Candidate Gene Expression in Bos indicus Ovarian Tissues: Prepubertal and Postpubertal Heifers in Diestrus

Abstract

Growth factors such as bone morphogenetic proteins 6, 7, 15, and two isoforms of transforming growth factor-beta (BMP6, BMP7, BMP15, TGFB1, and TGFB2), and insulin-like growth factor system act as local regulators of ovarian follicular development. To elucidate if these factors as well as others candidate genes, such as estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9), follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR), bone morphogenetic protein receptor, type 2 (BMPR2), type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGFR1), and key steroidogenic enzymes cytochrome P450 aromatase and 3-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (CYP19A1 and HSD3B1) could modulate or influence diestrus on the onset of puberty in Brahman heifers, their ovarian mRNA expression was measured before and after puberty (luteal phase). Six postpubertal (POST) heifers were euthanized on the luteal phase of their second cycle, confirmed by corpus luteum observation, and six prepubertal (PRE) heifers were euthanized in the same day. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that the expression of FSHR, BMP7, CYP19A1, IGF1, and IGFR1 mRNA was greater in PRE heifers, when contrasted to POST heifers. The expression of LHR and HSD3B1 was lower in PRE heifers. Differential expression of ovarian genes could be associated with changes in follicular dynamics and different cell populations that have emerged as consequence of puberty and the luteal phase. The emerging hypothesis is that BMP7 and IGF1 are co-expressed and may modulate the expression of FSHR, LHR and IGFR1, and CYP19A1. BMP7 could influence the downregulation of LHR and upregulation of FSHR and CYP19A1, which mediates the follicular dynamics in heifer ovaries. Upregulation of IGF1 expression prepuberty, compared to postpuberty diestrus, correlates with increased levels FSHR and CYP19A1. Thus, BMP7 and IGF1 may play synergic roles and were predicted to interact, from the expression data (P = 0.07, r = 0.84). The role of these co-expressed genes in puberty and heifers luteal phase merits further research.

Expression and localisation of FSHR, GHR and LHR in different tissues and reproductive organs of female yaks

“…Variable expression are observed in almost all of the genes in the present study at high and low fecundity, and the FSHR record was the most significant for the high and low fecundity of the ovarian follicles of Indian sheep ewes [5]. However, animal studies previously showed that LHR and FSHR were important regulators in prepubertal Bos indicus ovarian tissues and postpubertal heifers in dioestrus [24].…”

Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of the Pituitary Gland between Cattle Breeds Differing in Growth: Yunling Cattle and Leiqiong Cattle

“…Studies have shown that the higher expression of NPY in hypothalamic could increase the release of NPY, which significantly increased the weight of Brahman cattle [74]. The expression changes of ESR1 in pituitary gland could regulate the tissue and organ development of the pubertal Brahman cattle [75]. Then, it was supposed that in the process of cultivating and artificial selection of Yunling cattle during generations, the frequency of the eight genes, SLC38A1, SLC38A3, DGKH, GNB4, GNAQ, ESR1, NPY, and GAL, that were identified may be related to the growth of Yunling cattle in this study, which would gradually be changed to meet the needs of meat production and adapting to various environments.…”

Profile of follicle-stimulating hormone and polymorphism of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor in Madrasin cattle with ovarian hypofunction

“…The FSHR gene plays an important role in ovarian stimulation; thus, physiological evidence can be used to predict differences in FSHR function and ovarian response to FSH [18,19]. The hormones induce and maintain follicular development by binding to specific receptors on the surface of granulosa cells in the ovaries.…”