Effects of 5α-Dihydrotestosterone and 17β-Estradiol on the Mouse Ovarian Follicle Development and Oocyte Maturation

Abstract

We have previously reported that androstenedione induces abnormalities of follicle development and oocyte maturation in the mouse ovary. In granulosa cells of the ovarian follicle, androstenedione is aromatized to 17β-estradiol (E2). To determine whether the androgen or estrogen acts directly on the follicle to induce the above-mentioned abnormalities, we compared the effects of a non-aromatizable androgen, 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), with those of E2 on murine follicular development and oocyte maturation in a single follicle culture system. The high dose (10−6 M) of DHT prompted normal follicular development, and there was no effect on oocyte meiotic maturation after stimulation with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and epidermal growth factor (EGF). In contrast, culture with the high dose (10−6 M) of E2 delayed follicular growth and also suppressed proliferation of granulosa cells and antrum formation. Furthermore, culture with E2 delayed or inhibited oocyte meiotic maturation, such as chromosome alignment on the metaphase plate and extrusion of the first polar body, after addition of hCG and EGF. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that E2, but not DHT, induces abnormalities of follicular development, which leads to delay or inhibition of oocyte meiotic maturation.

Histopathological changes in androgenized ovaries are recovered by melatonin treatment

“…AAS exerts a direct negative effect on folliculogenesis through AR and indirectly via ER . In the present study, all groups that received MLT had weak immunostaining for ERα and ERβ in healthy and atretic follicles, while in the ND‐treated group the expression of ER was similar to the control group, showing that MLT was responsible for the decrease in the expression of these receptors.…”

Comparison of the Oocyte Quality Derived from Two-Dimensional Follicle Culture Methods and Developmental Competence of In Vitro Grown and Matured Oocytes

“…Ovaries were aseptically dissected from 2-week-old BDF-1 female mice ( n = 90) and then mechanically isolated using fine-needles. Early secondary follicles (diameter 110–130 μ m) were randomly divided into two different groups according to the culture methods (presence or absence of oil overlay) as previous researches [ 12 , 14 , 23 ]. A total of 2,880 mouse ovarian follicles were used to compare the efficiency of the 2D culture methods for secondary ovarian follicles as previous study.…”

“…Therefore, this technique provides an alternative option for fertility preservation without the risk of cancer cell reimplantation following OT transplantation. Since the first report by Eppig and Schroeder [ 11 ], diverse culture methods, such as the absence or presence of an oil layer under 2D culture, group culture, and three-dimensional follicle culture, have been used in follicle culture systems [ 12 – 15 ]. Specifically, 2D culture systems have been primarily applied to harvest in vitro -grown and matured oocytes in mice [ 16 – 18 ], rats [ 19 ], bovines [ 20 ], monkeys [ 21 ], and humans [ 22 ].…”

The Role of Androgens in Mammals Folliculogenesis

“…Outro estudo avaliou o efeito deste mesmo hormônio no cultivo in vitro de folículos pré-antrais isolados de camundongas, revelando um aumento significativo no diâmetro folicular bem como maiores taxas de formação de antro no tratamento com 10 -6 M de dihidrotestosterona, quando comparado ao controle. Além dos resultados de desenvolvimento folicular, esses autores obtiveram altas taxas de maturação oocitária (75-80%) em todos os tratamentos na presença do andrógeno [90].…”