Effects of RAC1 on Proliferation of Hen Ovarian Prehierarchical Follicle Granulosa Cells
Thobela Louis Tyasi,
Xue Sun,
Xuesong Shan,
Simushi Liswaniso,
Ignatius Musenge Chimbaka,
Ning Qin,
Rifu Xu
Affiliations
Thobela Louis Tyasi
Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Xue Sun
Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Xuesong Shan
Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Simushi Liswaniso
Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Ignatius Musenge Chimbaka
Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Ning Qin
Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Rifu Xu
Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
RAC1 belongs to the small G protein Rho subfamily and is implicated in regulating gene expression, cell proliferation and differentiation in mammals and humans; nevertheless, the function of RAC1 in growth and development of hen ovarian follicles is still unclear. This study sought to understand the biological effects of RAC1 on granulosa cell (GC) proliferation and differentiation of hen ovarian prehierarchical follicles. Firstly, our results showed expression levels of RAC1 mRNA in the follicles with diameters of 7.0–8.0 mm, 6.0–6.9 mm and 1.0–3.9 mm were greater than other follicles (p RAC1 gene remarkably enhanced the mRNA and protein expression levels of FSHR (a marker of follicle selection), CCND2 (a marker of cell-cycle progression and GC differentiation), PCNA (a marker of GC proliferation), StAR and CYP11A1 (markers of GC differentiation and steroidogenesis) (p p RAC1 gene overexpression enhanced GC proliferation in vitro (p < 0.05). Collectively, this study provided new evidence that the biological effects of RAC1 on GC proliferation, differentiation and steroidogenesis of chicken ovary follicles.
