Project description:Pituitary belongs to a most important endocrine glands which takes part in the regulation of reproductive functions. The proper functioning of this intermediary between the central nervous system and the target tissues of the reproductive system ensures the proper course of the estrous cycle and affects the female's reproductive potential. It is believed that visfatin, a hormone belonging to the adipokine family, may be responsible for the control of reproductive functions in response to the actual metabolic state of female. Herein we verified hypothesis assuming the modulatory effect of visfatin on the anterior pituitary transcriptome during the mid-luteal phase of the oestrous cycle. We analyzed samples obtained from 5 individuals (n=5). After the enzymatic tissue digestion with the use collagenase V and pancreatin cells were divided for two groups: controls [without treatment] and visfatin (100 ng/mL) treated ones. In vitro cell cultures were conducted for 24 hours.
Project description:Visfatin (VIS) is a hormone belonging to the adipokines’ group secreted mainly by the adipose tissue. VIS plays a crucial role in the control of energy homeostasis, inflammation, cell differentiation, and angiogenesis. VIS expression was confirmed in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis structures, as well as in the uterus, placenta, and conceptuses. We assumed that VIS may affect the abundance of proteins involved in the regulation of key processes occurring in the corpus luteum (CL) during the implantation process. In the present study, we performed the high-throughput proteomic analysis (liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, LC-MS/MS) to examine the influence of VIS (100 ng/mL) on differentially regulated proteins (DRPs) in the porcine luteal cells (LCs) on days 15-16 of pregnancy (implantation period). We have identified 511 DRPs, 276 of them were up-regulated and 235 down-regulated in the presence of VIS. Revealed DRPs were assigned to 162 gene ontology terms. Western blot analysis of five chosen DRPs, ADAM metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motif 1 (ADAMTS1), lanosterol 14-α demethylase (CYP51A1), inhibin subunit beta A (INHBA), notch receptor 3 (NOTCH3), and prostaglandin E synthase 2 (mPGES2) confirmed the veracity and accuracy of LC-MS/MS method. We indicated that VIS modulates the expression of proteins connected with the regulation of lipogenesis and cholesterologenesis, and, in consequence, may be involved in the synthesis of steroid hormones, as well as prostaglandins’ metabolism. VIS also changes the expression of proteins involved in the insulin signalling pathway. Moreover, we revealed that VIS affects the abundance of protein associated with ovarian cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, as well as CL new vessel formation and tissue remodelling. Our results seem to confirm the hypothesis concerning the important role of VIS in the regulation of ovarian functions during the peri-implantation period.
Project description:VISFATIN (NAMPT) AFFECTS GLOBAL GENE EXPRESSION IN PORCINE ANTERIOR PITUITARY CELLS DURING THE MID-LUTEAL PHASE OF THE OESTROUS CYCLE
Project description:The transcriptome pattern in blastocyst that developed from cumulus oocyte complexes matured in coculture with porcine luteal cells was investigated.
Project description:Visfatin/NAMPT (VIS), the hormone exerting a pleiotropic effect, is also perceived as an important factor in the regulation of reproductive processes and pregnancy maintenance. Previous studies confirmed its involvement in the control of porcine pituitary and ovary function. In this study, we hypothesized that VIS may affect the global transcriptome of luteal cells and thus regulate the functioning of the ovaries. Illumina's NovaSeq 6000 RNA sequencing was performed to investigate the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and long non-coding RNAs (DELs) as well as the occurrence of differential alternative splicing events (DASs) in the porcine luteal cells exposed to VIS (100 ng/mL) during the implantation period. The obtained results revealed 170 DEGs (99 up- and 71 downregulated) assigned to 45 functional annotations. Moreover, we revealed 40 DELs, of which 3 were known and 37 were described for the first time. We identified 169 DASs events. The obtained results confirmed a significant effect of VIS on the transcriptome and spliceosome of luteal cells, including the genes involved in the processes crucial for successful implantation and pregnancy maintenance as angiogenesis, steroidogenesis, inflammation, cell development, migration, and proliferation.
Project description:The LH-like molecule chorionic gonadotropin (CG) is secreted by the macaque conceptus during and following implantation, M-bM-^@M-^\rescuingM-bM-^@M-^] the CL from impending regression and extending its functional lifespan in early pregnancy for approximately two weeks. CG binds to the same receptor as LH; i.e., LHCGR, and promotes production of steroids and other factors such as relaxin (RLN1). Our research group recently used AffymetrixM-bM-^DM-" rhesus macaque total genome arrays to compare the effects of CG on the luteal transcriptome from rhesus females during simulated early pregnancy (SEP) with changes during luteal regression in the non-fecund menstrual cycle. This analysis demonstrated that CG-rescue affected expression levels of 4,500 mRNA transcripts between days 10 and 15 of the luteal phase. Previous analyses indicated that a portion of the transcriptome in the macaque CL of the menstrual cycle was regulated indirectly by LH via the local actions of steroid hormones, including progesterone (P). Therefore, this study was designed to distinguish CG-regulated luteal genes that are dependent versus independent of local steroid (P) action. A protocol of increasing dosages of hCG (SEP) was begun on day 9 of the luteal phase in rhesus females combined with concurrent administration of the 3BHSD inhibitor trilostane (TRL) +/- the synthetic progestin (P) R5020. CL were collected on day 10 (no treatment) of the luteal phase to serve as a baseline comparison (n=8), 1 day of SEP (Day 10+hCG+/-TRL+/-R5020) and 6 days of SEP (Day 15+hCG+/-TRL+/-R5020); n=4/group. In the presence of CG, treatment with TRL reduced serum P levels to less than 1 ng/ ml after 1 day and all of the Day 15+h+TRL-treated females initiated menses before CL collection. The isolated CL were processed for total RNA and hybridized to microarrays. Compared to hCG treatment alone, 50 significantly altered mRNA transcripts were identified on day 10, rising to 95 on day 15 (P<0.05, M-bM-^IM-% 2-fold change in gene expression). The mRNA levels for several genes were validated in CL by real-time PCR. RNL1 levels increased with CG-treatment, but were not affected by steroid ablation, similar to previously reported relaxin protein expression. Steroid-sensitive genes included CDH11, IL1RN, INSL3, LDLR, OPA1, SERPINE1, SFRP4, and TNSF13B1; however differential sensitivity was observed and effects of steroid ablation and P replacement varied by day. Expression of some genes (e.g., 3BHSD2, ADAMTS1, ADAMTS5, MMP9, STAR, and VEGFA) previously identified as steroid regulated in the macaque CL during the menstrual cycle were not significantly altered by steroid ablation and P replacement during CG exposure in SEP. These data indicate that the majority of CG-regulated luteal transcripts are differentially expressed independently of local steroid actions. The proportion of steroid sensitive mRNA transcripts in the presence of CG is much smaller than in the presence of LH during the non-fecund cycle. Nevertheless, the steroid-regulated genes in the macaque CL may be essential during early pregnancy, based on the previous report that TRL treatment initiates premature structural regression of the CL during SEP. These data reinforce the concept that the structure, function, and regulation of the rescued CL in early pregnancy is different from the CL of the menstrual cycle. A protocol of increasing dosages of hCG (SEP) was begun on day 9 of the luteal phase in rhesus females combined with concurrent administration of the 3BHSD inhibitor trilostane (TRL) +/- the synthetic progestin (P) R5020. CL were collected on day 10 (no treatment) of the luteal phase to serve as a baseline comparison (n=8), 1 day of SEP (Day 10+hCG+/-TRL+/-R5020) and 6 days of SEP (Day 15+hCG+/-TRL+/-R5020); n=4/group.The isolated CL were processed for total RNA and hybridized to Affymetrix Rhesus Genome microarrays.
Project description:The DNA methylation pattern in blastocysts that developed from cumulus oocyte complexes matured in coculture with porcine luteal cells was investigated. Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis was performed by micro array using EDMA platform.
Project description:The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of chemerin on the transcriptomic profile of porcine in vitro cultured luteal cells collected during the mid-luteal phase of estrous cycle.
Project description:The aim of this study was to gain a principal understanding of alterations within the transcriptome, spliceosome and editome in the pituitary of the domestic pig (Sus scrofa domestica L.), which controls basic physiological processes in the reproductive system, during early pregnancy. In this investigation, we performed extensive analyses of data obtained by high-throughput sequencing of RNA from the gilts' pituitary anterior lobes during embryo implantation and the mid-luteal phase of the estrous cycle, as a stage of the cycle with similar corpus luteum secretory activity to gestation.