Effect of in vitro copper supplementation on granulosa cell estradiol synthesis and associated genes

Abstract

The study was conducted by supplementing cupric chloride dihydrate to modulate the estradiol synthesis in granulosa cells with a hypothesis of possible use of copper to potentiate or partially replace the hormones for estrus induction / estrus synchronization in future studies. In present study copper at three doses (0.1, 0.5 and 1 mM level in culture medium) were tested to deserve see their effects on in vitro granulosa cell survival, estradiol synthesis and their associated genes of ovarian granulosa cells of goat.There was no effect of copper on the ovarian granulosa cell survival rate. There was a considerable increase in the estradiol level per ml culture medium basis by 6th day of in vitro culture with the second dose of copper i.e. 0.5 mM, but the increase was non-significant (P greator than 0.05). There was no significant effect of copper on estradiol synthesis when expressed on per 30000 cell basis. Effect of copper (0.1 mM and 0.5 mM) on the mRNA expression of genes of aromatase (CYP19A1) and cyclin D2 (CCND2) was estimated. Copper had significantly (P less than 0.05) increased the mRNA expression of CCND2 and CYP19A1in ovarian granulosa cells with only one of the two doses tested i.e. 0.5 mM. Hence, copper can be considered as a potential mineral to supplement along with hormones in estrus induction or estrus synchronization protocols to minimize the use of hormones.