Follicular fluid exosomes regulate oxidative stress resistance, proliferation, and steroid synthesis in porcine theca cells.

Theca cells (TCs) are regulated by various factors during ovarian development. However, the role of follicular fluid exosomes in ovarian TCs has not yet been reported. In the present study, we explored the effects of follicular fluid exosomes on porcine ovarian TCs. TCs were treated with follicular fluid exosomes in vitro, and the differential gene expression profiles of TCs in the exosome and control groups were obtained via transcriptome sequencing. Differentially expressed genes were identified and found to be associated with antioxidative stress, proliferation, and steroid hormone synthesis of TCs. In addition, exosomes were found to increase antioxidative stress, proliferation, and steroid synthesis, as revealed by a higher mRNA and protein expression of GPX1, CCND1, PCNA, CYP11A1, and HSD3B1 and lower mRNA and protein expression of TNFR1 and BAX. In conclusion, we demonstrated that exosomes are essential components in regulating the physiological function of TCs.