卵巢颗粒细胞凋亡的调控因素

卵泡闭锁是哺乳动物卵巢中一种普遍现象,其实质是由卵巢颗粒细胞凋亡造成的。颗粒细胞的状态已经成为衡量卵母细胞质量乃至胚胎发育能力的一个重要参考指标,因此对颗粒细胞的凋亡开展研究显得十分必要。调控颗粒细胞凋亡的因素有多种,本文从与颗粒细胞凋亡相关的激素、与颗粒细胞凋亡相关细胞因子和与颗粒细胞凋亡相关的基因三方面对卵巢颗粒细胞凋亡的调控因素进行综述。     

猪分离卵泡体外培养过程中Fas/FasL对颗粒细胞凋亡的作用

从猪卵巢分离完整有腔卵泡,按质量分为3类：健康卵泡、早期闭锁卵泡和晚期闭锁卵泡。猪分离卵泡经眼观检查后再行石蜡切片和HE染色,形态学研究表明,眼观检查对于健康卵泡的判定准确率为92％。取健康卵泡按直径大小分为3组：直径＞5 mm大卵泡组、3～5 mm中卵泡组和≤3 mm小卵泡组。卵泡培养8、16和24 h,以Annexin-V FITC/PI双染流式细胞仪检测壁层颗粒细胞凋亡情况,结果发现培养卵泡颗粒细胞的总凋亡率（早期凋亡＋晚期凋亡）在8 h时就已达到70%以上,至24 h则为81.1%～94.6%。收集无血清培养0、8、16、24、48和72 h的卵泡颗粒细胞,用real time PCR SYBRgreen法检测各组卵泡颗粒细胞FasL和Fas mRNA相对表达量。各级卵泡颗粒细胞中FasL mRNA水平随培养时间显著增加,培养至24 h达最大值（P＜0.05）;小卵泡颗粒细胞FasL mRNA水平均高于大、中卵泡组。各级卵泡颗粒细胞Fas mRNA相对表达量在培养前（0 h）差异不显著,8 h时显著增加,48 h达最大值。该实验表明,所用无血清卵泡培养体系可有效诱导卵泡颗粒细胞的凋亡,细胞凋亡是卵泡闭锁的主要诱因,但卵泡闭锁程度可因卵泡大小而异,小卵泡似乎更容易发生闭锁。     

细胞程序性死亡在卵泡闭锁中的作用及机制

卵泡颗粒细胞凋亡和自噬在动物卵巢卵泡闭锁过程中发挥重要的调控作用。新近研究表明,铁死亡和焦亡也参与卵巢卵泡闭锁过程。铁死亡是一种铁依赖性脂质过氧化和活性氧(reactive oxygen species, ROS)积累引起的细胞死亡形式。研究证实,自噬和凋亡介导的卵泡闭锁过程中也有典型的铁死亡特征。细胞焦亡是依赖于Gasdermin蛋白的促炎性细胞死亡,可通过调节卵泡颗粒细胞调控卵巢繁殖性能。本文综述了几种细胞程序性死亡独立或相互作用参与调控卵泡闭锁的作用及机制,以期扩展卵泡闭锁机制的理论研究,为细胞程序性细胞死亡诱导卵泡闭锁的作用机制提供理论参考。     

多囊卵巢综合征模型鼠颗粒细胞凋亡及TRAIL蛋白的表达

目的通过观察卵巢颗粒细胞凋亡及TRAIL(肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡诱导配体)蛋白的表达情况,探讨颗粒细胞凋亡与PCOS发病的相关性及凋亡调控蛋白TRAIL在PCOS颗粒细胞凋亡中的作用。方法采用硫酸普拉睾酮钠诱导大鼠PCOS模型,3’-末端原位标记法(TUNEL)检测大鼠卵巢颗粒细胞凋亡情况,免疫组化染色及RT-PCR分析检测TRAIL蛋白及TRAIL mRNA在颗粒细胞的表达。结果PCOS组大鼠卵巢窦状卵泡颗粒细胞凋亡发生率及TRAIL蛋白的表达较对照组明显增强(P<0.01,P<0.05),窦前卵泡颗粒细胞凋亡发生率及TRAIL蛋白的表达两组无显著性差异(P>0.05),两组卵巢始基卵泡颗粒细胞未发现凋亡征象及TRAIL蛋白表达。PCOS组大鼠卵巢颗粒细胞TRAIL mRNA的表达较对照组明显增强(P<0.01)。结论PCOS大鼠卵巢窦状卵泡颗粒细胞凋亡明显增强,TRAIL在PCOS大鼠卵巢颗粒细胞凋亡调控中发挥了作用。     

发情周期不同时期猪卵泡颗粒细胞凋亡的观察

为探讨猪发情周期不同时期卵泡发育和闭锁的规律及机理,本实验通过TUNEL原位标记,H,E．染色以及放射免疫测定等手段研究了猪发情周期不同阶段卵巢表面各类卵泡数量的变化。各类卵泡中颗粒细胞的凋亡比例,闭锁卵泡的形态变化以及发情周期各阶段血清孕酮及雌二醇水平的变化等问题。卵泡的总数在发情间期最多,为26．8个／卵巢,发情期最少,为7．4个／卵巢。小放泡的数量在发情间期最多。为15个／卵巢,在发性期数量最少,为5．7个／卵巢。中等卵泡数量在发情间蜞多,为8．5个／卵巢,在发情后期卵巢中无中等卵泡。大卵泡的数量在发情前期最多,为7．4个／卵巢,在发情后期最少,为0个。小卵泡的颗粒细胞凋亡比例（各时期平均21．03％）显著高于大卵泡,在发情后期显著降低。中等卵泡的颗粒细胞凋亡比例（平均16．6％）在发情前期显著低于其它各期。大卵泡的颗粒细胞凋亡比例（平均11．2％）在发情周期各阶段无显著差异,均显著低于中等卵泡和小卵泡。     

沉默Gpr3基因表达对猪卵泡颗粒细胞凋亡的影响

G蛋白偶联受体3（G protein-coupled receptor 3,Gpr3）属于G蛋白偶联受体超家族成员,能够维持卵泡卵母细胞减数分裂的前期阻滞,但在卵泡颗粒细胞中的作用不清。该研究利用RNAi技术,以化学合成的siRNA转染体外培养的猪卵泡颗粒细胞,并利用Real-time PCR和Western blot技术检验Gpr3基因的沉默效果;利用MTT（四甲基偶氮唑盐）、流式细胞术和Real-time PCR技术检测沉默Gpr3基因表达对猪卵泡颗粒细胞凋亡以及凋亡相关基因表达的影响。结果显示,Gpr3-siRNA能够有效地抑制猪卵泡颗粒细胞中Gpr3基因mRNA和蛋白的表达（P〈0.01）;在沉默Gpr3基因表达后,猪卵泡颗粒细胞的细胞活性由0.419升高至0.586,同时细胞凋亡率由2.67%下降至0.42%,并在显著上调Bcl-2表达的同时,下调了Bax的表达（P〈0.05）。结果表明,沉默Gpr3基因的表达抑制了猪卵泡颗粒细胞的凋亡,其机制可能与调控Bcl-2和Bax表达有关。     

卵泡闭锁与其tPA,LH受体及抑制素α,βA亚基基因表达的关系

用DNA 3′-末端标记、免疫组化和原位杂交方法,通过连续切片比较研究了相同卵泡颗粒细胞抑制素亚基和LH受体(LHR)与卵细胞tPA表达和卵泡闭锁的关系.实验结果表明:(1) 卵泡闭锁伴随卵细胞tPA活性明显增加;(2) 颗粒细胞抑制素的产生调节卵细胞tPA活性的表达并与卵泡发育状态密切相关;(3) 卵泡闭锁时,颗粒细胞几乎不表达LHR和抑制素亚基.上述结果提示:卵细胞的tPA在闭锁卵泡中可能参与卵细胞的自我瓦解和清除过程;颗粒细胞表达的抑制素可能是tPA mRNA翻译的一种抑制因子,如其表达受阻,可导致卵细胞tPA蛋白活性增加引起卵泡闭锁.     

卵泡闭锁与其tPA，LH受体及抑制素 α，βA亚基基因表达的关系

用DNA 3′-末端标记、免疫组化和原位杂交方法,通过连续切片比较研究了相同卵泡颗粒细胞抑制素亚基和LH受体（LHR）与卵细胞tPA表达和卵泡闭锁的关系.实验结果表明（1） 卵泡闭锁伴随卵细胞tPA活性明显增加;（2） 颗粒细胞抑制素的产生调节卵细胞tPA活性的表达并与卵泡发育状态密切相关;（3） 卵泡闭锁时,颗粒细胞几乎不表达LHR和抑制素亚基.上述结果提示卵细胞的tPA在闭锁卵泡中可能参与卵细胞的自我瓦解和清除过程;颗粒细胞表达的抑制素可能是tPA mRNA翻译的一种抑制因子,如其表达受阻,可导致卵细胞tPA蛋白活性增加引起卵泡闭锁.     

丝状真菌的细胞凋亡

凋亡是一种程序性细胞死亡类型,为多细胞生物发育和维持生命所必需的,也普遍存在于细菌等原核生物和酵母、丝状真菌等真核生物中。丝状真菌既具有酵母和哺乳动物共有的凋亡同源蛋白,也具有酵母所不具备的哺乳动物凋亡同源蛋白,所以其凋亡机制较酵母更为复杂,而又较哺乳动物简单。凋亡在丝状真菌的发育、繁殖、衰老等过程中具有重要的作用。近年,丝状真菌作为新的凋亡研究的模式生物被广泛研究,而且进展迅速。综述丝状真菌的凋亡现象和检测方法,丝状真菌中凋亡的生物学功能,丝状真菌凋亡的诱导条件,以及丝状真菌凋亡相关基因的功能研究进展。     

过表达Gpr3诱导猪颗粒细胞G1阻滞及凋亡

G蛋白偶联受体3（Gpr3）属于G蛋白偶联受体视紫质家族成员. Gpr3通过激活Gs蛋白介导的下游信号通路,维持卵泡卵母细胞减数分裂的前期阻滞,但在卵泡颗粒细胞中的作用不清. 为了明确Gpr3在猪卵泡颗粒细胞中的功能,构建了Gpr3基因的真核表达载体,利用过表达的方式激活其介导的信号通路,并利用MTT、流式细胞术和real-time PCR等方法检测了过表达Gpr3对猪卵泡颗粒细胞增殖及凋亡的影响. 结果显示,过表达Gpr3后,猪颗粒细胞的增殖水平显著下调,G0/G1期细胞的百分比增加,S期细胞减少,Cyclin B1和CDK1 mRNA的表达量也显著降低;同时,显著增加了颗粒细胞的凋亡率,在抑制Bcl-2表达的同时,促进了Bax的表达. 结果表明：过表达Gpr3在猪颗粒细胞中具有抑增殖促凋亡的作用,丰富了其在调节卵泡发育过程中的生物学功能.     

Growth differentiation factor 9 is antiapoptotic during follicular development from preantral to early antral stage

Ovarian follicular atresia represents a selection process that ensures the release of only healthy and viable oocytes during ovulation. The transition from preantral to early antral stage is the penultimate stage of development in terms of gonadotropin dependence and follicle destiny (survival/growth vs. atresia). We have examined whether and how oocyte-derived growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF-9) and FSH regulate follicular development and atresia during the preantral to early antral transition, by a novel combination of in vitro gene manipulation (i.e. intraoocyte injection of GDF-9 antisense oligos) and preantral follicle culture. Injection of GDF-9 antisense suppressed basal and FSH-induced preantral follicle growth in vitro, whereas addition of GDF-9 enhanced basal and FSH-induced follicular development. GDF-9 antisense activated caspase-3 and induced apoptosis in cultured preantral follicles, a response attenuated by exogenous GDF-9. GDF-9 increased phospho-Akt content in granulosa cells of early antral follicles. Although granulosa cell apoptosis induced by ceramide was attenuated by the presence of GDF-9, this protective effect of GDF-9 was prevented by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor LY294002 and a dominant negative form of Akt. Injection of GDF-9 antisense decreased FSH receptor mRNA levels in cultured follicles, a response preventable by the presence of exogenous GDF-9. The data suggest that GDF-9 is antiapoptotic in preantral follicles and protects granulosa cells from undergoing apoptosis via activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway. An adequate level of GDF-9 is required for follicular FSH receptor mRNA expression. GDF-9 promotes follicular survival and growth during the preantral to early antral transition by suppressing granulosa cell apoptosis and follicular atresia.     

Ovarian regression and apoptosis in the South American teleost Leporinus taeniatus Lütken (Characiformes, Anostomidae) from the São Francisco Basin

Involution and resorption of both postovulatory and atretic follicles were analysed in piau‐jejo Leporinus taeniatus (Characiformes, Anostomidae) in order to evaluate the role of apoptosis during ovarian regression. Histological and ultrastructural analyses showed hallmarks of apoptosis in the granulosa: aggregation of compacted chromatin against the nuclear envelope, cell shrinkage, surface blebbing, loss of cell adhesion and cell fragmentation into apoptotic bodies. Protein synthesis activity preceded the onset of the cell death. The breakdown of the basement membrane led to the detachment of the granulosa cells into the follicular lumen. TUNEL‐positive reactions were detected in in situ DNA fragmentation of granulosa of both postovulatory and atretic follicles. Apoptosis increased in a time‐dependent manner contributing to reduction of the follicular areas. The apoptotic index (per cent of apoptotic cells) of the granulosa increased in postovulatory follicles soon after spawning, then these follicles degenerated and only remnants were observed at 7 days. In contrast, the granulosa cells reabsorbed the yolk during follicular atresia and the apoptotic index increased only in the late stage of regression. The results indicated apoptosis as the major mechanism to rapidly eliminate postovulatory follicles and being an essential process in the ovarian regression after spawning.     

Expression and Preliminary Functional Profiling of the let-7 Family during Porcine Ovary Follicle Atresia

Most follicles in the mammalian ovary undergo atresia. Granulosa cell apoptosis is a hallmark of follicle atresia. Our previous study using a microRNA (miRNA) microarray showed that the let-7 microRNA family was differentially expressed during follicular atresia. However, whether the let-7 miRNA family members are related to porcine (Sus scrofa) ovary follicular apoptosis is unclear. In the current study, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed that the expression levels of let-7 family members in follicles and granulosa cells were similar to our microarray data, in which miRNAs let-7a, let-7b, let-7c, and let-7i were significantly decreased in early atretic and progressively atretic porcine ovary follicles compared with healthy follicles, while let-7g was highly expressed during follicle atresia. Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis and Hoechst33342 staining demonstrated that let-7g increased the apoptotic rate of cultured granulosa cells. In addition, let-7 target genes were predicted and annotated by TargetScan, PicTar, gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathways. Our data provide new insight into the association between the let-7 miRNA family in granulosa cell programmed death.     

Age-associated up-regulation of EGR1 promotes granulosa cell apoptosis during follicle atresia in mice through the NF-κB pathway

Follicular atresia is the main process responsible for the loss of follicles and oocytes from the ovary, and it is the root cause of ovarian aging. Apoptosis of granulosa cells (GCs) is the cellular mechanism responsible for follicular atresia in mammals. Recent advances have highlighted fundamental roles for EGR1 in age-related diseases via the induction of apoptosis. In the present study, we found that the expression of EGR1 was significantly increased in aged mouse ovaries compared with young ovaries. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed strongly positive EGR1 staining in atretic follicles, especially in apoptotic granulosa cells. We further showed that EGR1 up-regulation in mouse primary granulosa cells inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis. In addition, the promotion of apoptosis in GCs by EGR1 increases over time and with reactive oxygen species (ROS) stimulation. Our mechanistic study suggested that EGR1 regulates GC apoptosis in a mitochondria-dependent manner and that this mainly occurs through the NF-κB signaling pathway. In conclusion, our results suggested that age-related up-regulation of EGR1 promotes GC apoptosis in follicle atresia during ovarian aging.     

Relationship between low-molecular-weight insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins, caspase-3 activity, and oocyte quality

Bovine follicular atresia is associated with the apoptosis of granulosa cells and the subsequent loss of oocyte competence through the reduction of cellular contact (e.g., gap junctions). Several components of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system are thought to affect follicular atresia. Whereas the IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) are present in varying quantities throughout follicular development, IGFBP-5 appears to be present only during atresia, in parallel with its regulation in other tissue remodeling systems. However, to our knowledge, no connection has yet been made between atresia, low-molecular-weight IGFBP content, and oocyte quality in the bovine ovary. Caspases are actively involved in ovarian follicular atresia, and apoptosis in antral follicles is caspase-3-dependent. Hence, the aim of the present study was to investigate the use of these factors in the assessment of oocyte quality and developmental potential. Oocytes were aspirated, morphologically classified, and individually matured in vitro. The follicular fluid and granulosa cells of these follicles were analyzed for IGFBP profile and caspase-3 activity, respectively. A significant correlation was found between the presence of low-molecular-weight IGFBPs in bovine follicular fluid and caspase-3 activity of granulosa cells isolated from individual follicles. The highest percentage of development to the blastocyst stage was observed in oocytes from slightly atretic follicles. This group of oocytes contained an equal proportion of oocytes at grades 1-3. These data demonstrate that low-molecular-weight IGFBP profile is a more reliable method than the traditional morphological assessment of oocytes and can be used as an effective marker of developmentally competent oocytes. Importantly, these results have implications for the use of noninvasive follicular fluid markers in the selection of competent oocytes to improve outcomes of in vitro fertilization.     

Multiparametric study of atresia in ewe antral follicles: histology, flow cytometry, internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, and lysosomal enzyme activities in granulosa cells and follicular fluid

The differential quantitative participation of apoptosis and necrosis in ewe antral follicles of two different sizes, separated in four stages of atresia using macroscopic, histologic, and esteroid quantification methods was assessed. Annexin V binding and propidium iodide (PI) uptake was used to detect healthy live cells (Annexin V negative/PI negative), early apoptotic cells (Annexin V+/PI-), and necrotic or late apoptotic cells (PI+). Additionally we used internucleosomal DNA fragmentation as a quantitative estimate of apoptosis. Presence and distribution of lysosomal enzymes in follicular fluid and granulosa cells was used as a measure of necrotic cell death. DNA flow cytometry and gel electrophoresis were positively correlated with the progression of atresia, small atretic follicles tend to have higher percentages of internucleosomal cleaved DNA than follicles >6 mm. Annexin/PI binding also indicates that apoptosis and necrosis increase with atresia progression, generally apoptosis outweighs necrosis in small follicles. Acid phosphatase and glucosaminidase in follicular fluid of 3-6 mm follicles showed no significant modifications between healthy and initially atretic follicles, and only a small, but significant increase in activity in advancedly atretic follicles. On the contrary, lysosomal enzyme activity in follicles >6 mm showed positive correlation between atresia stages and the activities of acid phosphatase and glucosaminidase in follicular fluid. A similar size-differential behavior was found in free or membrane-bound lysosomal enzyme activity of granulosa cells. Necrosis, but principally apoptosis, were present during all stages of follicular maturation indicating that growth and maturation of ovarian follicles involves a continuous renewal of granulosa cells, regulated by apoptosis. Mechanisms regulating this equilibrium may participate in the final destiny, whether ovulation or atresia of ovarian follicles.     

Granulosa cell apoptosis: conservation of cell signaling in an avian ovarian model system

Ovarian follicle atresia in all vertebrates studied to date is mediated via apoptosis, a process that is often initiated within the granulosa cell layer. While follicle atresia is considered a normal physiological process to insure the greatest chance for ovulation of fertilizable oocytes, abnormally high rates of atresia result in chronic infertility and/or premature termination of fertility (e.g., menopause). Although the vast majority of research to elucidate the molecular ordering of cell signaling during the process of granulosa cell apoptosis has been conducted in mammalian model systems, there is ample evidence to demonstrate that many of the proteins, enzymes and cell-signaling pathways are common to ovarian follicles from avian species. The following review will discuss evidence for the conservation of cellular processes that regulate the fate of granulosa cells from the avian, versus mammalian, ovary during follicle development.