Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology (Apr 2014)

Effects of GDF-9 and FSH on mRNA expression for FSH-R, GDF-9 and BMPs in in vitro cultured goat preantral follicles

  • Cintia Camurça Fernandes Leitão,
  • José Jackson do Nascimento Costa,
  • Ivina Rocha Brito,
  • Déborah de Melo Magalhães-Padilha,
  • Anderson Pinto Almeida,
  • José Ricardo de Figueiredo,
  • Robert van den Hurk,
  • José Roberto Viana Silva

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-89132014000200007
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 57, no. 2
pp. 200 – 208

Abstract

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The aim of the present study was to determine the role of GDF-9 and/or FSH on the growth and mRNA expression for FSH-R, GDF-9, and BMPs in goat secondary follicles after culture in vitro. Goat secondary follicles (~200µm) were isolated and cultured for six days in minimum essential medium (MEM) supplemented with GDF-9 (200 ng/mL), FSH (50 ng/mL) or both. At the beginning and end of culture, the follicular diameter was evaluated and compared. The levels of mRNA for GDF-9, FSH-R and BMPs -2, -4, -6, -7 and -15 in cultured follicles were quantified by real time PCR. The results showed that a significant increase of follicle diameter after six days when compared to day 0, but the presence of GDF-9 and FSH did not influence the follicular growth in comparison with those cultured in MEM. Real time PCR showed that GDF-9 down-regulated the levels of mRNA for BMPs -2 and -15, while FSH either alone or in combination with GDF-9 did not affect the expression of GDF-9, FSH-R and BMPs. In conclusion, GDF-9 reduced the expression of BMP-2 and -15 in caprine preantral follicles after their culture, but FSH either alone or in association with GDF-9 did not control the expression of GDF-9, FSH-R and BMPs.

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