Cyclic AMP mediates ovine cumulus-oocyte gap junctional function via balancing connexin 43 expression and phosphorylation.

Gap junction channels in cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) enable the transmission and communication of small molecular signals between adjacent cells, such as cAMP. However, the regulation of gap junction function (GJF) by cAMP and the underlying mechanisms involved are not fully clarified. This study investigated the effect of cAMP on connexin 43 (CX43) expression and GJF in ovine COCs using immunofluorescence, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), western blotting, and GJF detection. The CX43 was only found in the cumulus cells (CCs) side of ovine COC. The intra-oocyte cAMP showed a significant increase at 30 min, while the intra-CC cAMP exhibited two peaks at 10 min and 1 h during in vitro maturation (IVM). Phosphorylated CX43 protein exhibited an immediate increase at 10 min, and CX43 protein displayed two peaks at 10 min and 1 h during IVM. The duration of pre-IVM exposure to forskolin and IBMX significantly enhanced phosphorylated and total CX43, as well as Gja1 and Creb genes, for 10 min; these effects were counteracted by Rp-cAMP. Both pre-IVM with forskolin and IBMX for 1 h and the GJF and CX43/p-CX43 ratio were elevated. The closure of gap junction channels caused by phosphorylated CX43 to prevent cAMP outflow from oocytes in early IVM of COC. Cyclic AMP upregulated phosphorylated and total CX43 via genomic and non-genomic pathways, but its functional regulation was dependent on the balance of the two proteins. This study provides a new insight into the regulatory mechanism between cAMP and GJF, which would improve IVM in animal and clinical research.

The advanced paraffin-section preparation technique based on multiple cumulus-oocyte complexes rather than ovaries in ovine.

Immunohistochemical staining is the important method for the identification of protein expression in mammal ovaries, in particular in the follicles with the potential to develop into cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs), which are able to support oocyte maturation regardless of in vivo or in vitro. Here, we reported an advanced immunohistochemical method based on an artificial structure gathering multiple COCs by paraffin embedding for rapid and highly sensitive detection of co-expressed proteins in ovine COCs rather than ovaries. Compared with the conventional immunohistochemistry on ovine ovaries, the advanced COC paraffin sectioning technique showed the better immunostaining effect and featured the higher generation rate for COCs, the distincter cumulus layers, and the more simplified procedures. These results indicate that the COC paraffin sectioning technique is highly effectively applied for identification of protein expression in ovine COC.

The cAMP-ERK1/2 signaling pathway regulates urokinase-type plasminogen activator-induced bovine granulosa cell proliferation.

Although urokinase-type plasminogen activator (PLAU) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (PLAUR) have been reported to play key roles in ovarian function, their precise contribution to mammalian follicular development remains unclear. In this study, we first observed that PLAU and PLAUR were present in bovine granulosa cells (GCs). Following culture of granulosa cells with PLAU (0.5 ng/mL) and PLAUR antibody (10 µg/mL) separately and together for 24 or 48 h, a proliferation assay showed that interaction between PLAU and PLAUR contributes to bovine GC proliferation. To study the potential pathways involved in PLAU/PLAUR-induced cell proliferation, ELISA and Western blotting were performed. We found that PLAU significantly increased the ratio of phosphorylated to non-phosphorylated ERK1/2 through PLAUR signaling. Further treatment with U0126, a specific ERK1/2 phosphorylation inhibitor, markedly suppressed PLAU/PLAUR-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation and cell proliferation. In addition, we found that PLAU and PLAUR significantly increased the intracellular cAMP level and the use of Rp-cAMP, a specific PKA inhibitor, prevented PLAU/PLAUR from promoting activation of the ERK1/2 pathway and GC proliferation. Therefore, the interaction between PLAU and PLAUR may be involved in accumulating cAMP signals and enabling MAPK/ERK1/2 activation, affecting GC proliferation. Here, we provide new mechanistic insights into the roles of PLAU and PLAUR on promoting bovine GC proliferation. The finding that potential cross-points between PLAU/PLAUR-induced intracellular signals affect GC proliferation will help in understanding the mechanisms regulating early follicular development.

Plasminogen activator, tissue type regulates germinal vesicle breakdown and cumulus expansion of bovine cumulus-oocyte complex in vitro†.

Plasminogen activator, tissue type (PLAT) and its inhibitor serpin family E member 1 (SERPINE1) cooperatively regulate PLAT activity in various reproductive processes. However, it is unknown whether this includes bovine oocyte maturation. We addressed this question in the present study by evaluating PLAT and SERPINE1 protein localization in immature cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs), as well as PLAT mRNA and protein expression in cultured COCs after 0, 8, 16, and 24 h of in vitro maturation (IVM). We also examined the effects of PLAT and SERPINE1 on germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and oocyte cyclic 3' 5' adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels, cumulus expansion index, and expansion-related gene expression in oocytes derived from bovine COCs cultured for 4, 8, and 12 h and in COCs cultured for 16 h. Both PLAT and SERPINE1 localized in cumulus cells but only the latter was detected in oocytes. PLAT and SERPINE1 transcript levels increased during IVM; however, from 8 to 16 h, the levels of PLAT remained stable whereas those of SERPINE1 increased, resulting in a decline in PLAT concentration. Additionally, PLAT delayed GVBD, increased oocyte cAMP levels, and blocked cumulus expansion and associated gene expression, which was reversed by SERPINE1 supplemented. Thus, PLAT delays bovine oocyte GVBD by enhancing oocyte cAMP levels during the first 8 h of IVM; suppression of PLAT activity via accumulation of SERPINE1 in COCs results in cumulus expansion from 8 to 16 h of IVM. These findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying in vitro bovine oocyte maturation.