High Prolactin Concentration Induces Ovarian Granulosa Cell Oxidative Stress, Leading to Apoptosis Mediated by <i>L-PRLR</i> and <i>S-PRLR</i>

Abstract

High prolactin (PRL) concentration has been shown to induce the apoptosis of ovine ovarian granulosa cells (GCs), but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of apoptosis induced by high PRL concentration in GCs. Trial 1: The optimal concentration of glutathion was determined according to the detected cell proliferation. The results showed that the optimal glutathione concentration was 5 μmol/mL. Trial 2: 500 ng/mL PRL was chosen as the high PRL concentration. The GCs were treated with 0 ng/mL PRL (C group), 500 ng/mL PRL (P group) or 500 ng/mL PRL, and 5 μmol/mL glutathione (P-GSH group). The results indicated that the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex (MRCC) I–V, ATP production, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and thioredoxin peroxidase (TPx) in the C group were higher than those in the P group (p p p p p L-PRLR or S-PRLR in P group GCs resulted in a significant reduction (p p L-PRLR and S-PRLR, activating oxidative stress and autophagic pathways.

Keywords

• ovine ovarian GCs
• apoptosis
• oxidative stress
• autophagy
• mitochondria
• ROS