Follicular structures of cows with cystic ovarian disease present altered expression of cytokines

Abstract

SummaryOvulation is considered an inflammatory, cytokine-mediated event. Cytokines, which are recognized as growth factors with immunoregulatory properties, are involved in many cellular processes at the ovarian level. In this sense, cytokines affect fertility and are involved in the development of different ovarian disorders such as bovine cystic ovarian disease (COD). Because it has been previously demonstrated that ovarian cells represent both sources and targets of cytokines, the aim of this study was to examine the expression of several cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-1RA, IL-1RI, IL-1RII, IL-4 and IL-8, in ovarian follicular structures from cows with spontaneous COD. The protein expression of these cytokines was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Additionally, IL-1β, IL-4 and IL-8 concentrations in follicular fluid (FF) and serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In granulosa and theca cells, IL-1RI, IL-1RII, IL-1RA and IL-4 expression levels were higher in cystic follicles than in the control dominant follicles. The serum and FF concentrations of IL-1β and IL-4 showed no differences between groups, whereas IL-8 concentration was detected only in FF of cysts from cows with COD. The FF and serum concentrations of IL-1β and IL-8 showed no significant differences, whereas IL-4 concentration was higher in FF than in serum in both the control and COD groups. These results evidenced an altered expression of cytokines in ovaries of cows with COD that could contribute to the pathogenesis of this disease.

Effect of precalving body condition score on insulin signaling and hepatic inflammatory state in grazing dairy cattle

“…The specificity of the antibodies used has been proven by the suppliers as well as by other researchers [28][29][30][31][32][33][34]. In addition, as in previous studies [19,35], we established the homology between the target peptide of each antibody and the homologous bovine protein by using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) software (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST) to determine the peptide locations and confirm antigen specificity.…”

Postpartum complications in cows: diagnosis, treatment, prevention

“…Delayed follicular regression after ovulation (change in proliferation/apoptosis balance) is a trigger for the pathogenesis of ovarian cysts, as preovulatory follicles that can neither ovulate nor become atretic impair ovarian function, creating a starting point (Ortega et al, 2015). The persistence of these structures allows them to continue to secrete altered levels of cytokines, growth factors, and hormones and, therefore, underlies the pathogenesis of ovarian cysts (Stassi et al, 2019). A separate study (Hatler et al, 2003) noted that 66 % of ovarian cysts in dairy cattle were associated with suprobal levels of progesterone, which blocks preovulatory elevated luteinizing hormone levels but does not suppress pulsatility as it occurs with average luteal progesterone concentrations.…”

Reproductive disorders of cows in several villages of Kedamean district, Gresik regency, East Java, Indonesia in 2023

“…Follicular cysts occurred due to impaired hormone secretion and receptor mRNA expression in bovine cystic follicles, which affected steroidogenesis in the ovaries (Xu et al, 2023). In granulosa and theca cells, the expression levels of IL-1RI, IL-1RII, IL-1RA, and IL-4 were higher in cystic follicles than in normal dominant follicles (Stassi et al, 2019). Corpus luteum cysts were characterized by anestrus in cows.…”