Alterations of Cortisol and Melatonin Production by the Theca Interna Cells of Porcine Cystic Ovarian Follicles.

Yusheng Qin,Xiaoling Xu,Jiage Dai,Jiahua Bai,Taipeng Zhang,Silong Zhang,Jianhui Zhou,Yan Liu

doi:10.3390/ani12030357

Abstract

Simple SummaryThe mechanism of follicular cyst formation is largely unknown but changes in follicular composition are known to be involved. In particular, there is abnormal hormone secretion in cystic follicles. Here, we found there was disruption of hormone secretion in the fluid of cystic follicles in sows. The glucocorticoid receptor was highly expressed, and the melatonin receptor was weakly expressed in cystic follicles compared with control follicles. Thus, secretion of steroid hormones in cystic follicles is disrupted and disturbances in signaling via cortisol and melatonin are involved in the development of follicular cysts in sows.(1) Background: Cortisol and melatonin (MT) act in regulating follicular development. We hypothesized that abnormal levels of cortisol, MT, and steroids in theca interna cells might be involved in the development of follicular cysts in sows. (2) Methods: To test this hypothesis, we measured the mRNA levels of enzymes involved in steroid hormone synthesis, the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), and melatonin receptors (MTRs) in theca interna cells of cystic and normal porcine follicles. (3) Results: The concentrations of estradiol, progesterone, and cortisol were greater in cystic follicles than in control ones (p = 0.034, p = 0.020, p = 0.000), but the concentration of MT was significantly lower (p = 0.045). The levels of GR, 11β-HSD1, and 11β-HSD2 were higher in cystic follicles than in control l follicles. MT types 1 and 2 were significantly lower in cystic follicles (p < 0.05). The mRNA expression levels of genes encoding the steroid hormone synthesis enzymes, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), recombinant cytochrome P45011A1 (CYP11A1), and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) in theca interna cells of cystic follicles were significantly higher than in control follicles. Thus, there was disruption of hormone secretion in the fluid of cystic follicles in sows. (4) Conclusions: The levels of steroid hormones, cortisol and MT are disrupted in porcine cystic follicles.

Highlights

The level of cortisol in the follicular fluid (FF) of cystic bovine follicles is significantly higher than that in normal follicles, and the expression of 11β-HSD1 is significantly increased in the granulosa cells of such follicles [29]. These findings suggest the involvement of cortisol and its metabolic enzymes in the occurrence of follicular cysts in cattle, but there are few studies on spontaneous cystic follicles in sows
We found that the concentration of cortisol in the FF of cystic follicles was significantly higher than in control follicles
Cortisol is higher in the FF of spontaneous or adrenocorticotropic hormone-induced follicular cysts in cattle [29], which is consistent with these results

Summary

Introduction

A follicular cyst is a kind of ovarian cyst [1] and is a major factor causing infertility in sows, goats, and cattle [2,3,4]. Follicular cysts are associated with 10% of cases of reproductive failure in sows [2,5]. This disease impairs their reproductive performance and causes serious economic losses to pig breeding farms [6]. It is generally believed that animal stress, mismanagement, infectious diseases, and other factors that lead to an abnormal cortisol increase and endocrine disorders are major factors in follicular cyst formation [4,7,8]. The mechanisms are largely unknown, but changes in follicular composition are known to be involved [9,10,11]

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Discussion

Conclusion