title: Characterization of porcine growth differentiation factor-9 and its expression in oocyte maturation.
abstract: During follicular development, the importance of the interaction between oocytes and somatic cells is well-known for maturation oocyte. Growth differentiation factor-9 (gdf-9) is thought to play an important role in such process. In this study, we characterized porcine gdf-9 gene and investigate its expression during development. Also we determined its expression by different hormones during in vitro oocyte maturation. Overall length of pig gdf-9 cDNA was cloned and its presumptive protein sequence of isolated cDNA has high homology to human or mouse GDF-9 sequences. The gdf-9 transcript was expressed in all stage of preimplantation embryos and fetuses, and was also expressed in the heart, brain, cumulus cells, spleen, ovary, and testis. Porcine GDF-9 protein was specifically localized in in vitro matured oocyte and oocytes from adult ovary. In order to investigate the potential regulator of gdf-9 gene expression, expression level of gdf-9 gene was determined using serum-free in vitro maturation (IVM) system. Supplementing with human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG), gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), follicular stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone (LH), or epidermal growth factor (EGF) did not affect level of gdf-9 gene expression during ooycte maturation. In conclusion, porcine gdf-9 gene is expressed in the porcine reproductive organ, especially in oocytes and embryos, and its expression is decreased during IVM.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Theriogenology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Gab Sang
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hye Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Woo Suk
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Sang Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hyun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development; D011247:Pregnancy; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins