Activin A overexpression promotes rat follicular development through SCF-kit-mediated cell signals

We explored the possible signaling pathway by which activin A induces oocyte maturation. Inhba-overexpressing lentivirus vectors were constructed and transfected into primary granulosa cells in vitro and ovary tissues in vivo in rats. The granulosa cell growth curve was drawn, and antibodies for phospho-Smad2, phospho-Erk5, phospho-Nur77, and stem cell factor (SCF) were prepared for western blot analysis. Protein expression of SCF and C-kit in the rat ovaries was detected by immunohistochemical staining. The rate of granulosa cell proliferation was higher in the Inhba gene overexpression group (INH) than in the control groups (CON group and GFP group) in vitro. Protein expression of SCF and C-kit was higher in the INH group than in the other two groups. phospho-Smad2, phospho-ERK5, P-nur77, and SCF proteins showed positive expression in rat ovarian granulosa cells in each group and were obviously increased in the INH group. Activin A overexpression may promote rat granulosa cell proliferation through Smad2/ERK5/nur77 signaling pathways, and rat granulosa cells overexpressing activin A in vitro showed increased levels of SCF and c-kit proteins.

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.

MATERIALS AND 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).

CONCLUSION

Apelin can promote proliferation of GCs and inhibit apoptosis via PI3/Akt signaling pathway.

Changes in the reproductive endocrine function in rat following intraovary microinjection of inhba overexpression lentivirus vectors

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the reproductive endocrine changes after inhba overexpression into rat ovary.

METHOD

Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to three groups. Inhba overexpression lentivirus vectors (LV-eGFP-inhba) were microinjected into rat ovary (INH group); Control animals received the same amount lentivirus vector empty (CON group) or LV-eGFP (GFP group). Antral follicle amount and diameter were counted and serum level of activin A, E2, P, FSH, and LH and the expression of ER-α, ER-β, PR, FSHR, and LHR were measured.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference among three groups in antral follicle amount; antral follicle diameter was increased in INH group rats compared with the other group rats. Serum levels of activin A, E2, P, and FSH were increased and LH was decreased in INH group rats compared with the other group rats. The mRNA and protein expression of ER-α, ER-β, FSHR was higher in INH group rats than that in the other group rats. There was no significant difference in mRNA and protein expression of PR among the three group rats, LHR expression was decreased in INH group rats compared with the other two group rats.

CONCLUSION

inhba overexpression in rat ovary in vivo may change reproductive endocrine function.

Lentivirus vectors mediated eGFP transfected into rat ovary in vivo

PURPOSE

To evaluate the optimum dosage and time-effect relationship of lentivirus vectors mediated enhanced green fluorescence protein gene (lenti-eGFP) transfection into the rat ovary in vivo.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Lenti-eGFP was microinjected into rats' ovaries with different dosage (2 x 10(6) TU and 10 x 10(6) TU virosome respectively, n = 5 rats). The expression of eGFP was examined by the fluorescence microscope at injection at five days. The fluorescence intensity of different dose groups was calculated and determined the optimum dosage. The authors observed the expression of eGFP in ovaries and others tissues at days 5, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 after the rats' ovaries were microinjected with the optimum dosage of lenti-eGFP. Reserve transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and RT-quantitative (q) PCR (RT-qPCR) were used to qualitative and quantitative analyze the expression of eGFP in different tissues and organs of transfected rats.

RESULTS

The expression of eGFP in both ovaries of every rat was seen at five days of transfection. Semi-quantitative assessment of green fluorescence for the two-dosage group was 0.2311 +/- 0.0203 and 0.2307 +/- 0.0199, respectively. There was no significant difference in both groups (p = 0.976). The expression of eGFP enhanced with transfection time prolongation and continued with 75 days of transfection (the fluorescence density in different time was 0.2307 +/- 0.0199, 0.3119 +/- 0.0213, 0.3462 +/- 0.0264, 0.3568 +/- 0.0127, 0.3496 +/- 0.0133, and 0.3513 +/- 0.0172, respectively). Furthermore, there were efficient and durable expressions of eGFP in other tissues and organs of rats. RT-PCR and RT-qPCR proved these results.

CONCLUSION

Lenti-eGFP may successfully transfect ovary tissues and other organs in vivo simultaneously, the expression of eGFP is highly efficient and durable.

Precision goniometer equipped with a 22-bit absolute rotary encoder

The calibration of a compact precision goniometer equipped with a 22-bit absolute rotary encoder is presented. The goniometer is a modified Huber 410 goniometer: the diffraction angles can be coarsely generated by a stepping-motor-driven worm gear and precisely interpolated by a piezoactuator-driven tangent arm. The angular accuracy of the precision rotary stage was evaluated with an autocollimator. It was shown that the deviation from circularity of the rolling bearing utilized in the precision rotary stage restricts the angular positioning accuracy of the goniometer, and results in an angular accuracy ten times larger than the angular resolution of 0.01 arcsec. The 22-bit encoder was calibrated by an incremental rotary encoder. It became evident that the accuracy of the absolute encoder is approximately 18 bit due to systematic errors.