Activin-A promotes the development of goat isolated secondary follicles in vitro.
The role of activin-A in follicular development and on the mRNA expression levels of different genes in goat secondary follicles was evaluated. Goat secondary follicles (≥ 150 μm) were cultured for 18 days under control conditions or with the addition of either 50 or 100 ng/ml activin-A (Experiment 1). The mRNA levels for the genes that code for activin-A, ActR-IA, ActR-IB, ActR-IIA, ActR-IIB, follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSH-R) and P450 aromatase were measured in each condition (Experiment 2). We observed that after 6 days of culture, the antrum formation rate was higher in cultures with added activin-A than in the cultured control (P < 0.05). The addition of 50 ng/ml activin-A increased the follicular growth rate in the final third of the culture (days 12-18), resulting in a higher percentage of meiosis resumption (P < 0.05). On day 6, the addition of activin-A (50 ng/ml) increased the levels of ActR-IA mRNA compared with the cultured control (P < 0.05). After 18 days, the addition of 50 ng/ml activin-A significantly increased the levels of its own mRNA compared with the non-cultured control. Moreover, this treatment reduced the mRNA levels of P450 aromatase in comparison with the cultured control (P < 0.05). Higher levels of P450 aromatase mRNA were found for both activin-A treatments compared with the non-cultured control (P < 0.05). No difference in estradiol levels was detected among any of the tested treatments. In conclusion, the addition of activin-A to culture medium stimulated early antrum formation as well as an increase in the daily follicular growth rate and the percentage of meiosis resumption.
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias (PPGCV),Laboratório de Manipulação de Oócitos e Folículos Pré-Antrais (LAMOFOPA),Universidade Estadual do Ceará (UECE),Av. Paranjana,1700,Campus do Itaperi,CEP: 60740-000,Fortaleza-CE-Brasil.
Cleidson Manoel Gomes
CM
da Silva
Laboratory of Manipulation of Oocytes and Preantral Follicles (LAMOFOPA),Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,State University of Ceará,Fortaleza,CE,Brazil.
Simone Vieira
SV
Castro
Laboratory of Manipulation of Oocytes and Preantral Follicles (LAMOFOPA),Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,State University of Ceará,Fortaleza,CE,Brazil.
Luciana Rocha
LR
Faustino
Laboratory of Manipulation of Oocytes and Preantral Follicles (LAMOFOPA),Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,State University of Ceará,Fortaleza,CE,Brazil.
Giovanna Quintino
GQ
Rodrigues
Laboratory of Manipulation of Oocytes and Preantral Follicles (LAMOFOPA),Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,State University of Ceará,Fortaleza,CE,Brazil.
Ivina Rocha
IR
Brito
Laboratory of Manipulation of Oocytes and Preantral Follicles (LAMOFOPA),Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,State University of Ceará,Fortaleza,CE,Brazil.
Rafael
R
Rossetto
Laboratory of Manipulation of Oocytes and Preantral Follicles (LAMOFOPA),Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,State University of Ceará,Fortaleza,CE,Brazil.
Márcia Viviane Alves
MV
Saraiva
Laboratory of Manipulation of Oocytes and Preantral Follicles (LAMOFOPA),Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,State University of Ceará,Fortaleza,CE,Brazil.
Claudio Cabral
CC
Campello
Laboratory of Animal Physiology,Department of Animal Science,Federal University of Ceará,Fortaleza,CE,Brazil.
Carlos Henrique
CH
Lobo
Laboratory of Animal Physiology,Department of Animal Science,Federal University of Ceará,Fortaleza,CE,Brazil.
Carlos Eduardo Azevedo
CE
Souza
Laboratory of Animal Physiology,Department of Animal Science,Federal University of Ceará,Fortaleza,CE,Brazil.
Arlindo de Alencar Araripe
Ade A
Moura
Laboratory of Ultrastructure,CPqAM/Fiocruz,Federal University of Pernambuco,Recife,PE,Brazil.
Mariana Aragão Matos
MA
Donato
Laboratory of Ultrastructure,CPqAM/Fiocruz,Federal University of Pernambuco,Recife,PE,Brazil.
Christina Alves
CA
Peixoto
Laboratory of Manipulation of Oocytes and Preantral Follicles (LAMOFOPA),Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,State University of Ceará,Fortaleza,CE,Brazil.
José Ricardo
JR
de Figueiredo
D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I / Q000235:genetics; D030301:Activin Receptors, Type II / Q000235:genetics; D028341:Activins / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004958:Estradiol / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006041:Goats; D059471:In Vitro Oocyte Maturation Techniques / Q000379:methods; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011962:Receptors, FSH / Q000235:genetics
D011962:Receptors, FSH; C422405:activin A; D028341:Activins; D004958:Estradiol; D001141:Aromatase; D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I; D030301:Activin Receptors, Type II
Activin-A; Goat; In vitro culture; P450 aromatase; Secondary follicle