Department of Animal Production, School of Agriculture, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan.
Department of Agriculture, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701, USA.
J Anim Sci. 2023 Jan 3;101. doi: 10.1093/jas/skad082.
An androgen excess ovarian micro-environment may limit follicle progression in sheep. Two populations of ewes with divergent follicular fluid androstenedione (A4) were identified in a flock in Jordan: High A4; (A4) ≥ 30 ng/mL, (N = 12) or Control A4 (Control); A4 ≤ 15 ng/mL; (N = 12). We hypothesized High A4 ewes would have increased steroidogenic enzyme mRNA abundance, inflammation, and follicular arrest. Messenger RNA abundance for steroidogenic enzymes StAR, CYP17A1, CYP11A1, and HSD3B1 were increased in theca cells while CYP17A1, CYP19A1, and HSD3B1 were increased in granulosa cells in High A4 ewes compared to Control. Gonadotropin receptor mRNA expression for LHCGR was increased in theca and FSHR in granulosa in High A4 ewes. Messenger RNA expression of FOS when reduced, increases expression of CYP17A1 which was observed in High A4 granulosa cells compared to Control. Furthermore, High A4 ewes had greater numbers of primordial follicles (P < 0.001) and fewer developing follicles compared to Control before, and after 7 d of culture, indicating follicular arrest was not alleviated by cortex culture. Increased fibrosis in the ovarian cortex was detected in High A4 ewes relative to Control (P < 0.001) suggesting increased inflammation and altered extracellular matrix deposition. Thus, this High A4 ewes population has similar characteristics to High A4 cows and women with polycystic ovary syndrome suggesting that naturally occurring androgen excess occurs in multiple species and may be a causative factor in follicular arrest and subsequent female sub- or infertility.
雄激素过多的卵巢微环境可能会限制绵羊卵泡的发育。在约旦的一个羊群中，发现了两种具有不同卵泡液雄烯二酮（A4）的母羊群体：高 A4（A4≥30ng/mL，N=12）或对照 A4（A4≤15ng/mL，N=12）。我们假设高 A4 母羊会增加类固醇生成酶 mRNA 的丰度、炎症和卵泡停滞。与对照相比，高 A4 母羊的基质细胞中 StAR、CYP17A1、CYP11A1 和 HSD3B1 的类固醇生成酶 mRNA 丰度增加，而颗粒细胞中 CYP17A1、CYP19A1 和 HSD3B1 的丰度增加。高 A4 母羊的促性腺激素受体 mRNA 表达为 LHCGR 在基质细胞中增加，FSHR 在颗粒细胞中增加。当 FOS 的表达减少时，CYP17A1 的表达增加，这在高 A4 颗粒细胞中观察到，与对照相比。此外，与对照相比，高 A4 母羊的原始卵泡数量更多（P<0.001），发育中的卵泡更少，这表明在皮质培养前后，卵泡停滞并没有因皮质培养而得到缓解。与对照相比，高 A4 母羊的卵巢皮质中检测到更多的纤维化（P<0.001），表明炎症增加和细胞外基质沉积改变。因此，这种高 A4 母羊群体与高 A4 奶牛和多囊卵巢综合征女性具有相似的特征，这表明天然存在的雄激素过多发生在多种物种中，可能是卵泡停滞和随后的女性不育或不孕的一个致病因素。
