Abstract
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and KIT signaling are required for ovarian development. In this study the interactive effect of FSH and stem cell factor (SCF) on folliculogenesis was investigated in the chicken. Correlated changes between the FSH receptor and the expression of KIT signaling genes were seen to be involved in the formation of the chicken primordial follicles. Follicle-stimulating hormone and SCF displayed a reciprocal stimulating effect in the promotion of folliculogenesis involving elevated phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and protein kinase B (AKT) proteins. Knockdown of c-KIT or SCF reduced the stimulatory effect of FSH on KIT signaling as well as upon MAPK and AKT phosphorylation. Treatment of FSH and SCF in combination enhanced ovarian cell proliferation and N-cadherin expression, but inhibited cell apoptosis and E-cadherin expression. Overall, the reciprocal stimulating effect of FSH and SCF in promoting chicken follicle assembly involving accelerated ovarian cell proliferation, N-cadherin expression, inhibited cell apoptosis, and E-cadherin expression is demonstrated.
Highlights
The reproductive lifespan of female mammals is determined at the time of birth through establishment of a primordial follicle pool in which the oocytes are enclosed by a layer of flattened pre-granulosa cells [1, 2]
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) has been shown to be capable of promoting primordial follicle assembly via FSH receptor (FSHR) to regulate cell adhesions and stem cell factor (SCF) production [12, 25]
There has been little evidence to show the effects of FSH and KIT signaling on the primordial follicle assembly in avian species
Summary
The reproductive lifespan of female mammals is determined at the time of birth through establishment of a primordial follicle pool in which the oocytes are enclosed by a layer of flattened pre-granulosa cells [1, 2]. The initial development of the primordial follicle pool occurs during the first 4 days post-hatching through germline nest breakdown and the enclosure of oocytes with pre-granulosa cells in the chicken. Studies of mammalian females have shown that they are incapable of producing oocytes and follicles after birth [5, 6]. In this respect, the oocytes in the primordial follicles represent the entire available reproductive resource
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