ACTA VETERINARIA ET ZOOTECHNICA SINICA ›› 2013, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (11): 1775-1780.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2013.11.011

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Study on Ovarian Sterol-regulatory Genes Expression in Sheep during Luteal Phase

YING Shi-jia*, PENG Zhong-you, LI Yan, CAI Liu-ping, SHI Zhen-dan   

  1. (Institute of Animal Science, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China)
  • Received:2013-06-13 Online:2013-11-23 Published:2013-11-23

Abstract:

This study was conducted to investigate the ovine key sterol-regulatroy genes expression from corpora lutea and different-sized follicles in the later luteal phase. 10 cast ages Hu sheep of proven fertility were used. After estrus synchronization, all ewes were slaughtered on day 12 of estrous cycle, and corpora lutea and different-sized follicles were collected at the same time. The gene expression was determined by real-time PCR method. Compared with follicles 2.5 mm in diameter, the follicular very low density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR), cytochrome P450 (CYP17A1) and cytochrome P450 aromatase (CYP19A1) mRNA expression were significantly increased (P<0.05), however, follicular estrogen receptor 2 (ESR2) mRNA expression was significantly decreased (P< 0.01). There were no significant effects of follicle size on follicular steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STAR), cytochrome P450scc (CYP11A1), FSH receptor (FSHR), LH receptor (LHR), estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and scavenger receptor-BI (SR-BI) mRNA expression, however, ESR1 (P=0.090) and SR-BI (P=0.093) expression trended increase in follicles >2.5 mm. CYP19A1 and CYP17A1 were mainly, as expected, expressed in follicles, however, STAR, CYP11A1, FSHR, ESR2, LHR, ESR1, LDLR, SR-BI and VLDLR genes were preferentially expressed in corpora lutea. In conclusion, sterol-regulatory genes took part in mediating follicular growth and progesterone synthesis of corpora lutea.

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