title: Gonadotropins regulate ovarian germ cell mitosis/meiosis decision in the embryonic chicken.
abstract: Gonadotropins are required for gametogenesis but in embryonic gonads this mechanism is not well understood. Here we use chicken embryos to investigate the mechanism that gonadotropins regulate the ovarian germ cell mitosis/meiosis decision. Treatment with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) delayed germ cell meiosis entry and promoted their proliferation. This action was blocked by an aromatase inhibitor. Treatment with luteinizing hormone (LH) accelerated germ cell meiosis entry and promoted transcription of 3βHSDII to increase progesterone (P4) production. In the cultured ovaries, P4 triggered meiotic initiation in germ cells. MiR181a, which acts to downregulate the NR6A1 transcript to inhibit the meiotic initiation, was upregulated by FSH and downregulated by LH. Collectively, gonadotropins regulate germ cells mitosis and meiotic initiation through steroid hormones and a miR181a-mediated pathway. In particularly, FSH delays germ cell meiosis entry and promotes cell proliferation via estrogen while LH accelerates the meiotic initiation via elevated P4 production.
authors: Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition of the Ministry of Education and Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, PR China.
authors: Bin
authors: B
authors: He
authors: Yuling
authors: Y
authors: Mi
authors: Caiqiao
authors: C
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002642:Chick Embryo; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005718:Gametogenesis; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008540:Meiosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D057136:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 6, Group A, Member 1 / Q000235:genetics; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D006062:Gonadotropins; D035683:MicroRNAs; D057136:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 6, Group A, Member 1; D011374:Progesterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone