Adiponectin modulates steroid hormone secretion, granulosa cell proliferation and apoptosis via binding its receptors during hens’ high laying period

Abstract

Adiponectin is an important adipocytokine and plays the roles in multiple metabolic processes via binding its receptors - AdipoR1 and AdipoR2, which has also been found to participate in the regulation of the reproductive system of animals, in particular by influencing the secretion of ovarian steroid hormones. To further investigate the expression of adiponectin and its receptors in follicles after in vitro incubation, and their role in the steroid synthesis of laying hens’ ovaries, we performed qRT-PCR and ELISA to detect the expressions of AdipoQ, AdipoR1 , and AidpoR2 , and determined the key genes involved in steroidogenesis and the secretion of estradiol ( E2 ) and progesterone ( P4 ) through the in vitro activation of adiponectin ( AipoRon ) and overexpression or knockdown of AdipoR1 and AdipoR2. Our results revealed that adiponectin and its receptors wildly exist in follicles and granulosa cells, and AdipoRon (5 and 10 µg/mL) had no effect on granulosa cell proliferation and apoptosis but significantly stimulated the secretion of adiponectin and its receptors in granulosa cells after incubation for 24 h. Furthermore, AdipoRon could significantly stimulate the secretion of P4 and inhibit E2 level compared to those of the control group through modulating the key genes expression of steroidogenesis ( CYP19A1, StAR, CYP11A1, FSHR , and LHR ). The secretion of E2 was also decreased in granulosa cells by the treatments of overexpression and knockdown of AdipoR1/2, however, there was no difference in terms of the level of P4 and StAR expression between them if there was overexpression or knockdown of AdipoR1/2. In addition, it was shown that the secretion of E2 only exhibits a marked drop if co-processing 10 µg/mL AdipoRon and pGMLV AdipoR2 compared to single treatments. Taken together, the study highlighted the role of adiponectin and its receptors in the regulation of steroid synthesis and secretion in ovarian granulosa cells in laying hens.

Transcriptomic analysis of the thyroid and ovarian stroma reveals key pathways and potential candidate genes associated with egg production in ducks

“…The expression level of ADIPOQ was correlated with the level of adiponectin, an important adipocyte factor involved in the regulation of reproduction ( Michalakis and Segars, 2010 ). In geese, it has been proved that adiponectin can increase the secretion of P4 and weakly inhibit the production of E2 by regulating the expression of steroidogenic genes in granulosa cells ( Meng et al, 2019 ), and there are similar results in laying hens ( Li et al, 2021 ).The ACSL6 encodes acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 6, which is involved in lipid metabolism, and acyl-CoA synthase 6 regulates the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of sperm cell membrane phospholipids and supports normal spermatogenesis in mice ( Shishikura et al, 2019 ), while it has been shown that acyl-coenzyme A synthase 6 is associated with early ovarian aging ( Kang et al, 2009 ).…”

Transcriptomic diversification of granulosa cells during follicular development between White Leghorn and Silky Fowl hens

“…These results are consistent with those of previous studies on high- and low-yielding hens ( Brady et al, 2021 ). Among the genes upregulated in WL, ADIPOQ can stimulate progesterone secretion by regulating key steroidogenesis genes ( STAR , CYP11A1 , FSHR , and LHR ) ( Li et al, 2021 ). CYP7B1 is present in reproductive organs and is an enzyme that metabolizes androgens ( Stiles et al, 2009 ).…”

gga-miR-449b-5p Regulates Steroid Hormone Synthesis in Laying Hen Ovarian Granulosa Cells by Targeting the IGF2BP3 Gene

“…The cells were assembled by 1800 rpm centrifugation at room temperature for 5 min. After repeated centrifugation twice, the suspended cells in complete culture medium containing 2.5% fetal bovine serum and 1% double antibiotics were spread in a 12-well plate, which was incubated in a cell incubator at 37 °C and 5% CO 2 for 12 h and then the cells were transfected, as previously reported [ 49 ].…”