Reproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, 23 Arabi Ave, Yaman Street, Velenjak, 1985717413, Tehran, Iran.
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA.
Mol Biol Rep. 2022 Aug;49(8):7765-7771. doi: 10.1007/s11033-022-07601-z. Epub 2022 Jun 6.
The expression of genes involved in basic pathways, such as folliculogenesis and steroidogenesis may be affected following prenatal androgen exposure. Besides, exposure to androgens during prenatal life plays a central role in developing polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in females in later life. In the present study, we aimed to examine the expression of the follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) and activin receptor (actR) genes in ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) of a prenatally-androgenized rat model of PCOS in adulthood.
In the adult rat model of PCOS and their controls (n = 8 in each group), different phases of the estrous cycle were determined by vaginal smear. Total RNA was extracted from the ovarian GCs using the TRIzol protocol, a reverse transcription kit was used for complementary DNA (cDNA) synthesis, and the expression of FSHR and actR genes was measured by SYBR-Green Real-Time PCR. GraphPad Prism was used for statistical analysis of data, and the t-Student's test was used to compare the results between the two groups. PCOS rats had longer and irregular estrous cycles compared to controls. The expression of FSHR and actR genes were significantly decreased in the rat model of PCOS compared to control rats. In PCOS rats, genes expression ratios for FSHR and actR were 0.91 ± 0.11 times (P = 0.008) and 0.42 ± 0.13 times (P = 0.048) less than controls, respectively.
Reduced expression of the FSHR and actR genes in ovarian GCs may be one of the mechanisms mediating PCOS-related disorders, especially abnormal ovarian folliculogenesis and ovulation dysfunction, following exposure to androgens during fetal life.
参与卵泡发生和类固醇生成等基本途径的基因表达可能会受到产前雄激素暴露的影响。此外，生命早期暴露于雄激素在女性成年后患多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）中起着核心作用。在本研究中，我们旨在检测成年多囊卵巢综合征大鼠模型和对照组卵巢颗粒细胞（GC）中促卵泡激素受体（FSHR）和激活素受体（actR）基因的表达。
在成年多囊卵巢综合征大鼠模型及其对照组（每组 8 只）中，通过阴道涂片确定动情周期的不同阶段。使用 TRIzol 方案从卵巢 GC 中提取总 RNA，使用逆转录试剂盒合成互补 DNA（cDNA），并通过 SYBR-Green 实时 PCR 测量 FSHR 和 actR 基因的表达。使用 GraphPad Prism 对数据进行统计分析，使用 t-Student 检验比较两组结果。与对照组相比，PCOS 大鼠的动情周期更长且不规则。与对照组相比，PCOS 大鼠模型中 FSHR 和 actR 基因的表达显著降低。在 PCOS 大鼠中，FSHR 和 actR 基因的表达比值分别为 0.91±0.11 倍（P=0.008）和 0.42±0.13 倍（P=0.048），低于对照组。
卵巢 GC 中 FSHR 和 actR 基因表达减少可能是胎儿期暴露于雄激素后介导与 PCOS 相关的异常卵巢卵泡发生和排卵功能障碍等疾病的机制之一。
