Abstract
Effects of daidzein on expression of mRNAs of gonadotropin receptors (FSHR, LHR) and P450 aromatase (P450arom) were evaluated in ovarian follicles of white silky fowls. The hens were 13 months old in the post-peak period of egg laying and were randomly allocated as control and daidzein-treated groups, with daidzein supplemented to the basal diet at 10 mg/kg for 7 consecutive weeks. The mRNA expression of related genes was measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR in the granulosa layers of the preovulatory follicle (PRF: Fl, F2 ...) and follicular layers of the small yellow follicle (SYF), large white follicle (LWF) and atretic follicle (ATF). Results showed that daidzein supplementation significantly increased the number of SYF and LWF (p<0.05). The relative abundance of the FSHR mRNA decreased in the granulosa layers from F3 to Fl, but LHR mRNA displayed opposite developmental changes. P450arom mRNA was highest in the SYF, but was very low in the granulosa layers after follicles finished selection. Treatment with daidzein resulted in increased mRNA expression of FSHR in F3 granulosa layer, LHR in granulosa layers of F3 to Fl and P450arom in LWF (p<0.05). These results indicated that dietary supplementation of daidzein up-regulated mRNA expression of gonadotropin receptors and P450arom to improve the development of preovulatory follicles in white silky fowls after the peak-laying period.
Highlights
White silky fowl is an extraordinary fowl indigenous to China
Effects of daidzein on follicle numbers There was no significant difference in the number of FSHR mRNA/β-actin mRNA
E e cd de a b c cd PRF between the control and daidzein-treated white silky fowl, but there was a marked increase in the number of SYF and large white follicles (LWF) after daidzein treatment over the experimental period of 7 weeks (Figure 1)
Summary
White silky fowl is an extraordinary fowl indigenous to China. They are mild, short, with a small and long head but short neck and can be distinguished from other chickens. The eggs and meat of white silky fowl are well known in the orient for their abundant contents of unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, calcium and potassium compared to common chickens (He, 2003; Toyosaki and Koketsu, 2004). They have been credited with Chinese traditional medicinal and health-promoting values for thousands of years. Daidzein belongs to the most common group of isoflavones found in plants such as soybeans, clover, and bluegrass and has been studied extensively for possible beneficial biological activities, including estrogen-like and estrogen-independent effects (Wang et al, 2002; Choi et al, 2006; Liu et al, 2006). Picherit et al (2000) reported that
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