title: Age-associated changes in granulosa cell transcript abundance in equine preovulatory follicles.
abstract: Age-related changes in follicle paracrine signalling are not defined, and follicular gene transcript abundance could predict oocyte viability. Granulosa cells from preovulatory follicles of mares considered Young (n=12; 4-14 years), Mid-aged (n=9; 15-19 years) and Old (n=14; 20-27 years) were evaluated for transcript abundance related to systemic and follicle-specific pathways. Gene transcript abundance for receptors of insulin, adiponectin and peroxisome proliferating factor-γ were higher or tended to be higher in Mid-aged or Old than Young mares. Transcript abundance for interleukin (IL)-6 was elevated in Old versus Young mares, and IL-6 signal transducer was elevated in Old versus younger groups. Expression of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily member 1A was higher in Mid-aged than Young mares, whereas TNF-inducible gene 6 protein mRNA tended to decrease in Mid-aged versus Young and Old mares. Genes for LH receptor and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein tended to be increased in Old versus Mid-aged and Young mares, respectively. Young and Old mares had higher mRNA for tissue-type plasminogen activator than Mid-aged mares. Thioredoxin-2 mRNA was higher in Old than younger groups. We observed age-related changes in mRNA of receptors for metabolic hormones, inflammatory processes, steroidogenic hormones, tissue remodelling and mitochondrial function, which could contribute to and/or mark alterations in follicular function and fertility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
authors.forename: Dawn R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Sessions-Bresnahan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
authors.forename: Elaine M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Carnevale
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D006736:Horses; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000378:metabolism*; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D054419:Receptors, Adiponectin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011974:Receptors, LH / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D047495:PPAR gamma; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D054419:Receptors, Adiponectin; D011974:Receptors, LH; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein; D011972:Receptor, Insulin; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator