Insulin regulates primordial-follicle assembly in vitro by affecting germ-cell apoptosis and elevating oestrogen
Xin-Lei Feng A , Yuan-Chao Sun A , Min Zhang A , Shun-Feng Cheng A , Yan-Ni Feng A , Jing-Cai Liu A B , Hong-Hui Wang A B , Lan Li A , Guo-Qing Qin C and Wei Shen A D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China.
B College of Life Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China.
C EMF Nutrition, 715 Marion Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2J 0K6, Canada.
D Corresponding author. Email: shenwei427@163.com
Reproduction, Fertility and Development 27(8) 1197-1204 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD14096
Submitted: 16 March 2014 Accepted: 28 April 2014 Published: 16 June 2014
Abstract
Insulin is a protein secreted by pancreatic β-cells, which plays an important role in the regulation of ovarian function. However, the specific molecular mechanism of its function remains largely unknown. This study aimed to assess the effect of insulin on mouse folliculogenesis using an in vitro ovary-culture model. The results demonstrated that insulin promoted the proliferation of ovarian granulosa cells in vitro, and thereby accelerated the progress of folliculogenesis (the percentage of oocytes in cysts declined from 42.6% to 29.3%); however, the percentage of apoptotic oocytes increased after insulin treatment. Further investigation indicated that apoptosis occurred mainly in germ-cell cysts. After 3 days of insulin treatment, oestrogen in the culture medium of mouse ovaries significantly increased (P < 0.01), while the lower dose of oestrogen promoted primordial-follicle assembly in vitro. In conclusion, insulin promoted folliculogenesis by facilitating germ-cell apoptosis within the cysts and upregulating oestrogen levels.
Additional keywords: folliculogenesis, oocyte.
References
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