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RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)
Contents Vol 37(8)

Expression of platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) ligands and receptors in the ovine ovary and effects of PDGFBB on granulosa cell function

Peter Smith A , Karen L. Reader https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5253-0666 B , Michelle C. French C , Peter R. Hurst D and Jennifer L. Juengel https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2717-7311 A *
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Agricultural Systems and Reproduction, AgResearch Ltd, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Mosgiel 9092, New Zealand.

B Department of Pathology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand.

C Animal Genomics, AgResearch Ltd, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Mosgiel 9092, New Zealand.

D Department of Anatomy, School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand.

* Correspondence to: jenny.juengel@agresearch.co.nz

Handling Editor: Ye Yuan

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 37, RD24174 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD24174
Submitted: 8 October 2024  Accepted: 7 April 2025  Published online: 28 April 2025

© 2025 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY)

Abstract

Context

While platelet derived growth factors (PDGF) are expressed in the ovary of some species, relatively little is known regarding the potential role that PDGF play in regulating ovarian follicular development.

Aims

To determine the effects of PDGF on granulosa cell function from ovine antral follicles and characterise the expression of PDGF ligands and receptors in developing follicles.

Methods

The effects of the PDGF ligand PDGFBB on thymidine incorporation and progesterone production of granulosa cells were determined with established bioassays. Expression patterns of PDGF ligands, PDGFA, B, C, D, and receptors, PDGFRA and B, were determined using in situ hybridisation. The more sensitive technique of RT-PCR was used to confirm expression of PDGFRA and B in granulosa cells of antral follicles.

Key results

Thymidine incorporation was increased, and progesterone production decreased, from granulosa cells in response to PDGFBB. Oocytes, granulosa cells, thecal layers and corpora lutea expressed at least one PDGF family member. Granulosa cells had faint expression of PDGF receptors, with thecal and luteal tissue also expressing PDGF receptors. Expression of both ligands and receptors was observed in stroma around the follicle.

Conclusions

In sheep, ovarian follicles express both PDGF ligands and receptors, and PDGFBB regulated both thymidine incorporation and progesterone production.

Implications

In sheep, PDGF was identified as an additional locally produced growth factor that regulates follicular function, stimulating granulosa cell proliferation and inhibiting progesterone production. Future work to better understand the role of the different ligands and receptors at different stages of ovarian follicular development seems warranted.

Keywords: corpus luteum, follicle, granulosa cell bioassay, mRNA expression, ovary, platelet derived growth factor receptors, platelet derived growth factors, sheep.

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