Role of kisspeptin-10 and betacellulin in control of feline ovarian cell functions

The adipokines progranulin and omentin can directly regulate feline ovarian granulosa cell functions

The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of the adipokines progranulin and omentin on the basic functions of feline ovarian cells. For this purpose, we investigated the effects of the addition of progranulin and omentin (0, 0.1, 1, or 10 ng/ml) on the proliferation (accumulation of PCNA and cyclin B1), apoptosis (accumulation of Bax and caspase 3) and progesterone release of cultured feline ovarian granulosa cells by quantitative immunocytochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Both progranulin and omentin increased cell proliferation and decreased apoptosis. Both progranulin and omentin promoted progesterone release. The present findings demonstrate that the adipokines progranulin and omentin can directly regulate basic feline ovarian cell functions.

The growth factors amphiregulin and epiregulin are novel stimulators of feline ovarian granulosa cell functions

This study aimed to investigate the impact of the epidermal growth factor receptor ligands amphiregulin (AREG) and epiregulin (EREG) on the fundamental functions of feline ovarian granulosa cells. Granulosa cells isolated from feline ovaries were incubated with AREG and EREG (0, 0.1, 1 or 10 ng/mL). The effects of these growth factors on cell viability, proliferation (assessed through BrdU incorporation), nuclear apoptosis (evaluated through nuclear DNA fragmentation) and the release of progesterone and estradiol were determined using Cell Counting Kit-8 assays, BrdU analysis, TUNEL assays and ELISAs, respectively. Both AREG and EREG increased cell viability, proliferation and steroid hormone release and reduced apoptosis. The present findings suggest that these epidermal growth factor receptor ligands may serve as physiological stimulators of feline ovarian cell functions.

Сopper nanoparticles supported on charcoal and betacellulin - Two novel stimulators of ovarian granulosa cell functions and their functional interrelationships

The present experiments are aimed to examine the effect of copper nanoparticles supported on charcoal (CuNPs/C), growth factor betacellulin (BTC) and their interrelationships in the control of ovarian cell functions. Porcine ovarian granulosa cells were cultured in the presence of CuNPs/C (0, 1, 10 or 100 ng/ml), BTC (100 ng/ml) and the combination of both, CuNPs/C + BTC. Markers of cell proliferation (BrDU incorporation), of the S-phase (PCNA) and G-phase (cyclin B1) of the cell cycle, markers of extrinsic (nuclear DNA fragmentation) and cytoplasmic/mitochondrial apoptosis (bax and caspase 3), and the release of progesterone and estradiol were assessed by BrDU test, TUNEL, quantitative immunocytochemistry and ELISA. Both CuNPs/C and BTC, when added alone, increased the expression of all the markers of cell proliferation, reduced the expression of all apoptosis markers and stimulated progesterone and estradiol release. Moreover, BTC was able to promote the CuNPs/C action on the accumulation of PCNA, cyclin B1, bax and estradiol output. These observations demonstrate the stimulatory action of both CuNPs/C and BTC on ovarian cell functions, as well as the ability of BTC to promote the action of CuNPs/C on ovarian cell functions.

Molecular Factors Involved in the Reproductive Morphophysiology of Female Domestic Cat (Felis catus)

The domestic cat (Felis catus) is considered an important model for the study of feline reproductive morphophysiology. However, although the morphological changes and clinical signs that occur during the estrous cycle and pregnancy are well known, little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved in the reproductive physiology of this animal species. Thus, this paper reviews the current knowledge about the modulation and expression profile of hormonal, immunological, redox, and growth mediators involved in the uterine, ovarian, and placental morphophysiology of domestic cats.