TY - JOUR
T1 - Pituitary gonadotropins, prolactin and growth hormone differentially regulate AQP1 expression in the porcine ovarian follicular cells
AU - Skowronski, Mariusz T.
AU - Mlotkowska, Patrycja
AU - Tanski, Damian
AU - Lepiarczyk, Ewa
AU - Oklinski, Michal K.
AU - Nielsen, Søren
AU - Skowronska, Agnieszka
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - The present in vitro study analyzed whether the hormones that affect the ovarian follicular steroidogenesis process also participate in the regulation of AQP1 mRNA and protein expression. Granulosa (Gc) and theca cells (Tc) of medium and large porcine ovarian follicles were exposed to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) for 24 h in separated cells and co-cultures of these cells. Real-time PCR, Western blotting, immunofluorescence and volumetric analysis were then performed. Gonadotropins, PRL and GH had a stimulatory impact on AQP1 mRNA and protein expression in Gc and Tc of medium and large ovarian cells. Moreover, swelling assays, in response to a hypotonic environment, demonstrated the functional presence of AQPs in porcine Gc and Tc. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that AQP1 protein was mainly localized in the perinuclear region of the cytoplasm, endosomes and cell membranes of Gc and Tc from medium and large follicles. It seems possible that AQP1 present in Gc and Tc cells may be implicated not only in the regulation of water homeostasis required for follicle development but also in cell proliferation and migration.
AB - The present in vitro study analyzed whether the hormones that affect the ovarian follicular steroidogenesis process also participate in the regulation of AQP1 mRNA and protein expression. Granulosa (Gc) and theca cells (Tc) of medium and large porcine ovarian follicles were exposed to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) for 24 h in separated cells and co-cultures of these cells. Real-time PCR, Western blotting, immunofluorescence and volumetric analysis were then performed. Gonadotropins, PRL and GH had a stimulatory impact on AQP1 mRNA and protein expression in Gc and Tc of medium and large ovarian cells. Moreover, swelling assays, in response to a hypotonic environment, demonstrated the functional presence of AQPs in porcine Gc and Tc. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that AQP1 protein was mainly localized in the perinuclear region of the cytoplasm, endosomes and cell membranes of Gc and Tc from medium and large follicles. It seems possible that AQP1 present in Gc and Tc cells may be implicated not only in the regulation of water homeostasis required for follicle development but also in cell proliferation and migration.
KW - Aquaporin 1
KW - In vitro study
KW - Ovarian follicles
KW - Pig
KW - Pituitary hormones
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85039747757&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/ijms19010005
DO - 10.3390/ijms19010005
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 29267208
SN - 1661-6596
VL - 19
JO - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
JF - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
IS - 1
M1 - 5
ER -