• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제29권8호
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• pp.1065-1074
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• 2016

Growth factors play an important role during early ovarian development and folliculogenesis, since they regulate the migration of germ cells to the gonadal ridge. They also act on follicle recruitment, proliferation/atresia of granulosa cells and theca, steroidogenesis, oocyte maturation, ovulation and luteinization. Among the growth factors, the growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and the bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15), belong to the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-${\beta}$) superfamily, have been implicated as essential for follicular development. The GDF9 and BMP15 participate in the evolution of the primordial follicle to primary follicle and play an important role in the later stages of follicular development and maturation, increasing the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein expression, plasminogen activator and luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR). These factors are also involved in the interconnections between the oocyte and surrounding cumulus cells, where they regulate absorption of amino acids, glycolysis and biosynthesis of cholesterol cumulus cells. Even though the mode of action has not been fully established, in vitro observations indicate that the factors GDF9 and BMP15 stimulate the growth of ovarian follicles and proliferation of cumulus cells through the induction of mitosis in cells and granulosa and theca expression of genes linked to follicular maturation. Thus, seeking greater understanding of the action of these growth factors on the development of oocytes, the role of GDF9 and BMP15 in ovarian function is summarized in this brief review.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.185-193
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• 2023

Although increasing evidence of cause-and-effect relationship between BPA exposure and female reproductive disorders have been suggested through many studies, the precise biochemical and molecular mechanism(s) by which BPA interferes with steroidogenesis in the ovarian cells still remain unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to discover the steroidogenic biomarker(s) associated with BPA treatment in human granulosa cell line, KGN. In this study, our results obtained via the analysis of steroidogenesis-related protein expression in KGN cells using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blot analyses revealed that the expression levels of steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) and aromatase decreased considerably and gradually after BPA treatment in a dose-dependent manner under BPA treatment. Further, remarkable decreases in their expression levels at the cellular levels were also confirmed via immunocytochemistry, and subsequent StAR and aromatase mRNA expression levels showed profiles similar to those observed for their proteins, i.e., both StAR and aromatase mRNA expression levels were significantly decreased under BPA treatment at concentrations ≥0.1 μM. We observed that follicle stimulating hormone upregulated StAR and aromatase protein expression levels; however, this effect was suppressed in the presence of BPA. Regarding the steroidogenic effects of BPA on KGN cells, controversies remain regarding the ultimate outcomes. Nevertheless, we believe that the results here presented imply that KGN cells have a good cellular and steroidogenic machinery for evaluating endocrine disruption. Therefore, StAR and aromatase could be stable and sensitive biomarkers in KGN cells for the cellular screening of the potential risk posed by exogenous and environmental chemicals to female reproductive (endocrine) function.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.329-339
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• 2009

Cortisol은 난소내 다량으로 존재하며, 난소 세포에 그 수용체가 있는 것으로 보고되고 있다. 또한 사람의 과립 및 황체화 세포에서 cortisol은 스테로이드 생성과 세포 대사에 영향을 미치는 것으로 알려지고 있으나, 배란 후 난포액에 높은 농도로 존재하는 cortisol이 과립-황체화 세포에 어떤 영향을 미치는 지는 정확히 밝혀져 있지 않다. 따라서 본 실험에서 과배란 유도후 획득한 사람 과립-황체화 세포를 배양하면서 5, 50, $500{\mu}g/m\ell$ cortisol과 1 IU/$m\ell$ FSH를 처리하고 세포의 세포자연사와 분비된 progesterone$(P_4)$과 estradiol$(E_2)$량의 변화를 조사하였다. DNA 분절화 분석과 TUNEL 방법으로 세포자연사를 평가한 결과, cortisol는 농도 의존적으로 과립-황체화 세포의 세포자연사를 증가시켰고, 특히 50과 $500{\mu}g/m\ell$ cortisol을 처리한 군에서 유의한 차이를 보이며 세포자연사 비율을 증가시켰다. 또한 cortisol에 의한 세포자연사의 증가는 FSH에 의해 억제되지 못함을 알 수 있었다. 화학발광면역 측정법을 이용하여 배양내 $P_4$와 $E_2$의 양을 측정한 결과, cortisol을 처리한 후 $E_2$의 양은 변화가 없었던 반면 $P_4$의 양은 감소하였다. 이러한 cortisol의 $P_4$ 합성 억제 효과는 세포자연사 결과와 마찬가지로 FSH에 의해 회복되지 못함을 확인할 수 있었다. 이상의 결과는 일정 농도 이상의 cortisol은 과립-황체화 세포의 세포자연사를 유발시킬 수 있으며, 또한 $P_4$의 합성을 억제시킴으로써 난포 폐쇄를 직접적으로 유발시킬 수 있음 보여준다. 그러나 본 연구 결과들은 기존의 연구 결과와 상반된 결과를 보이고 있으며, 앞으로 과립-황체화 세포에 대한 cortisol의 생리적인 관련성을 밝혀 그 기전을 명확히 할 필요성이 있다.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.179-190
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• 1996

Sexing and developing from splitted embryos which were fertilized in vitro implicate a possibility of production of the superior and sex controlled individuals. This study was carried out to investigate the production of transferable late blastocysts from in vitro fertilized embryos and to analyze sex by chromosome analysis from same embryos. In results, the ratio of cleavage and fertility of bovine follicular oocytes matured in vitro was 90% in co-cultured with granulosa cells. The competence of embryonic development from in vitro matured and fertilized bovine oocytes was 38% in co-cultured with bovine oviductal epithelial cells. To produce a lot of transferable embryos, therefore, the best conditon of culture system was co-cultured with granulosa cells for immature bovine oocytes and then co-cultured with bovine oviductal eptithelial cells for matured and fertilized oocytes. In chromosome analysis, 93% of in vitro fertilized embryos were very important aspect in chromosome preparation from bovine embryos such as duration of colcemid treatment, weakening of zona pellucida, methods of hypotonic treatment and fixation treatment.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.195-200
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• 2002

Objective : To investigate the expression of apoptosis related proteins and apoptotic cells on the human ovarian follicles. Materials and Methods: Thirty five Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded human ovarian tissue blocks were selected from the surgical pathology files of the department of pathology, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, for the period from 1996 to 1998. All specimen were from premenopausal women aged from $32{\sim}45$. Ovarian tissues were collected from the patients performing hysterectomy for benign uterine diseases. Immunohistochemical staining was performed for the detection of DNA fragmented cell, Bcl-2, Bax, Fas and Fas-ligand. Results: Bcl-2 and bax were not expressed on the surrounding cells and oocyte of the primary, primordial and preantral follicles. Fas and Fas-ligand (Fas-L) were not expressed on the surrounding cells on the primordial and primary follicles. But expressed on the surrounding granulosa cells and oocyte in the primordial and primary follicles. In the healthy follicles, Bcl-2 was expressed on the granulosa cells, however, Bax was not expressed. DNA fragmented cells were expressed on the inner granulosa cell layer of atretic follicles. Conclusion: Fas, Fas-ligand, and Bax may be responsible for the follicular atresia and Bcl-2 may be involved in the follicular survival in the human ovary.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제48권3호
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• pp.323-326
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• 2008

A two-year-old mixed breed sow was requested to the Veterinary Pathology Laboratory of Cheju National University with a clinical signs of severe abdominal pain and sudden death. Grossly, there was severe hemorrhage in abdominal cavity. Most of internal parenchymas and subcutaneous muscle showed severe pale discoloration. Both ovaries were enlarged with oval to round protruding multilobular masses and dark red in color. And they were firm and contained multiple small cysts in their cut surface. Histopathologically, numerous neoplastic granulosa cells had spherical-to-oval, hyperchromatic nuclei and scant eosinophilic cytoplasms were distributed with follicular pattern in ovarian masses. And the typical Call-Exner bodies, distinctive microcavityies, were observed in the center of small neoplastic follicles. Based on the gross and histopathologic findings, this case was diagnosed as granulosa cell tumor. In our best knowledge, this is believed to be the first report of granulosa cell tumor in a sow in Korea.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제39권3호
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• pp.455-462
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• 1999

This study was designed to investigate the number of the growing and mature follicles in each stage of estrus cycle in mature rats. Eighteen mature rats(Sprague-Dawley, initially 190~230gm) were randomly alloted into 4 groups(proestrus, estrus, metestrus, and diestrus) according to estrus cycles. The uteri and ovaries of rats were collected and then alternative sections of paraffin embedding ovaries were stained with H-E. Numbers of large, middle and small follicles or only large and middle follicles from secondary and tertiary follicles were investigated by LM photography of preparations. Small follicles were defined as secondary follicles with 2~5 cell layers of granulosa cells surrounding the oocyte, and middle follicles were defined as secondary follicles with more than 5 cell layers or with early signs of antral cavity or with more than one small cleft on either side of the oocytes and large follicles were defined as tertiary follicles with a single medium or large antral cavity. The number of follicles in a pair ovary per rat was appeared to be ranged from 207 to 370 and the mean number of these follicles was $270.4{\pm}52.6$ and the mean number of follicles per ovary was $134.9{\pm}32.0$. The mean number of large, middle and small follicles per ovary was appeared to be $16.4{\pm}4.4$($12.2{\pm}3.3%$), $36.2{\pm}8.6$($26.8{\pm}6.4%$), and $82.7{\pm}24.0$($61.3{\pm}17.8%$), respectively. The mean number of large and middle follicles in each stage group of estrus cycle was appeared to be $17.8{\pm}2.1$ and $38.3{\pm}7.4$ at proestrus stage group, $15.7{\pm}5.2$ and $38.0{\pm}10.0$ at estrus stage group, $16.5{\pm}3.5$ and $33.8{\pm}7.0$ at metestrus stage group, $16.7{\pm}5.8$ and $29.7{\pm}5.5$ at diestrus group, respectively. In histological findings of large follicles during each estrus cycle, the large follicles in proestrus group contain single small antrum, thick granulosa cell layers, and were $300{\sim}500{\mu}m$ in diameter and were growing follicles with PCNA-positive cells in the granulosa cell layers, and other luteinizing follicles of proestrus cycle stage were decreased in size and were thicker in wall thickness and more luteinized than those in metestrus and diestrus stage groups. The large follicles in estrus stage group contain thick granulosa cell layers and nonprominent cumulus-oocyte complexes in antrum, and were $400{\sim}700{\mu}m$ in diameter and were growing follicles with PCNA-positive cells in the granulosa cell layers. The large follicles in metestrus and diestrus stage groups contain enlarged antrums, thinner layers of walls and prominent cumulus-oocyte complexes, and were $700-950{\mu}m$ in diameter, and were nongrowing follicles without PCNA-positive cells or another large follicles contain cells with dark stainability and distinct boundary.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.263-271
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• 1990

This study was carried out to investigate the factors affecting maturation in vitro of follicular oocytes in Korean Native Cattle. The bovine ovaries were obtained at a slaughter house and the follicular oocytes were recovered by aspirating the follicular fluid from the visible follicles of 3~6mm. The bovine oocytes were matured in vitro in TCM-199 containing FCS and hormones. The effects of TCM-199 salt type, number of oocytes per drop, incubation time and co-culture with granulosa cells on maturation of oocytes, were investigated. The results obtained are summarized as follows. 1. The maturation rates of follicular oocytes cultured for 22, 25 and 28 hours in Hank's TCM-199 or Earle's TCM-199 were 59.3, 59.6, 80% and 80.0, 90.0, 93.7%, respectively. The maturation rate of follicular oocytes in Earle's TCM-199 was faster and higher than in Hank's TCM-199(P<0.05). 2. The maturation rates of oocytes were 54.5, 62.5 and 62.0% when cultured the oocytes number 10, 20 and 40 per 200${mu}ell$ drop for 18 hours. 3. The maturation of follicular oocytes in the Korean Native Cattle was induced at 14 hours culture, by giving the maturation rate of 90.0% after 20 hours. 4. The maturation rates were 63.3% and 66.7%, respectigely when the oocytes were co-cultured with granulosa cells from medium-size follicles used immediately after recovery in the presence or absence of hormones added(0.02AU/ml FSH, 10$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml LH and 1$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml estradiol 17-$\beta$). When the oocytes were co-cultured with granulosa cells from medium-size follicles cultured for 3 days, the maturation rates were 20.8% and 76.2%, respectively(P<0.05). 5. The maturation rate were 88.0% and 70.0%, respectively when the oocytes were co-cultured with granulosa cells from large-size follicles used immediately after recovery in the presence or absence of hormones added(0.02AU/ml FSH, 10$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml LH and 1$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml estradiol 17-$\beta$)(P<0.05). When the hormones added(0.02AU/ml FSH, 10$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml LH and 1$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml estradiol 17-$\beta$)(P<0.05). When the oocytes were co-cultred with granulosa cells from large-size follicles cultured for 3 days, the maturation rates were 41.2% and 73.3%, respectively(P<0.05).

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.304-311
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• 2015

Most follicles in the mammalian ovary undergo atresia. Granulosa cell apoptosis is a hallmark of follicle atresia. Our previous study using a microRNA (miRNA) microarray showed that the let-7 microRNA family was differentially expressed during follicular atresia. However, whether the let-7 miRNA family members are related to porcine (Sus scrofa) ovary follicular apoptosis is unclear. In the current study, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed that the expression levels of let-7 family members in follicles and granulosa cells were similar to our microarray data, in which miRNAs let-7a, let-7b, let-7c, and let-7i were significantly decreased in early atretic and progressively atretic porcine ovary follicles compared with healthy follicles, while let-7g was highly expressed during follicle atresia. Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis and Hoechst33342 staining demonstrated that let-7g increased the apoptotic rate of cultured granulosa cells. In addition, let-7 target genes were predicted and annotated by TargetScan, PicTar, gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathways. Our data provide new insight into the association between the let-7 miRNA family in granulosa cell programmed death.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제15권7호
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• pp.1045-1050
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• 2002

The aims of this study were to detect spontaneously occurring apoptosis in cultured porcine ovarian cells, to examine the role of growth hormone (GH), tyrosine kinase (TK), protein kinase G (PKG) and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) in the control of this process, and to determine whether the effect of GH on apoptosis is mediated by TK-, PKG- and cdc2-dependent intracellular mechanisms. We studied the action of pGH (10 ng/ml), blockers of TK (genistein, lavendustin, both 100 ng/ml), PKG (Rp-Br-PET-cGMPS, 50 nM; KT5823, 100 ng/ml) and CDK (olomoucine, $1{\mu}g/ml$), as well as combinations of GH with these blockers, on the onset of apoptosis in cultured granulosa cells isolated from antral (3-6 mm) porcine follicles. The functional characteristics of an early apoptotic event, DNA fragmentation, were determined using terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL), whilst morphological signs of advanced apoptosis such as pyknosis, chromatin marginalization, shrinkage and fragmentation of nucleus, were detected using routine light microscopy. After culture, some ovarian granulosa cells exhibited DNA fragmentation, which in some cases was associated with morphological apoptosis-related changes (pyknosis, shrinkage and fragmentation of the nucleus). GH significantly reduced the proportion of TUNEL-positive cells. Neither TK nor CDK blockers when given alone, significantly affected the percentage of TUNEL-positive cells although both PKG blockers significantly increased this index. Furthermore, TK and PKG blockers given together with GH, prevented or reversed the inhibitory effect of GH on apoptosis, whilst the CDK blocker olomoucine promoted it. These observations demonstrate apoptosis in porcine ovaries and suggest the involvement of GH, TK, PKG and CDK in the control of this process. They also suggest that the effect of GH on ovarian apoptosis is mediated or regulated by multiple signalling pathways including TK-, PKG- and CDK-dependent intracellular mechanisms.