Effects of apelin on proliferation and apoptosis in rat ovarian granulosa cells.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the influence of apelin on proliferation and apoptosis in rat ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) in vitro.


METHODS
Primary culture of SD rat ovarian GCs was cultured with different concentrations of apelin 10(-8) mol/L, and APJ expression in GCs was inhibited by small RNA interfering (siRNA). Signaling inhibitor LY294002 of PI3K/Akt, HIMO intervention, MTT assay and flow cytometry were combined to observe the cell proliferation and apoptosis; Western blot was used to detect signaling protein expression related with cell apoptosis.


RESULTS
Compared with the control group, the differences on cell proliferation rate detected by MTT assay in APJ-siRNA group, LY294002 group, and HIMO group had statistical significance (p < 0.05). Protein expressions of Bad, Bax, and Foxo3a in GCs in APJ-siRNA group, LY294002 group, and HIMO group were apparently upregulated (p < 0.05), and the protein expression of Bcl-2 in APJ-siRNA group, LY294002 group, and HIMO group was obviously downregulated (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Apelin can promote proliferation of GCs and inhibit apoptosis via PI3/Akt signaling pathway.
L
L
Shuang
W
W
Jidong
P
P
Hongjuan
Y
Y
Zhenwei
D000818:Animals; D000073861:Apelin; D000075244:Apelin Receptors; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002867:Chromones / Q000494:pharmacology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009025:Morpholines / Q000494:pharmacology; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D015398:Signal Transduction
D000073861:Apelin; D000075244:Apelin Receptors; C498579:Apln protein, rat; C491284:Aplnr protein, rat; D002867:Chromones; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009025:Morpholines; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; C085911:2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt