Project description:Comparative genome wide gene expression profiles of small and large luteal cells from characterized mature CL are not currently available in any species. During present study, transcriptome differences of small and large luteal cells werte comprehensively analyzed to understand the specific functional roles of small and large luteal cells in mature bovine CL.
Project description:The study aimed to identify miRNAs expression profiles associated with growth and regression of dominant-size follicles in bovine. Follicles were collected from abattoir ovaries and their status (healthy/atretic) was assessed by measuring steroid levels and aromatase expression. Corpora lutea (CL) were collected from ovarian pairs correponding to days 1 to 4 of the oestrus cycle. Total RNA was isolated from whole follicles at different developmental stages and from CL. An heterologous microarray (Exiqon, Denmark) approach followed by RT-qPCR validation (Qiagen, UK) was used to identify and compare miRNA profiles between large healthy follicles (diameter, 13–16 mm, n=6) and each of small (4–8 mm, n=6 pools of follicles), large atretic folllicles (13-16 mm, n=6) and CL (n=6). RNA from the above groups was hybridized to the miRCURY LNA™ microRNA Hi-Power Labeling Kit,Hy3™/Hy5™ (Exiqon) and hybridized on the miRCURY LNA™ microRNA Array (6th gen). A total of 17 and 57 microRNAs were differentially expressed (> 2 fold, adj. P-value < 0.05) between Large Healthy and each of Small and Large Atretic follicles, respectively, a fraction of which corresponded to registered bovine miRNA sequences. A subset of 5 bovine miRNAs (miR-144, miR-202,vmiR-451, miR-652, miR-873) were confirmed by qPCR to be upregulated in Large Healthy follicles, were enriched in mural granulosa cells and their predicted targets mapped to genes involved in follicular cell proliferation and differentiation, suggesting an involvemet of this subset of microRNAs in ovarian follicle development. In addition, the miR-183-96-183 cluster was identified as upregulated in CL and was shown to be involved in luteal survival and progesterone production.
Project description:The downregulated pathways in early pregnant CL unraveled in this study span a wide range of luteal functions: angiogenesis, apoptosis and survival, steroidogenesis, and ECM remodeling. Notably, selective DEGs in luteinized granulosa cells (LGCs) were modulated by IFNT in vitro in a similar manner to their regulation in the CL of P cows, suggesting that IFNT may contribute to the characteristics of early pregnant CL.
Project description:Next-generation sequencing (RNA-Seq) was performed on CL from the late luteal phase and compared with normally luteolyzing CL collected at the prepartum P4 decrease, and following antigestagen (Aglepristone)- treatment. The analysis of transcriptomes presented herein supports the hypothesis describing luteal regression in non-pregnant dogs as a degenerative process devoid of the acute luteolytic principle and without an acute involvement of the immune system observed prepartum. The contribution of the immune system seems, however, to be critical in the PGF2alpha-mediated active prepartum luteolysis, which appears to be an acute immune process. The antigestagen-medited effects point towards the withdrawal of the luteotropic function of P4 with lesser involvement of immune system than during natural luteolysis. In summary, a deeper insights have been obtained into possible endocrine, paracrine and autocrine mechanisms governing the luteal life span in the domestic dog during pregnancy and in non-pregnant cycles.
Project description:To determine functional differences between the corpus luteum (CL) of the estrous cycle and pregnancy in cows, gene expression profiles between the CL of the estrous cycle and pregnancy were investigated. A 15 K bovine oligo DNA microarray detected 138, 265 and 455 differentially expressed genes (>2-fold; P<0.05) in the bovine CL of 20-25, 40-45, and 150-160 days of pregnancy compared with 10-12 days of the estrous cycle. The different gene expression profiles may contribute to functional differences between the CL of pregnancy and the CL of the estrous cycle in cows. Chemokines including eotaxin and lymphotactin may regulate CL function during pregnancy.
Project description:The effect of interferon tau (IFNT) on the uterus is critical for maternal recognition of pregnancy in ruminants, while its direct role in luteal function is less well understood. To address this, we performed two experiments. In experiment 1, cattle received intrauterine infusions of one of four treatments: bovine serum albumin (BSA; vehicle) from day 14 to 16 of the estrous cycle, vehicle with IFNT from day 14 to 16 (3-day IFNT), vehicle with IFNT from day 14 to 19 (6-day IFNT), and vehicle with IFNT from day 14 to 16 followed by vehicle with IFNT and pregnancy associated glycoprotein (PAG) from day 17 to 19 (IFNT+PAG). Corpora lutea (CL) were collected on day 17 or 20 and RNAseq was performed. In experiment 2, cultured luteal steroidogenic cells from cyclic (day 10-12) cattle were treated with IFNT and RNAseq was performed. In both experiments, IFNT resulted in luteal changes (in vivo: 130 transcripts; in vitro: 2981 transcripts), while additional treatment with PAG resulted in only 13 changed transcripts. Only 31% of the genes that changed in the CL during early pregnancy (Hughes et al., 2020) were regulated by IFNT. Gene ontology analysis revealed that these genes were regulators of antiviral and immune responses. In contrast, 50% of the genes that changed during early pregnancy were not regulated by IFNT in vivo or in vitro and were associated with cellular proliferation and extracellular matrix organization. It is suggested that the temporal changes in the CL during early pregnancy are only partially regulated directly by IFNT, drawing into question identities of other luteal regulators or the effect of age of CL.
Project description:To determine functional differences between the corpus luteum (CL) of the estrous cycle and pregnancy in cows, gene expression profiles between the CL of the estrous cycle and pregnancy were investigated. A 15 K bovine oligo DNA microarray detected 138, 265 and 455 differentially expressed genes (>2-fold; P<0.05) in the bovine CL of 20-25, 40-45, and 150-160 days of pregnancy compared with 10-12 days of the estrous cycle. The different gene expression profiles may contribute to functional differences between the CL of pregnancy and the CL of the estrous cycle in cows. Chemokines including eotaxin and lymphotactin may regulate CL function during pregnancy. Bovine ovaries containing corpora lutea (CLs) were obtained from Japanese-Black cows in the institute ranch within 10-30 min of exsanguination. Tissue samples were collected from cows on 10-12 days of the estrous cycle (cyclic), 20-25, 40-45, and 150-160 days of the gestation (n=4 animals/stage). The day of artificial insemination was designated as day 1.
Project description:The effect of interferon tau (IFNT) on the uterus is critical for maternal recognition of pregnancy in ruminants, while its direct role in luteal function is less well understood. To address this, we performed two experiments. In experiment 1, cattle received intrauterine infusions of one of four treatments: bovine serum albumin (BSA; vehicle) from day 14 to 16 of the estrous cycle, vehicle with IFNT from day 14 to 16 (3-day IFNT), vehicle with IFNT from day 14 to 19 (6-day IFNT), and vehicle with IFNT from day 14 to 16 followed by vehicle with IFNT and pregnancy associated glycoprotein (PAG) from day 17 to 19 (IFNT+PAG). Corpora lutea (CL) were collected on day 17 or 20 and RNAseq was performed. In experiment 2, cultured luteal steroidogenic cells from cyclic (day 10-12) cattle were treated with IFNT and RNAseq was performed. In both experiments, IFNT resulted in luteal changes (in vivo: 130 transcripts; in vitro: 2981 transcripts), while additional treatment with PAG resulted in only 13 changed transcripts. Only 31% of the genes that changed in the CL during early pregnancy (Hughes et al., 2020) were regulated by IFNT. Gene ontology analysis revealed that these genes were regulators of antiviral and immune responses. In contrast, 50% of the genes that changed during early pregnancy were not regulated by IFNT in vivo or in vitro and were associated with cellular proliferation and extracellular matrix organization. It is suggested that the temporal changes in the CL during early pregnancy are only partially regulated directly by IFNT, drawing into question identities of other luteal regulators or the effect of age of CL.