Genes regulating hormone stimulus and response to protein signaling revealed differential expression pattern during porcine oocyte in vitro maturation, confirmed by lipid concentration

Abstract

Genes influencing oocyte maturation may be valuable for predicting their developmental potential, as well as discerning the mechanistic pathways regulating oocyte development. In the presented research microarray gene expression analysis of immature and in vitro matured porcine oocytes was performed. Two groups of oocytes were compared in the study: before (3 × n = 50) and after in vitro maturation (3 × n = 50). The selection of viable oocytes was performed using the brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) test. Furthermore, microarrays and RT-qPCR was used to analyze the transcriptome of the oocytes before and after IVM. The study focused on the genes undergoing differential expression in two gene-ontology groups: "Cellular response to hormone stimulus" and "Cellular response to unfolded protein", which contain genes that may directly or indirectly be involved in signal transduction during oocyte maturation. Examination of all the genes of interest showed a lower level of their expression after IVM. From the total number of genes in these gene ontologies ten of the highest change in expression were identified: FOS, ID2, BTG2, CYR61, ESR1, AR, TACR3, CCND2, EGR2 and TGFBR3. The successful maturation of the oocytes was additionally confirmed with the use of lipid droplet assay. The genes were briefly described and related to the literature sources, to investigate their potential roles in the process of oocyte maturation. The results of the study may serve as a basic molecular reference for further research aimed at improving the methods of oocyte in vitro maturation, which plays an important role in the procedures of assisted reproduction.

A cell transcriptomic profile provides insights into adipocytes of porcine mammary gland across development

“…Non-apoptotic epithelial cells are dedifferentiated to mesenchymal cells as “seeds” for subsequent lactation cycles. The transforming growth factor beta receptor 3 ( TGFBR3 ) and WW domain containing transcription regulator 1 ( WWTR1 ) induce the transformation of epithelial cells into mesenchymal cells [ 80 , 81 ]. Additionally, the bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 1A ( BMPR1A ) plays an important role in maintaining the undifferentiated state of mammary epithelial cells [ 82 ].…”

“…5 and Fig. S 2 ) [ 79 , 80 ]. The above molecular mechanisms maintain the lactation potential of the mammary gland and guarantee the next lactation cycle.…”

Smart-seq2 Technology Reveals a Novel Mechanism That Zearalenone Inhibits the In Vitro Maturation of Ovine Oocytes by Influencing TNFAIP6 Expression

“…This is consistent with existing research results; hence, we further classified DEG. The results showed that the genes are mainly enriched in the PI3K signaling pathway and have an impact on IVM of ovine oocytes through the following five aspects: (1) Oocyte maturation, the overexpression of genes such as CCND2, PDGFC, IFRD1, H2AFZ, INHBA, CD200, and RPS26 indicated that both groups of oocytes had undergone IVM [19][20][21][22][23][24][25]. However, in the experimental group, the expression levels of TNFAIP6 related to cumulus cell proliferation [13], SPP1 related to in vitro development of oocytes [26], RUNX2 related to follicular development [27], and C1QB related to embryonic development were downregulated [28], indicating that ZEN may inhibit the process of oocyte maturation by influencing these genes.…”