Expression, Regulation, and Functional Characterization of FST Gene in Porcine Granulosa Cells

Abstract

Proliferation, differentiation, and estrogen secretion of granulosa cells are the key factors affecting the estrous after weaning in sows. The objective of this study was to evaluate the expression of Follistatin (FST) in the ovary of Xiushui Hang and Duroc sows at weaning and estrus, the effect of FSH on transcript abundance of FST gene in granulosa cells and the role of FST gene in the weaning to estrus using siRNAs targeted to FST gene. In the present study, expression of the FST mRNA was evaluated by real time PCR. The FST mRNA levels showed a reduction from weaning to the estrus in both Xiushui Hang and Duroc sows, and the mRNA levels in Duroc ovary was higher than in Xiushui Hang sows at the beginning of estrus. Granulosa cells were obtained from the two largest follicles around follicular deviation, FST expression was decreased sharply after treatment with FSH (250 ng/ml). Knockdown of FST by siRNA in porcine granulosa cells significantly increased cell proliferation and estrogen secretion. These results indicate that FST gene is a negative regulator of follicle growth and function during the weaning-estrus interval.

Genome-wide analysis of DNA Methylation profiles on sheep ovaries associated with prolificacy using whole-genome Bisulfite sequencing

“…The relatively higher levels of expression were found for the transcripts of FSHR and LHCGR across ovaries and ovarian follicles in FecB carrier ewes [ 33 ]. FST has been considered to play an important role in ovarian development in species such as mice and pigs [ 38 , 39 ]. FST secreted by granulosa cells specifically inhibits FSH biosynthesis and secretion.…”

New Gene Markers of Exosomal Regulation Are Involved in Porcine Granulosa Cell Adhesion, Migration, and Proliferation

“…In addition, this gene has been identified as a marker of steroidogenesis in ovine granulosa cells, thus affecting fecundity in this species [95]. A downregulation of FST (follistatin) was revealed in the current study, which could positively affect porcine GCs' proliferation and estrogen secretion [96]. FST also affects the TGF-β signaling pathway, which is closely responsible for ovarian follicle development [97] and the survival rate of follicles [98].…”