Estrogen improves the development of yak (Bos grunniens) oocytes by targeting cumulus expansion and levels of oocyte-secreted factors during in vitro maturation.

ABSTRACT: The estrogen-signalling pathway is critical for normal follicular development; however, little is known about its importance during in vitro maturation (IVM) in large animals, particularly yaks (Bos grunniens). Through the present study, we aimed to determine the mechanisms underlying estrogen involvement in cumulus expansion and the subsequent development of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs). COCs were cultured in the maturation medium supplemented with different concentrations (10-6-10-3 mM) of 17β-estradiol (E2) or its receptor antagonist, fulvestrant, and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot were performed to determine the expression of cumulus-expansion related factors and oocyte-secreted factors (OSFs). The cumulus expansion of COCs wa

SUBMITTER: Pan Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7498018 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature