scholarly journals Periovulatory Expression of Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Sulfiredoxin and Peroxiredoxin 2 in the Rat Ovary: Gonadotropin Regulation and Potential Modification

Endocrinology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 153 (11) ◽  
pp. 5512-5521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae-Il Park ◽  
Hye-Jeong Jeon ◽  
Nak-Kyun Jung ◽  
You-Jee Jang ◽  
Jin-Seon Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Chorionic Gonadotropin ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
H2o2 Production ◽  
Corpora Lutea ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Peroxiredoxin 2 ◽  
Antioxidant Agents ◽  
Preovulatory Follicles

Abstract Reactive oxygen species are involved in ovulation. The aim of this study was to examine gonadotropin regulation of antioxidant enzyme sulfiredoxin (Srx) and peroxiredoxin 2 (PRDX2) expressions and modification during the ovulatory process in rats. Administration of antioxidants in vivo reduced ovulation rate and cumulus expansion. LH treatment increased H2O2 levels within 15 min, which, in turn, induced Srx gene expression in cultured preovulatory follicles. Treatment of preovulatory follicles with catalase suppressed the stimulatory effect of LH on Akt phosphorylation. LH- or H2O2-stimulated Srx mRNA levels were suppressed by inhibitors of antioxidant agents and MAPK kinase. An in vivo injection of equine chorionic gonadotropin-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) stimulated Srx mRNA within 1 h in granulosa but not thecal cells of preovulatory follicles. Srx protein levels were stimulated from 3 h post-hCG injection. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that oocytes expressed the Srx protein. Furthermore, hCG treatment increased Srx expression in mural granulosa, theca and cumulus cells, but the Srx protein was not detected in corpora lutea. Gene expression of PRDX2, identified as an Srx-dependent modified enzyme, was stimulated by gonadotropins. In situ hybridization analysis demonstrated that PRDX2 mRNA was detected in oocytes and theca cells as well as granulosa cells of some antral and preovulatory follicles. High levels of PRDX2 mRNA were detected in corpora lutea. Total levels of PRDX2 protein were not changed by gonadotropins. However, levels of hyperoxidized PRDX2 increased within 2–3 h after the hCG injection. Taken together, gonadotropin stimulation of Srx expression and PRDX2 modification in the ovary suggest the existence of an antioxidant system to maintain H2O2 production and elimination during the periovulatory period.

scholarly journals Investigating the Intrafollicular Factors Affecting Oocyte Developmental Competency

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Zaramasina Clark
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Oocyte Maturation ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Embryo Quality ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Significant Finding ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Final Maturation

<p>The number of cycles of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) performed increased by ~9.5 % globally between 2008 and 2010. In spite of this, the success rate in terms of delivery was only ~19.0 % (Dyer et al., 2016). This discrepancy between the demand for, and success of, these technologies necessitates the development of tools to improve ART efficiency. To facilitate this, a better understanding of how the microenvironment changes within the developing follicle to culminate in a mature, developmentally-competent oocyte is required. This study employed an in vivo and in vitro ovine model to investigate the relationship between the surrounding microenvironment and oocyte maturation, and in particular, the attainment of oocyte developmental competency and high-quality embryos.  The first objective of this PhD study was to comprehensively investigate the changing microenvironment of in vivo matured, presumptive preovulatory (PPOV) follicles from wild-type (++) and high ovulation rate (OR; I+B+) ewes. The high OR ewes were heterozygous carriers of mutations in BMP15 (I+) and BMPRIB (B+). Functional differences in follicular somatic (granulosa and cumulus) cells between these genotypes, including differential gonadotropin responsiveness of granulosa cells, composition of follicular fluid and gene expression profiles in cumulus cells were evident. These differences emerged as part of a compensatory mechanism by which oocytes from smaller follicles, containing fewer granulosa cells, achieved developmental competency in I+B+ ewes.  The second objective of this PhD study was to develop new approaches for improving current in vitro maturation (IVM) strategies. The first approach utilised in this study focused on developing biomarkers that could be used to improve prediction of developmental competency in oocytes and in vitro produced embryos. This involved interrogating the hypothesis that a combination of molecular and morphokinetic biomarkers would better predict the developmental competency of oocytes and embryos compared to using these biomarkers alone. The second approach utilised in this PhD study tested the effects of modulating IVM conditions to better mimic the follicular microenvironment of a high, compared to a low, OR species on oocyte developmental competency and embryo quality. This involved supplementing IVM media with different ratios of two oocyte-secreted growth factors, i.e. GDF9:BMP15, that were representative of low or high OR species. These approaches demonstrated significant potential and warrant further investigation.  The most significant finding of this study was that despite variances in the surrounding microenvironment during in vivo and in vitro oocyte maturation that culminated in differential gene expression patterns in cumulus cells, and divergent gonadotropin-responsiveness of granulosa cells, the gene expression signatures of developmentally-competent oocytes and the morphokinetics of high-quality embryos were unaltered. This confirms the value of developing such biomarkers for oocyte development competency and embryo quality that remain unaltered despite a changing surrounding environment. Interestingly, simulating the ratio of GDF9:BMP15 that oocytes from high OR species are exposed to during maturation improved developmental competency in oocytes as demonstrated by increased blastocyst rates. Furthermore, this study has demonstrated that combinations of molecular (cumulus cell gene expression) and morphokinetic biomarkers improved the ability to predict developmental competency in oocytes and embryos. Overall, this study revealed novel information regarding the follicular microenvironment during final maturation and identified several novel approaches to improving the efficiency of ART.</p>

scholarly journals Comparative gene expression profiling of mouse ovaries upon stimulation with natural equine chorionic gonadotropin (N-eCG) and tethered recombinant-eCG (R-eCG)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kwan-Sik Min ◽  
Jong-Ju Park ◽  
So-Yun Lee ◽  
Munkhzaya Byambaragchaa ◽  
Myung-Hwa Kang
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Chorionic Gonadotropin ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Expression System ◽  
Laboratory Animals ◽  
Metabolic Clearance ◽  
Qrt Pcr ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin

Abstract Background: Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) induces super-ovulation in laboratory animals. Notwithstanding its extensive usage, limited information is available regarding the differences between the in vivo effects of natural eCG (N-eCG) and recombinant eCG (R-eCG). This study aimed to investigate the gene expression profiles of mouse ovaries upon stimulation with N-eCG and R-eCG produced from CHO-suspension (CHO-S) cells. R-eCG gene was constructed and transfected into CHO-S cells and quantified. Subsequently, we determined the metabolic clearance rate (MCR) of N-eCG and R-eCG up to 24 h after intravenous administration through the mice tail vein and identified differentially expressed genes in both ovarian tissues, via quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC).Results: R-eCG was markedly expressed initially after transfection and maintained until recovery on day 9. Glycan chains were substantially modified in R-eCG protein produced from CHO-S cells and eliminated through PNGase F treatment. The MCR was higher for R-eCG than for N-eCG, and no significant difference was observed after 60 min. Notwithstanding their low concentrations, R-eCG and N-eCG were detected in the blood at 24h post-injection. Microarray analysis of ovarian tissue revealed that 20 of 12,816 genes assessed therein were significantly up-regulated and 43 genes were down-regulated by >2-fold in the group that received R-eCG (63 [0.49%] differentially regulated genes in total). The microarray results were concurrent with and hence validated by those of RT-PCR, qRT-PCR, and IHC analyses.Conclusions: The present results indicate that R-eCG can be adequately produced through a cell-based expression system through post-translational modification of eCG and can induce ovulation in vivo. These results provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the up- or down-regulation of specific ovarian genes and the production of R-eCG with enhanced biological activity in vivo.

scholarly journals GDF-9 and BMP-15 mRNA Levels in Canine Cumulus Cells Related to Cumulus Expansion and the Maturation Process

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 462 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Ramirez ◽  
Jaime Palomino ◽  
Karla Aspee ◽  
Monica De los Reyes
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Estrous Cycle ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Cumulus Expansion ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Specific Regulation ◽  
Reproductive Phases

The competence to undergo expansion is a characteristic of cumulus cells (CCs). The aim was to investigate the expression of GDF-9 and BMP-15 mRNA in canine cumulus cells in relation to cumulus expansion and meiotic development over the estrous cycle. CCs were recovered from nonmatured and in vitro-matured (IVM) dog cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs), which were obtained from antral follicles at different phases of the estrous cycle. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) was used to evaluate the relative abundance of GDF-9 and BMP-15 transcripts from the CCs with or without signs of expansion. The results were evaluated by ANOVA and logistic regression. The maturity of the oocyte and the expansion process affected the mRNA levels in CCs. There were differences (p < 0.05) in GDF-9 and BMP-15 gene expression in CCs isolated from nonmatured COCs when comparing the reproductive phases. Lower mRNA levels (p < 0.05) were observed in anestrus and proestrus in comparison to those in estrus and diestrus. In contrast, when comparing GDF-9 mRNA levels in IVM COCs, no differences were found among the phases of the estrous cycle in expanded and nonexpanded CCs (p < 0.05). However, the highest (p < 0.05) BMP-15 gene expression in CCs that did not undergo expansion was exhibited in anestrus and the lowest (p < 0.05) expression was observed in estrus in expanded CCs. Although the stage of the estrous cycle did not affect the second metaphase (MII )rates, the expanded CCs obtained at estrus coexisted with higher percentages of MII (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the differential expression patterns of GDF-9 and BMP-15 mRNA transcripts might be related to cumulus expansion and maturation processes, suggesting specific regulation and temporal changes in their expression.

scholarly journals Perlecan regulates Oct-1 gene expression in vascular smooth muscle cells.

1997 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 999-1011 ◽  
Author(s):  
M C Weiser ◽  
N A Grieshaber ◽  
P E Schwartz ◽  
R A Majack
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Type Iv Collagen ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Type Iv

Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are very quiescent in the mature vessel and exhibit a remarkable phenotype-dependent diversity in gene expression that may reflect the growth responsiveness of these cells under a variety of normal and pathological conditions. In this report, we describe the expression pattern of Oct-1, a member of a family of transcription factors involved in cell growth processes, in cultured and in in vivo SMCs. Oct-1 mRNA was undetectable in the contractile-state in vivo SMCs; was induced upon disruption of in vivo SMC-extracellular matrix interactions; and was constitutively expressed by cultured SMCs. Oct-1 transcripts were repressed when cultured SMCs were plated on Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm tumor-derived basement membranes (EHS-BM) but were rapidly induced after disruption of SMC-EHS-BM contacts; reexpression was regulated at the transcriptional level. To identify the EHS-BM component involved in the active repression of Oct-1 mRNA expression, SMCs were plated on laminin, type IV collagen, fibronectin, or perlecan matrices. Oct-1 mRNA levels were readily detectable when SMCs were cultured on matrices composed of laminin, type IV collagen, or fibronectin but were repressed when SMCs were cultured on perlecan matrices. Finally, the Oct-1-suppressing activity of EHS-BM was sensitive to heparinase digestion but not to chondroitinase ABC or hyaluronidase digestion, suggesting that the heparan sulfate side chains of perlecan play a biologically important role in negatively regulating the expression of Oct-1 transcripts.

Acute hypoxia stimulates renin secretion and renin gene expression in vivo but not in vitro

1997 ◽  
Vol 272 (4) ◽  
pp. R1105-R1111 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Ritthaler ◽  
K. Schricker ◽  
F. Kees ◽  
B. Kramer ◽  
A. Kurtz
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Acute Hypoxia ◽  
Primary Cultures ◽  
Renin Secretion ◽  
Plasma Norepinephrine ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Renin Gene ◽  
Renin Mrna

This study aimed at examining the influence of acute hypoxia on renin secretion and renin gene expression in the kidney. To this end, male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to severe hypoxic stress (8% O2) or to carbon monoxide (0.1% CO) for 6 h, and plasma renin activity (PRA) and renal renin mRNA levels were determined. PRA values increased from 3 to 13 and 10 ng angiotensin I x h(-1) x ml(-1), and renin mRNA levels increased by 120 and 100% during hypoxia and CO, respectively. Lowering the PO2 from 150 to 20 or 7 mmHg in the gas atmosphere of primary cultures of renal juxtaglomerular cells had no influence on renin secretion and renin gene expression after 6 and 20 h. Our findings thus suggest that both arterial and venous hypoxia can be powerful stimulators of renin secretion and renin gene expression in vivo. Because renal denervation did not prevent stimulation of the renin system by hypoxia, the effect could be indirectly mediated via the baroreceptor-macula densa mechanism. Another potential mediator of the effect could be circulating catecholamines, since we found that plasma norepinephrine increased from 0.7 to 1.5 and 2.4 ng/ml and plasma epinephrine increased from 0.3 to 1.4 and 2.7 ng/ml during hypoxia and CO inhalation, respectively.

scholarly journals Sequential exposure of porcine cumulus cells to FSH and/or LH is critical for appropriate expression of steroidogenic and ovulation-related genes that impact oocyte maturation in vivo and in vitro

Reproduction ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 136 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ikkou Kawashima ◽  
Tetsuji Okazaki ◽  
Noritaka Noma ◽  
Masahide Nishibori ◽  
Yasuhisa Yamashita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oocyte Maturation ◽  
Chorionic Gonadotropin ◽  
Follicular Fluid ◽  
Culture System ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Cumulus Cell ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Developmental Competence ◽  
Antral Follicles

In this study, we collected follicular fluid, granulosa cells, and cumulus cells from antral follicles at specific time intervals following equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) treatment of gilts. The treatment with eCG increased the production of estrogen coordinately with up-regulated proliferation of granulosa and cumulus cells. eCG also induced the expression ofLHCGRandPGRin cumulus cells and progesterone accumulation was detected in follicular fluid prior to the LH/hCG surge. Moreover, progesterone and progesterone receptor (PGR) were critical for FSH-inducedLHCGRexpression in cumulus cells in culture. The expression ofLHCGRmRNA in cumulus cells was associated with the ability of LH to induce prostaglandin production, release of epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like factors, and a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin-like repeats 1 expression, promoting cumulus cell oocyte complexes (COCs) expansion and oocyte maturation. Based on the unique expression and regulation ofPGRandLHCGRin cumulus cells, we designed a novel porcine COCs culture system in which hormones were added sequentially to mimic changes observedin vivo. Specifically, COCs from small antral follicles were pre-cultured with FSH and estradiol for 10 h at which time progesterone was added for another 10 h. After 20 h, COCs were moved to fresh medium containing LH, EGF, and progesterone. The oocytes matured in this revised COC culture system exhibited greater developmental competence to blastocyst stage. From these results, we conclude that to achieve optimal COC expansion and oocyte maturation in culture the unique gene expression patterns in cumulus cells of each species need to be characterized and used to increase the effectiveness of hormone stimulation.

scholarly journals LH-Receptor Gene Expression in Human Granulosa and Cumulus Cells from Antral and Preovulatory Follicles

2012 ◽  
Vol 97 (8) ◽  
pp. E1524-E1531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janni Vikkelsø Jeppesen ◽  
Stine Gry Kristensen ◽  
Maria Eilsø Nielsen ◽  
Peter Humaidan ◽  
Maria Dal Canto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Receptor Gene ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Lh Receptor ◽  
Preovulatory Follicles ◽  
Receptor Gene Expression

scholarly journals Targeted Disruption of Mapk14 (p38MAPKα) in Granulosa Cells and Cumulus Cells Causes Cell-Specific Changes in Gene Expression Profiles that Rescue COC Expansion and Maintain Fertility

2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (9) ◽  
pp. 1794-1804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhilin Liu ◽  
Heng-Yu Fan ◽  
Yibin Wang ◽  
JoAnne S. Richards
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Gene Expression Profiles ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Mutant Mice ◽  
Prostaglandin E

Abstract MAPK14 (p38MAPKα) is critical for FSH and prostaglandin E (PGE)2 signaling cascades in granulosa cells (GCs) and cumulus cell-oocyte complexes (COCs) in culture, indicating that this kinase might impact follicular development and COC expansion in vivo. Because Mapk14 knockout mice are embryonic lethal, we generated GC specific Mapk14 knockout mice (Mapk14gc−/−) by mating Mapk14fl/fl and Cyp19-Cre mice. Unexpectedly, the Mapk14gc−/− female mice were fertile. Analyses of gene expression patterns showed that amphiregulin (Areg) and epiregulin (Ereg), two key regulators of ovulation and COC expansion, were up-regulated in the GCs but down-regulated in cumulus cells of the mutant mice in vivo. COCs from the mutant mice expanded and expressed matrix-related genes, if cultured with AREG, but not when cultured with forskolin or PGE2, the latter being a key factor regulating MAPK14 activity in cumulus cells. Conversely, when GCs from the Mapk14gc−/− mice were cultured with forskolin, they produced more Areg and Ereg mRNA than did wild-type GCs. These results indicate that disruption of Mapk14 selectively alters the expression of Areg and other genes in each cell type. Greater AREG and EREG produced by the GCs appears to by-pass and compensate for the critical need for MAPK14 signaling and induction of Areg/Ereg (and hence matrix genes) by PGE2 in cumulus cells of the mutant mice. In conclusion, although MAPK14 is not overtly essential for preovulatory follicle development or events associated with ovulation and luteinization in vivo, it does impact gene expression profiles.

scholarly journals Expression of Tachykinins and Tachykinin Receptors and Interaction with Kisspeptin in Human Granulosa and Cumulus Cells1

2016 ◽  
Vol 94 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordán García-Ortega ◽  
Francisco M. Pinto ◽  
Nicolás Prados ◽  
Aixa R. Bello ◽  
Teresa A. Almeida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Function ◽  
Oocyte Retrieval ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Human Ovary ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Preovulatory Follicles ◽  
Nk3 Receptor ◽  
Nk2 Receptor

Abstract The neurokinin B/NK3 receptor (NK3R) and kisspeptin/kisspeptin receptor (KISS1R), two systems which are essential for reproduction, are coexpressed in human mural granulosa (MGC) and cumulus cells (CCs). However, little is known about the presence of other members of the tachykinin family in the human ovary. In the present study, we analyzed the expression of substance P (SP), hemokinin-1 (HK-1), NK1 receptor (NK1R), and NK2 receptor (NK2R) in MGCs and CCs collected from preovulatory follicles of oocyte donors at the time of oocyte retrieval. RT-PCR, quantitative RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry, and Western blotting were used to investigate the patterns of expression of tachykinin and tachykinin receptor mRNAs and proteins and the possible interaction between the tachykinin family and kisspeptin. Intracellular free Ca2+ levels ([Ca2+]i) in MGCs after exposure to SP or kisspeptin in the presence of SP were also measured. We found that SP, HK-1, the truncated NK1R isoform NK1R-Tr, and NK2R were all expressed in MGCs and CCs. NK1R-Tr mRNA and NK2R mRNA and protein levels were higher in MGCs than in CCs from the same patients. Treatment of cells with kisspeptin modulated the expression of HK-1, NK3R, and KISS1R mRNAs, whereas treatment with SP regulated kisspeptin mRNA levels and reduced the [Ca2+]i response produced by kisspeptin. These data demonstrate that the whole tachykinin system is expressed and acts in coordination with kisspeptin to regulate granulosa cell function in the human ovary.

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