P/AI relative to scores of 3-3 (P < 0.01). Scores of 4-3 (1,698) and 3-3 did not differ (P >0.44) in P/AI, but P/AI tended (P = 0.06) to be greater among scores 3–4 (1,832) in comparison with 3-3. Similar (P > 0.33) P/AI was observed among heifers scored 4-4, 4-3, or 3–4. In summary, disparate ovarian and uterine development impacted timing of conception within the breeding season among heifers with lower tract scores. Such disparities were observed among 0.4% of heifers evaluated.

Disruption of the Serine/Threonine Kinase Akt Gene Affects Ovarian Development and Fecundity in the Cigarette Beetle, Lasioderma serricorne

Serine/threonine kinase Akt, an important component of the insulin signaling pathway, plays an essential role in many physiological processes. In this study, we identified and characterized an Akt gene (designated LsAkt) from the cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne. LsAkt contains a 1614 bp open reading frame encoding a 537 amino acid protein that possesses a conserved pleckstrin homology domain and a serine/threonine kinase domain. The expression of LsAkt was high in pupal stages and peaked in day-4 female pupae. In adult tissues, LsAkt was highly expressed in the thorax, ovary, and midgut. The expression of LsAkt was induced by methoprene or bovine insulin in vivo, but significantly decreased by 20-hydroxyecdysone. RNA interference-mediated knockdown of LsAkt resulted in severely blocked ovarian development and reduced fecundity and hatchability. The vitellogenin (Vg) content and juvenile hormone (JH) titers of LsAkt-depletion beetles were decreased, and expressions of Vg and four JH signaling and biosynthetic genes were significantly decreased. Silencing of LsAkt reduced the amounts of glucose, glycogen, and trehalose in female adults and affected the expressions of seven key carbohydrate metabolic genes. Taken together, it is inferred that Akt implicates in L. serricorne reproduction by modification of Vg synthesis, juvenile hormone production and carbohydrate metabolism.