Identification and expression analyses of BAMBI mediated by FSH in swine luteinizing granulosa cells

Transforming growth factor-β and related growth factors are essential regulators for the development of follicles. Bone morphogenic protein (BMP) and activin membrane-bound inhibitor (BAMBI) was reported as a key factor participating in the transforming growth factor-β signal pathway. To investigate the role of BAMBI in porcine granulosa cells, the full length of the BAMBI was cloned from porcine ovarian cDNA. The results of bioinformatics analyses showed that the signaling peptide was located in between positions 20 and 21. The results of online prediction on phosphorylation sites indicate that the sites of Ser, Thr, and Tyr are 9, 1, and 1, respectively. In addition, BAMBI was highly homologous in rodent and livestock. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) indicated that BAMBI was widely expressed in porcine tissues. Immunofluorescence showed that BAMBI was located in both nucleus and cytoplasm. Stimulating the granulosa cells with FSH in vitro could alter BAMBI expression level in a time-dependent manner. Moreover, the expression level declined after treatment with FSH. These results indicated that BAMBI is an FSH-repressed gene in porcine luteinizing granulosa cells and it may be involved in the regulation of ovarian follicle development and oocyte maturation.