Platelet-derived growth factor B restores vascular barrier integrity and diminishes permeability in ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

Altered expression of angiogenic factors in dominant preovulatory follicles of dairy cattle treated with ACTH

Studies in cows have reported that ovulation, steroidogenesis and angiogenesis are affected by stress and consequently fertility decreases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of ACTH administration during the preovulatory period on the expression of growth factors (CD-31, PDGF-A, PDGF-B, VEGFA-164, VEGFA-164b, VEGF-R1 and VEGF-R2) associated with the angiogenic process by immunohistochemistry in cows (n = 14). Results evidenced the expression of these growth factors in theca and granulosa cells from antral, atretic and dominant preovulatory follicles of ACTH-treated cows, suggesting that, under stress conditions, their expression continues to be required. VEGFA-164, VEGF-R1 and VEGF-R2 expression was greater in theca cells of dominant preovulatory follicles of the ACTH-treated group than in those of the control group. CD-31 protein expression was lower in the dominant preovulatory follicles of the ACTH-treated group than in those of the control group. PDGF-A and PDGF-B expression did not differ between groups, either in granulosa or in theca cells. These results suggest that VEGFA-164, its receptors and CD-31 are actors in the normal cycle of the ovaries and could have greater pathophysiological importance in the altered angiogenic process and other events that occur during anovulation and stress conditions. This dysregulation reinforces the importance of the angiogenic process in the pathophysiology of cystic ovarian disease in cows. This is the first report on the expression and localization of components of the VEGF and PDGF systems and CD-31 in cells from dominant preovulatory follicles after ACTH administration.

Defining the cellular complexity of the zebrafish bipotential gonad

Zebrafish are routinely used to model reproductive development, function, and disease, yet we still lack a clear understanding of the fundamental steps that occur during early bipotential gonad development, including when endothelial cells, pericytes, and macrophage arrive at the bipotential gonad to support gonad growth and differentiation. Here, we use a combination of transgenic reporters and single-cell sequencing analyses to define the arrival of different critical cell types to the larval zebrafish gonad. We determined that blood initially reaches the gonad via a vessel formed from the swim bladder artery, which we have termed the gonadal artery. We find that vascular and lymphatic development occurs concurrently in the bipotential zebrafish gonad and our data suggest that similar to what has been observed in developing zebrafish embryos, lymphatic endothelial cells in the gonad may be derived from vascular endothelial cells. We mined preexisting sequencing datasets to determine whether ovarian pericytes had unique gene expression signatures. We identified 215 genes that were uniquely expressed in ovarian pericytes, but not expressed in larval pericytes. Similar to what has been shown in the mouse ovary, our data suggest that pdgfrb+ pericytes may support the migration of endothelial tip cells during ovarian angiogenesis. Using a macrophage-driven photoconvertible protein, we found that macrophage established a nascent resident population as early as 12 dpf and can be observed removing cellular material during gonadal differentiation. This foundational information demonstrates that the early bipotential gonad contains complex cellular interactions, which likely shape the health and function of the mature gonad.

ACTH impairs the migratory and secretory profile of mononuclear cells during proestrus in cattle

The aim was to evaluate the effect of ACTH on the mechanisms involved in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) infiltration into the ovary during dairy cattle proestrus. Regarding this, proper expression pattern of adhesion molecules must take place both in PBMCs and in endothelial cells. Argentinian Holstein cows (n = 12) were treated with 100 IU of ACTH every 12 h for 4 days before ovulation when ovariectomy was performed (day 18). Blood samples were taken on day 15 (0 h) and immediately before (72 h) and after (74 h) the last ACTH administration. In PBMCs, flow cytometry was performed to analyze CD44, CD11b and CD62-L expression along with gene expression of chemokines' receptors. Interleukin (IL)-4 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) production was analyzed by flow cytometry after exposing PBMCs to autologous follicular fluid. In ovarian blood vessels, expression of the vascular endothelium cell adhesion-1 (VCAM-1) and the platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. In T-lymphocytes, the expression of CD44 and CD11b was lower at 72 h in ACTH-treated cows (P < 0.05). In monocytes, the expression of CD11b and CD62-L was lower at 72 h in ACTH-treated cows (P < 0.05). Also, the percentage of IL-4+ cells was higher in ACTH-treated cows, meanwhile, the percentage TNF-α+ cells was lower in ACTH-treated cows (P < 0.05). Finally, in the vessels associated with the preovulatory follicle VCAM-1 immunoexpression was lower in ACTH-treated cows (P < 0.05). Here, we present novel insights into the effect of stress during the preovulatory period on the inflammatory pathway necessary for ovulation.

Defining the cellular complexity of the zebrafish bipotential gonad

Zebrafish are routinely used to model reproductive development, function, and disease, yet we still lack a clear understanding of the fundamental steps that occur during early bipotential gonad development, including when endothelial cells, pericytes, and macrophage cells arrive at the bipotential gonad to support gonad growth and differentiation. Here, we use a combination of transgenic reporters and single-cell sequencing analyses to define the arrival of different critical cell types to the larval zebrafish gonad. We determined that blood initially reaches the gonad via a vessel formed from the swim bladder artery, which we have termed the gonadal artery. We find that vascular and lymphatic development occurs concurrently in the bipotential zebrafish gonad and our data suggest that similar to what has been observed in developing zebrafish embryos, lymphatic endothelial cells in the gonad may be derived from vascular endothelial cells. We mined preexisting sequencing data sets to determine whether ovarian pericytes had unique gene expression signatures. We identified 215 genes that were uniquely expressed in ovarian pericytes that were not expressed in larval pericytes. Similar to what has been shown in the mouse ovary, our data suggest that pdgfrb+ pericytes may support the migration of endothelial tip cells during ovarian angiogenesis. Using a macrophage-driven photoconvertible protein, we found that macrophage established a nascent resident population as early as 12 dpf and can be observed removing cellular material during gonadal differentiation. This foundational information demonstrates that the early bipotential gonad contains complex cellular interactions, which likely shape the health and function of the mature, differentiated gonad.

Short variation of the sheep PDGFD gene is correlated with litter size

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) family, exert plays a key role in embryonic development, cell proliferation, cell migration, angiogenesis and reproduction. Related studies about GWAS analyses have found that PDGFD significantly affected deposition of tail fat in sheep, but there are no studies on reproduction in animals. In this study, three breed of sheep were used to find insertion/deletion (indel) fragment polymorphism of PDGFD which including Australian white (AUW) sheep (Meat type, n = 932), Guiqian semi-fine wool (GSFW) sheep (wool type, n = 60) and East Friensian milk (EFM) sheep (dairy type, n = 60). Only a 18-bp variation was polymorphic in the study AUW sheep population and the genotypes of different sheep breed are also specific. Moreover, the association analysis indicated that this variant was associated with litter size of AUW sheep in the first parity (p < 0.05). The litter size of II genotype was significantly lower than other genotypes in the first parity (p < 0.05). We also revealed that the PDGFD gene was relatively conservative in eight species, PDGFD mRNA expression in 832 sheep samples implying this gene was related to reproduction traits. Hence, these finding demonstrated the one-cause multipotency of PDGFD gene. Collectively, these results suggest that this indel can be used as an effective marker for sheep breeding.