title: Prostaglandin E2 stimulates the expression of cumulus expansion-related genes in pigs: the role of protein kinase B.
abstract: The production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) seems to play an important role in the ovulation process. PGE2 was found to induce cumulus expansion and meiosis resumption in mice, but little is known about its role in pigs. The goals of this study were (a) to assess the effect of PGE2 on the expression levels of cumulus expansion-related genes, (b) to define the signaling pathways that drive the PGE2-stimulated expression of cumulus expansion-related genes, (c) to measure the effect of PGE2 on the activation of key signaling molecules (MAPK3/1, PKB) and on hyaluronan production in cumulus cells, and (d) to assess the effect of PGE2 on meiosis resumption. We documented that PGE2 is able to induce the expression of cumulus expansion-related genes (HAS2, TNFAIP6) as well as genes involved in steroidogenesis (CYP11A1) or prostaglandin production (PTGS2). PGE2 is able to activate PKB and MAPK3/1 and induce mild cumulus expansion and meiosis resumption, but less efficiently than FSH.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Rumburska 89, 277 21 Libechov, Czech Republic. Electronic address: blaha@iapg.cas.cz.
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blaha
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Rumburska 89, 277 21 Libechov, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Radek
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prochazka
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Kamycka 129, 265 21 Prague 6-Suchdol, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Adamkova
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Kamycka 129, 265 21 Prague 6-Suchdol, Czech Republic; Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine of Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Karlovarska 48, 301 66 Pilsen, Czech Republic; Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Karlovarska 48, 301 66 Pilsen, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nevoral
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Rumburska 89, 277 21 Libechov, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nemcova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054885:Cumulus Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D015232:Dinoprostone
keywords: Cumulus; Oocyte; Prostaglandin E2; Protein kinase B