Grzesiak M, Michalik A, Rak A, Knapczyk-Stwora K, Pieczonka A
Department of Animal Physiology and Endocrinology, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Krakow, Poland.
Department of Developmental Biology and Morphology of Invertebrates, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Krakow, Poland.
Domest Anim Endocrinol. 2018 Jul;64:9-16. doi: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2018.03.004. Epub 2018 Apr 3.
Autophagy is a cellular process that involves the degradation of intracellular components. Recent studies suggested a role for autophagy in corpus luteum (CL) regression; however, a complete understanding of its contribution to CL function remains unclear. The present research using porcine CLs obtained from gilts at the early (CL1, n = 5), middle (CL2, n = 5), and late (CL3, n = 5) luteal phase of the estrous cycle aimed to assess the incidence of autophagy during CL development. The stages of collected CLs were verified through morphological analysis and intraluteal progesterone concentration. The presence of autophagosomes was assessed using transmission electron microscopy, and the expression of autophagic markers was examined at mRNA (BECN1 and Lamp1) and protein (Beclin 1, LC3-II, and Lamp 1) levels. Lamp 1 immunolocalization was also performed in luteal tissue. Double-membrane autophagosomes and autophagy-related proteins were found in all examined CLs. Interestingly, there was a greater expression of Beclin 1 (P = 0.005 and P = 0.025) and Lamp 1 (P = 0.009 and P = 0.032) protein in CL3 as compared with CL1 and CL2. In addition, the presence of autolysosomes in CL3 indicated advanced autophagy at that developmental stage. Overall, the occurrence of autophagy throughout CL development and regression suggests it has a role in the regulation of CL lifespan in pigs. In the early and mature CL, autophagy is proposed to promote luteal formation and function, whereas in the late CL, it may participate in luteal regression.
自噬是一种涉及细胞内成分降解的细胞过程。最近的研究表明自噬在黄体（CL）退化中发挥作用；然而，对其在CL功能中的作用的全面理解仍不清楚。本研究使用从发情周期早期（CL1，n = 5）、中期（CL2，n = 5）和晚期（CL3，n = 5）的后备母猪获得的猪CL，旨在评估CL发育过程中自噬的发生率。通过形态学分析和黄体期孕酮浓度对收集的CL阶段进行验证。使用透射电子显微镜评估自噬体的存在，并在mRNA（BECN1和Lamp1）和蛋白质（Beclin 1、LC3-II和Lamp 1）水平检测自噬标志物的表达。还在黄体组织中进行了Lamp 1免疫定位。在所有检查的CL中均发现了双膜自噬体和自噬相关蛋白。有趣的是，与CL1和CL2相比，CL3中Beclin 1（P = 0.005和P = 0.025）和Lamp 1（P = 0.009和P = 0.032）蛋白的表达更高。此外，CL3中自溶酶体的存在表明该发育阶段存在晚期自噬。总体而言，自噬在CL发育和退化过程中的发生表明它在猪CL寿命的调节中起作用。在早期和成熟的CL中，自噬被认为促进黄体形成和功能，而在晚期CL中，它可能参与黄体退化。
