Project description:The LH surge triggers dramatic transcriptional changes in genes associated with ovulation and luteinization. The present study investigated the spatiotemporal expression of nuclear factor interleukin-3 (NFIL3), a transcriptional regulator of the bZIP transcription factor superfamily, and its potential role in the ovary during the periovulatory period. NFIL3, also known as E4-binding protein 4 or NFIL3/E4BP4, was originally identified as a transcriptional repressor based on its DNA-binding activity at the promoter of the gene encoding the adenovirus E4 protein. Immature female rats were injected with PMSG, treated with hCG, and ovaries or granulosa cells were collected at various times after hCG. Nfil3 mRNA was highly induced both in intact ovaries and granulosa cells after hCG treatment. In situ hybridization demonstrated that Nfil3 mRNA was highly induced in theca-interstitial cells at 4-8 h after hCG, localized to granulosa cells at 12 h, and decreased at 24 h. Over-expression of NFIL3 in granulosa cells inhibited the induction of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (Ptgs2), progesterone receptor (Pgr), epiregulin (Ereg), and amphiregulin (Areg) and down regulated levels of prostaglandin E2. The inhibitory effect on Ptgs2 induction was reversed by NFIL3 siRNA treatment. In theca-interstitial cells the expression of hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase 15-(NAD) (Hpgd) was also inhibited by NFIL3 over-expression. Data from luciferase assays demonstrated that NFIL3 over-expression decreased the induction of the Ptgs2 and Areg promoter activity. EMSA and ChIP analyses indicated that NFIL3 binds to the promoter region containing the DNA binding sites of CREB and C/EBP?. In summary, hCG induction of NFIL3 expression may modulate the process of ovulation and theca-interstitial and granulosa cell differentiation by regulating expression of PTGS2, PGR, AREG, EREG, and HPGD, potentially through interactions with CREB and C/EBP? on their target gene promoters.

Project description:Gonadotropin surge acts on the preovulatory follicle of the ovary to induce luteinization of follicular cells, oocyte meiotic maturation, cumulus expansion and follicular rupture leading to ovulation. These processes are brought about by spatial and temporal changes in transcriptional regulation of genes in the follicular cells in response to the gonadotropin surge. Analysis of gene expression changes in the periovulatory follicular cells will help in delineating the signal transduction pathways involved in the above mentioned processes. In monoovulatory species like bovines, the time interval of 24-28 hours between gonadotropin surge and ovulation provides distinct advantage for studying the temporal changes in the gene expression pattern. Thus, in the present study, we attempt to identify the temporal changes in the global gene expression profile in the periovulatory follicle of buffalo cows in response to gonadotropin surge and the results suggest the involvement of Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 and cytokine signaling pathways in the periovulatory events. Experiment Overall Design: To study the periovulatory gene expression changes in buffalo cows, an induced-ovulation model system involving sequential treatment with PGF2alpha and GnRH was standardized. The follicular wave containing at least one large follicle of ~7mm size was determined by ultrasonography on day 7 of the estrous cycle before administering exogenous PGF2alpha to induce luteolysis and follicular growth. Exogenous GnRH (100Âµg i.m) was administered 36h post PGF2alpha to induce LH surge. The time course of increase in LH levels post GnRH injection was monitored. Since peak LH levels are attained 2 h post GnRH administration, the time intervals of 3 h post GnRH (corresponding to1 h post LH surge) and 24 h post GnRH (corresponding to 22 h post LH surge) were chosen to identify the gene expression profile associated with immediate early and delayed changes in periovulatory follicle respectively. Thus ovaries were collected before, 1 h and 22 h post LH surge and follicle wall and granulosa cells were isolated from the ovaries and snap frozen for the purpose of RNA isolation.

Project description:The LH surge triggers dramatic transcriptional changes in genes associated with ovulation and luteinization. The present study investigated the spatiotemporal expression of nuclear factor interleukin-3 (NFIL3), a transcriptional regulator of the bZIP transcription factor superfamily, and its potential role in the ovary during the periovulatory period. NFIL3, also known as E4-binding protein 4 or NFIL3/E4BP4, was originally identified as a transcriptional repressor based on its DNA-binding activity at the promoter of the gene encoding the adenovirus E4 protein. Immature female rats were injected with PMSG, treated with hCG, and ovaries or granulosa cells were collected at various times after hCG. Nfil3 mRNA was highly induced both in intact ovaries and granulosa cells after hCG treatment. In situ hybridization demonstrated that Nfil3 mRNA was highly induced in theca-interstitial cells at 4-8 h after hCG, localized to granulosa cells at 12 h, and decreased at 24 h. Over-expression of NFIL3 in granulosa cells inhibited the induction of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (Ptgs2), progesterone receptor (Pgr), epiregulin (Ereg), and amphiregulin (Areg) and down regulated levels of prostaglandin E2. The inhibitory effect on Ptgs2 induction was reversed by NFIL3 siRNA treatment. In theca-interstitial cells the expression of hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase 15-(NAD) (Hpgd) was also inhibited by NFIL3 over-expression. Data from luciferase assays demonstrated that NFIL3 over-expression decreased the induction of the Ptgs2 and Areg promoter activity. EMSA and ChIP analyses indicated that NFIL3 binds to the promoter region containing the DNA binding sites of CREB and C/EBP?. In summary, hCG induction of NFIL3 expression may modulate the process of ovulation and theca-interstitial and granulosa cell differentiation by regulating expression of PTGS2, PGR, AREG, EREG, and HPGD, potentially through interactions with CREB and C/EBP? on their target gene promoters. The granulosa cells were exposed to Ad- NFIL3 or Ad-GFP at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 50 pfu/cell. Two hours later, Medium was replaced with fresh Opti-MEM medium. At 24 h after adenovirus exposure, granulosa cells were treated with FSK + PMA for 6 h before collection for RNA isolation using a RNeasy kit according to the manufacturer’s instructions (Qiagen Inc., Valencia, CA). Five micrograms of total RNA were used as a template for cDNA synthesis by the University of Kentucky Microarray Core facility as described previously (47). The Affymetrix Rat 230-2.0 oligonucleotide array sets were hybridized, washed, and scanned using Affymetrix equipment and protocols (Affymetrix, Santa Clara, CA). The DNA microarray assays were performed on total RNA pooled from granulosa cells obtained from 3 separate experiments. The changes observed by DNA microarray analysis were confirmed by real-time PCR for a select subset of genes. Affymetrix GCS 3000 7G scanner was used.

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Gonadotropin surge-induced expression of progesterone receptor serves the ovary as a trigger of ovulation and a terminator of ovulatory inflammation

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