Project description:Ovulation is induced by the preovulatory surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) that acts on the ovary and triggers the rupture of the preovulatory ovarian follicle by stimulating proteolysis and apoptosis in the follicle wall, causing the release of the mature oocyte. In mammals, the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) are known to be involved in the control of ovulation but their role mediating the pro-ovulatory actions of LH has not been established. Here we show that Lh induces PGF2α synthesis through its stimulation of Tnfα production in trout, a primitive teleost fish. Importantly, trout recombinant Tnfα (rTnfα) and PGF2α recapitulate the stimulatory in vitro effects of salmon Lh (sLh) on contraction, proteolysis and loss of cell viability in the preovulatory follicle wall and, finally, ovulation. Furthermore, all pro-ovulatory actions of sLh are blocked by inhibition of Tnfα secretion or PG synthesis and those of rTnfα are blocked by PG synthesis inhibitors. Therefore, we provide evidence that the Tnfα–dependent increase in PGF2α production is necessary for the pro-ovulatory actions of Lh in a teleost fish. The results from this study shed light onto the mechanisms underlying the pro-ovulatory actions of LH in vertebrates and may prove important in clinical assessments of female infertility.
Project description:Ovulation is induced by the preovulatory surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) that acts on the ovary and triggers the rupture of the preovulatory ovarian follicle by stimulating proteolysis and apoptosis in the follicle wall, causing the release of the mature oocyte. In mammals, the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) are known to be involved in the control of ovulation but their role mediating the pro-ovulatory actions of LH has not been established. Here we show that Lh induces PGF2α synthesis through its stimulation of Tnfα production in trout, a primitive teleost fish. Importantly, trout recombinant Tnfα (rTnfα) and PGF2α recapitulate the stimulatory in vitro effects of salmon Lh (sLh) on contraction, proteolysis and loss of cell viability in the preovulatory follicle wall and, finally, ovulation. Furthermore, all pro-ovulatory actions of sLh are blocked by inhibition of Tnfα secretion or PG synthesis and those of rTnfα are blocked by PG synthesis inhibitors. Therefore, we provide evidence that the Tnfαâdependent increase in PGF2α production is necessary for the pro-ovulatory actions of Lh in a teleost fish. The results from this study shed light onto the mechanisms underlying the pro-ovulatory actions of LH in vertebrates and may prove important in clinical assessments of female infertility. Preovulatory follicles from brook trout from four different females (n = 4) were isolated and incubated in the absence or presence of salmon LH. Total RNA of control and LH-treated preovulatory follicles from each of the four females was analyzed.
Project description:The preovulatory luteinizing hormone surge orchestrates complex cellular and molecular events leading to ovulation. CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins alpha and beta (C/EBPα/β) are transcription factors acutely induced by the luteinizing hormone surge and crucial for ovulation and granulosa cell luteinization. However, biological processes and their regulatory mechanisms downstream of C/EBPα/β in the preovulatory ovary are not completely understood. To address this knowledge gap, we generated Cebpa/bfl/fl;Pgr-Cre mutants and compared them with Cebpa/bfl/fl;Cyp19a1-Cre mutant female mice. The Cebpa/bfl/fl;Cyp19a1-Cre mutants have undetectable levels of C/EBPα/β throughout preovulatory stages and no ovulation, aligning with previous reports, while Cebpa/bfl/fl;Pgr-Cre mutants presented gradual deletion of C/EBPα/β during late preovulatory stage and reduced ovulation rate. Comparison of these two models indicates that sustained expression of C/EBPα/β throughout preovulatory stages is necessary for successful ovulation. This provides a unique opportunity to interrogate gene regulatory mechanisms by C/EBPα/β during different preovulatory time windows and the impact of dysregulating C/EBPα/β on ovulation-associated biological processes. Our study revealed that C/EBPα/β regulate gene expression and distinct biological functions via preovulatory stage-, dose-, and/or potentially isoform ratio- dependent mechanisms. These findings shed new light on the intricate gene regulation mechanisms by C/EBPα/β downstream of the LH surge.
Project description:Spleen and head kidney differential gene expression patterns in trout with clinical signs of lactococcosis caused by Lactococcus garvieae