NRDR inhibits estradiol synthesis and is associated with changes in reproductive traits in pigs

Abstract

Cumulus cells secreting steroid hormones have important functions in oocyte development. Several members of the short‐chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) family are critical to the biosynthesis of steroid hormones. NADPH‐dependent retinol dehydrogenase/reductase ( NRDR ), a member of the SDR superfamily, is overexpressed in pig breeds that also show high levels of androstenone. However, the potential functions and regulatory mechanisms of NRDR in pig ovaries have not been reported to date. The present study demonstrated that NRDR is highly expressed in pig ovaries and is specifically located in cumulus granulosa cells. Functional studies showed that NRDR inhibition increased estradiol synthesis. Both pregnant mare serum gonadotropin and human chorionic gonadotropin downregulated the expression of NRDR in pig cumulus granulosa cells. When the relationship between reproductive traits and single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the NRDR gene was examined, we found that two SNPs affected reproductive traits. SNP rs701332503 was significantly associated with a decrease in the total number of piglets born during multiparity, and rs326982309 was significantly associated with an increase in the average birth weight during primiparity. Thus, NRDR has an important role in steroid hormone biosynthesis in cumulus granulosa cells, and NRDR SNPs are associated with changes in porcine reproduction traits.

Narrow-Headed Voles Species Complex (Cricetidae, Rodentia): Evidence for Species Differentiation Inferred from Transcriptome Data

“…Two genes under positive selection in L. raddei were associated with different kinds of environmental adaptations-MRPS31, which is probably related to the ability to adapt to temperature gradients [57], and DSG2, which may be helpful for high-altitude adaptation [58] (Figure 4). Four genes were under weakening of negative selection (dN/dS < 1, but biased between species): two of them in L. raddei-GNL3L, which inhibits estrogen-related receptor activity [59], and DHRS4, which is involved in altering hormone-associated reproductive traits [60][61][62][63][64]; and two in L. gregalis-EFL1, which is associated with oogenesis and early embryogenesis [65], and CPT2, which is involved in oocyte maturation [66,67] and embryo developmental competence [68]. Interestingly, all three genes under selective pressure distinguished for L. gregalis are related to various aspects of oogenesis.…”