Characterization of selected gene expression patterns as potential markers for oocyte quality in young versus old mares
Date
2010
Authors
Rodrigues, Bernardo de Lima, author
Clay, Colin M., advisor
Carnevale, Elaine M., advisor
Tjalkens, Ronald B., committee member
Bouma, Gerrit J., committee member
Bruemmer, Jason E., committee member
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Abstract
As a female ages a series of alterations in normal physiology take place, during this process fecundity decreases. The reproductive system starts to shut down as a consequence of hormonal, histological and anatomical changes, and in the middle of this process, playing a critical role, is the oocyte. As in women, fertility decreases with aging in mares. Recently the mare has been suggested as a promising model to study age-related infertility in women due to similarities in the reproductive cycle and similar age-associated reproductive changes. During the last decades the use of assisted reproductive techniques (ART) in human and veterinary medicine to treat infertility has increased. Unfortunately, ART can only partially compensate for declining fertility- particularly the age related decline in fertility. Therefore, we need to understand the mechanisms involved in age-associated infertility and improve both the diagnostic tools and the techniques currently used in ART. In that regard the identification of reliable oocyte quality markers is of great interest, specifically of extrinsic markers in follicular cells and follicular fluid (FF). Follistatin (FS1) and anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) have been suggested as potential oocyte quality markers. In addition, the rate of apoptosis in follicular cells has also been suggested to be a good indicator of oocyte quality In this study, our goal was to use the young and old mare model to obtain competent and incompetent oocytes, respectively, to try and elucidate the involvement of apoptosis of follicular cells and/or of the oocyte in the determination of oocyte quality. Oocytes, follicular fluid, granulosa and cumulus cells were collected through transvaginal follicular aspirations from young ( 4-10 years) and old (>20 years) mares. Preovulatory follicles were aspirated 30-36 h post induction of follicular maturation, which was performed by administration (i.v) of a combination of deslorelin and hCG when the biggest follicle reached 35 mm. We used real time PCR to examine expression of pro-apoptotic ( CASP2, CASP 3) and pro-survival (XIAP) genes, as well as of FST and AMH expression in these cell types. In addition we measured androgens and estrogens in FF and calculated the androgens to estrogens ratio to assess follicular atresia. We also sought to determine FF concentrations of FST and AMH, and relate it to oocyte quality. There was no difference in CASP3 expression levels in granulosa and cumulus cells between the two age groups. In addition, there was no difference in CASP2 and CASP3 mRNA expression in oocytes from young and old mares. XIAP mRNA levels were expressed 3.3 fold higher in oocytes from young when compared to old mares, and there was a tendency for XIAP to be more highly expressed in granulosa cells of young mares. In contrast, the levels of XIAP mRNA in cumulus cells were 1.46 fold higher in old when compared to young mares. There was no difference in the expression levels of AMH in granulosa cells between young and old mares, but in cumulus cells there was a tendency for AMH to be higher expressed in cells from old vs. young mares. Unfortunately we were not able to analyze AMH FF concentrations. FST mRNA levels in oocytes were similar between the age groups, but FST concentrations in FF of preovulatory follicles from young mares (197 ± 16.7 ng/mL) were higher (p=0.02) than in FF from old (153.3 ± 22.7 ng/mL) mares. In both age groups FST FF concentrations in preovulatory follicles significantly decreased when compared to mid-estrus and post-deviation follicles. In conclusion, we believe that our data suggest that FST follicular fluid levels can be a non-invasive marker to assess oocyte quality in the horse, and that FST levels decrease in preovulatory follicles of the horse. In addition, expression levels of caspase-3 in follicular cells, and caspases 3 and 2 in the oocyte, does not seem to be involved in the mechanism of fertility loss in the old mare. Finally, XIAP mRNA levels may be important for oocyte quality in the horse.
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Subject
Mares -- Fertility
Mares -- Reproduction