title: Role of leptin in the regulation of sterol/steroid biosynthesis in goose granulosa cells.
abstract: Leptin is critical for reproductive endocrinology. The aim of this study is to assess the expression patterns of leptin receptor (Lepr) during ovarian follicle development and to reveal the mechanism by which leptin affects steroid hormone secretion in goose granulosa cells. Transcripts of Lepr were ubiquitous in all tested tissues, with pituitary and adrenal glands being the predominant sites. Goose ovarian follicles were divided into several groups by diameter including prehierarchical (4 to 6, 6 to 8, and 8 to 10 mm) and hierarchical (F5-F1) follicles. Lepr gene expression was significantly higher in granulosa cells than in theca cells from follicles of 4 to 8 mm in diameter. Expression of Lepr in granulosa cells decreased gradually as follicles developed, with fluctuating expression in F5 and F3 follicles. Lepr mRNA in theca cells underwent a slight decrease from the 6- to 8-mm cohorts to F5 follicle and then exhibited a transient increase and declined later. In vitro experiments in cultured goose granulosa cells showed that estradiol release was significantly stimulated, whereas progesterone increased slightly and testosterone decreased dramatically after leptin treatment. In accordance with the data for steroids, expression of Lepr, Srebp1, Cyp51, StAR, and Cyp19a1 were induced by the addition of leptin, and the concomitant changes in Hmgcs1, Dhcr24, Cyp11a1, 17β-hsd, Cyp17, and 3β-hsd gene expression were seen. These results suggested that leptin is involved in the development of goose ovarian follicles, and leptin's effect on steroid hormone secretion could be due to altered sterol/steroidogenic gene expression via interaction with its receptor.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Shenqiang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Qihai
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gou
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Hehe
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Yingying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan, PR China. Electronic address: wjw2886166@163.com.
authors.forename: Jiwen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D046090:Anseriformes / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D020738:Leptin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013256:Steroids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013261:Sterols / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013256:Steroids; D013261:Sterols
keywords: Goose; Leptin; Leptin receptor; Ovary; Steroid hormone