Study summary · research use only
Gene expression and protein localisation for activin-A, follistatin and activin receptors in goat ovaries
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
In this goat study, the authors examined protein and mRNA expression of activin-A, follistatin, and activin receptors in cyclic goat ovaries, using immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR across follicle stages, oocytes, cumulus, granulosa, theca, luteal cells, and surface epithelium. They report activin-A and follistatin proteins in oocytes of all follicle classes, granulosa cells from the primary stage onward, theca of antral follicles, corpora lutea, and surface epithelium, with activin receptor IIA/B also in primordial-follicle granulosa cells and receptor IA absent in theca of large antral follicles. mRNAs for activin-A, follistatin, and the receptors were detected at nearly all sites except receptor IIB in pre-antral follicles. The authors interpret a local regulatory role for activin-A throughout follicular development.
Abstract
We studied the protein and mRNA expression of activin-A, follistatin and activin receptors in goat ovaries to find evidence of their possible role in ovarian activity, particularly in the various stages of follicle development. Ovaries of cyclic goats were collected and then either fixed in paraformaldehyde for immunohistochemical localisation of activin-A, follistatin, activin receptors IIA/B (ActR-IIA/B) and IA (ActR-IA) proteins or used to obtain samples to demonstrate mRNA expression of activin-A (betaA subunit), follistatin, ActR-IIA, -IIB, -IA and -IB, using RT-PCR. For this latter goal, primordial, primary and secondary follicles were isolated mechanically, washed to remove the stromal cells and then used for RT-PCR. In addition, oocytes, cumulus, mural granulosa and theca cells from small (<3 mm) and large (3-6 mm) antral follicles, luteal cells and surface epithelium were collected to study mRNA expression. Activin-A and follistatin proteins were found in oocytes of all follicle classes, granulosa cells from the primary follicle stage onwards, theca cells of antral follicles, corpora lutea and ovarian surface epithelium. In antral follicles, these proteins were detected both in cumulus and mural granulosa cells. ActR-IIA/B protein was found at the same follicular sites, and also in granulosa cells of primordial follicles onward. The localisation of ActR-IA corresponded with that of ActR-IIA/B, but the former protein was absent in the theca of large antral follicles. The mRNAs for activin-A (betaA subunit), follistatin, and ActR-IIA, -IIB, -IA and -IB were detected at all follicular and cellular types studied, except that ActR-IIB was not found in follicles that had not developed an antrum yet. In conclusion, in goat ovaries, transcripts of activin-A (betaA subunit), its receptors and its binding protein follistatin are expressed and their proteins formed at all follicular stages and in corpora lutea. These findings indicate a role of activin-A in the local regulatory system during the entire follicular development and during luteal activity.
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