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Vertebrate reproductive science and technology
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Age-associated changes in granulosa cell transcript abundance in equine preovulatory follicles

Dawn R. Sessions-Bresnahan A B and Elaine M. Carnevale A C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.

B Present address: Berry College, PO Box 495003, Mount Berry, GA 30149-5003, USA.

C Corresponding author. Email: elaine.carnevale@colostate.edu

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 27(6) 906-913 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD14467
Submitted: 25 November 2014  Accepted: 17 February 2015   Published: 17 March 2015

Abstract

Age-related changes in follicle paracrine signalling are not defined, and follicular gene transcript abundance could predict oocyte viability. Granulosa cells from preovulatory follicles of mares considered Young (n = 12; 4–14 years), Mid-aged (n = 9; 15–19 years) and Old (n = 14; 20–27 years) were evaluated for transcript abundance related to systemic and follicle-specific pathways. Gene transcript abundance for receptors of insulin, adiponectin and peroxisome proliferating factor-γ were higher or tended to be higher in Mid-aged or Old than Young mares. Transcript abundance for interleukin (IL)-6 was elevated in Old versus Young mares, and IL-6 signal transducer was elevated in Old versus younger groups. Expression of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily member 1A was higher in Mid-aged than Young mares, whereas TNF-inducible gene 6 protein mRNA tended to decrease in Mid-aged versus Young and Old mares. Genes for LH receptor and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein tended to be increased in Old versus Mid-aged and Young mares, respectively. Young and Old mares had higher mRNA for tissue-type plasminogen activator than Mid-aged mares. Thioredoxin-2 mRNA was higher in Old than younger groups. We observed age-related changes in mRNA of receptors for metabolic hormones, inflammatory processes, steroidogenic hormones, tissue remodelling and mitochondrial function, which could contribute to and/or mark alterations in follicular function and fertility.

Additional keywords: follicular maturation, inflammation, metabolism, mitochondrial stress, steroidogenesis, tissue remodelling.


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