Functional role of AKT signaling in bovine early embryonic development: potential link to embryotrophic actions of follistatin.
Reprod Biol Endocrinol
; 16(1): 1, 2018 Jan 08.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29310676
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
TGF-ß signaling pathways regulate several crucial processes in female reproduction. AKT is a non-SMAD signaling pathway regulated by TGF-ß ligands essential for oocyte maturation and early embryonic development in the mouse, but its regulatory role in bovine early embryonic development is not well established. Previously, we demonstrated a stimulatory role for follistatin (a binding protein for specific members of TGF-ß superfamily) in early bovine embryonic development. The objectives of the present studies were to determine the functional role of AKT signaling in bovine early embryonic development and embryotrophic actions of follistatin.METHODS:
We used AKT inhibitors III and IV as pharmacological inhibitors of AKT signaling pathway during the first 72 h of in vitro embryo culture. Effects of AKT inhibition on early embryonic development and AKT phosphorylation were investigated in the presence or absence of exogenous follistatin.RESULTS:
Pharmacological inhibition of AKT signaling resulted in a significant reduction in early embryo cleavage, and development to the 8- to 16-cell and blastocyst stages (d7). Treatment with exogenous follistatin increased AKT phosphorylation and rescued the inhibitory effect of AKT inhibitors III and IV on AKT phosphorylation and early embryonic development.CONCLUSIONS:
Collectively, results suggest a potential requirement of AKT for bovine early embryonic development, and suggest a potential role for follistatin in regulation of AKT signaling in early bovine embryos.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Bovinos
/
Folistatina
/
Desenvolvimento Embrionário
/
Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-akt
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2018
Tipo de documento:
Article