Project description:We determined global gene changes in immature ovaries and testes in response to an in utero exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin exposure. Microarray analysis was performed using testes and ovaries of the dioxin-exposed dams’ offspring. One hundred and thirteen genes were differentially expressed in ovaries and 56 genes in testes of 14 and 5 days-old, respectively. Real-time PCR was used to validate and extend data using RNA extracted from 5 to 145-day old rat testes and 3 to 25-day old rat ovaries. A single gene of the classic dioxin battery, i.e., the repressor of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahrr) was found altered in testes. In contrast, several of them including Cyp1a1, Cyp1b1, Nqo1, and Ahrr were found up-regulated in ovary, pituitary (a different endocrine organ) and liver. In addition to Ahrr, we identified 6 genes targeted by dioxin in both gonads, including the chemokines Cxcl4, Ccl5. Ccl5 gene expression levels were also regulated in pituitary and liver, so as pituitary Cxcl4. Four genes targeted by TCDD in testis and meeting stringent criteria were further surveyed. It included 2 genes with no previous reported function in testis, Art2b, Gzmf, Hpgds and Fgf13. Fgf13 was down-regulated in testis, and pituitary but not in ovary or liver. Interestingly, Art2b and Gzmf were up-regulated in testis, liver and pituitary but not ovary. Finally, Hpgds was unique in that expressed in various tissues it was regulated by TCDD in the gonads but not in the other tissues studied. Transcriptomic analysis on testes at 5 days and in ovaries at 14 days. In both cases, 3 rats treated in utero by TCDD were compared to 3 rats treated with sesame-oil vehicle
Project description:Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous endocrine disorder characterized by hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction, and polycystic ovaries. In this study, we induced a PCOS rat model by oral administration of letrozole combined with a high-fat diet and then treated with mogroside V (MV) to evaluate the protective roles on endocrine and follicle development in PCOS rats and the underlying mechanisms. Purpose: To detect the difference of ovary transcriptome profiling between PCOS model and Control rat and to evaluate the effect of mogroside V on the transcriptome profiling of ovaries of PCOS model rats. Methods: Ovarian mRNA profiles of 15-week-old Control, PCOS and PCOS-MV group rats (4 rats per group) were generated by deep sequencing,using Illumina PE150.
Project description:Mice under chronic dihydrotestosterone (DHT) exposion represented reproductive and metabolic disorders, which were based on the dysfunction of ovaries and fat tissues. We used microarrays to detail the global programme of gene expression and identified distinct difference in ovaries and gonadal fat pads between DHT-treated mice and control.
Project description:This pilot study is being mounted to assess whether treatment assignment by ERCC-1 gene expression status suggests better clinical results from historical experience in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). In wild type KRAS mCRC patients treated with either FOLFOX or FOLFIRI in combination with cetuximab the median response rate is approximately 60-65%. Biomarker directed treatment in this study may demonstrate that patients with low ERCC-1 treated with FOLFOX and cetuximab, and those with high ERCC-1 treated with FOLFIRI and cetuximab, will improve response rate to 70-75%. KRAS wild type patients will be treated with 6 cycles of one of the following regimens chosen for optimization based on patient characteristics (primary treatment phase). Patients with ERCC-1 < 1.7 relative gene expression of ERCC-1 over ß-actin (ERCC-1 low) will be assigned to treatment with mFOLFOX6 in combination with Cetuximab. Patients with ERCC-1 gene expression > 1.7 relative gene expression of ERCC-1 over over ß-actin (ERCC-1 high) will be assigned to treatment with FOLFIRI in combination with Cetuximab.
Project description:The assembly of the developmentally arrested primordial follicle and subsequent transition to the primary follicle are poorly understood processes critical to ovarian biology. Abnormal primordial follicle development can lead to pathologies such as premature ovarian failure. The current study used a genome-wide expression profile to investigate primordial follicle assembly and development. Rat ovaries with predominantly unassembled, primordial, or primary follicles were obtained. RNA from these ovaries was hybridized to rat microarray gene chips, and the gene expression (i.e., ovarian transcriptome) was compared between the developmental stages. Analysis of the ovarian transcriptome demonstrated 148 genes up-regulated and 50 genes down-regulated between the unassembled and primordial follicle stages. Observations demonstrate 80 genes up-regulated and 44 genes down-regulated between the primordial and primary follicle stages. The analysis demonstrated 2332 genes common among the three developmental stages, 146 genes specific for the unassembled follicles, 94 genes specific for the primordial follicles, and 151 genes specific for the primary follicles. Steroidogenic genes are up-regulated between unassembled and primordial follicles, and then many are again down-regulated between primordial and primary follicles. The hormones inhibin and Mullerian inhibitory substance (MIS) display a similar pattern of expression with the highest levels of mRNA in the primordial follicles. Several novel unknown genes that had dramatic changes in expression during primordial follicle development were also identified. Gene families/clusters identified that were up-regulated from unassembled to primordial follicles include growth factors and signal transduction gene clusters, whereas a down-regulated gene family was the synaptonemal complex genes associated with meiosis. Gene families/clusters that were up-regulated between primordial and primary follicles included immune response genes, metabolic enzymes, and proteases, whereas down-regulated gene families include the globulin genes and some steroidogenic genes. The expression of several growth factors changed during primordial follicle development, including vascular endothelial growth factor and insulin-like growth factor II. Elucidation of how these changes in gene expression coordinate primordial follicle assembly and the primordial to primary follicle transition provides a better understanding of these critical biological processes and allows selection of candidate regulatory factors for further investigation. Experiment Overall Design: RNA samples from two control groups (pooled untreated cultured ovaries) are compared to two treated groups (pooled cultured ovaries treated with progesterone)
Project description:A direct correlation between changes in epigenetic marks and gene expression in adult ovaries from prenatally- T-treated sheep establishes epigenetic changes as one of the underlying causes for differential expression of genes in PCOS ovary.