ACTA VETERINARIA ET ZOOTECHNICA SINICA ›› 2017, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (11): 2091-2097.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2017.11.010

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Expression Levels of Apoptotic Genes in HPG Axis during Luteal and Follicular Periods and Their Association with Estrus in Small Tail Han Sheep

CAO Xiao-han1,2#, LIU Qiu-yue1#, WANG Xiang-yu1, DI Ran1, HU Wen-ping1, ZHANG Xiao-sheng3, ZHANG Jin-long3, ZENG Xian-yin2, CHU Ming-xing1*   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China;
    2. College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China;
    3. Tianjin Institute of Animal Sciences, Tianjin 300381, China
  • Received:2017-06-06 Online:2017-11-23 Published:2017-11-23

Abstract:

In order to identify the differential expression levels of Bad,Bax,Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL in hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis tissues during luteal and follicular periods, and to study the association of these genes with year-round estrus in Small Tail Han sheep. Year-round estrous Small Tail Han ewes were selected as tested subjects,and real-time PCR method was used to detect Bad,Bax,Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL mRNA expression by using 18S RNA as reference gene in hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis tissues during luteal and follicular periods. The serum estradiol and progesterone contents were measured by RIA at the corresponding time points. The results showed that Bad,Bax,Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL genes were all expressed in hypothalamus, pituitary and ovary tissues. The expression levels of Bad and Bcl-2 genes in pituitary and ovary tissues in the luteal phase were higher than those in the follicular phase (P<0.05). The expression levels of Bad and Bcl-2 genes in hypothalamus had no significant differences between the luteal phase and the follicular phase (P>0.05). The expression levels of Bax and Bcl-xL genes in hypothalamus, pituitary and ovary tissues had no significant differences between the luteal phase and the follicular phase (P>0.05). The concentration of progesterone in the luteal phase was significantly higher than that in the follicular phase (P<0.05), while the estradiol concentration had no significant difference between the 2 stages (P>0.05). The results indicated that the expression levels of Bad and Bcl-2 genes had great differences during the luteal and follicular periods of Small Tail Han sheep,which might regulate the stage transition from luteal to follicular periods, and the 2 genes were associated with estrus onset in Small Tail Han sheep.

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