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Expression pattern of matrix metalloproteinases changes during folliculogenesis in the cat ovary
Author(s) -
Fujihara M,
Yamamizu K,
Wildt DE,
Songsasen N
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
reproduction in domestic animals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.546
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1439-0531
pISSN - 0936-6768
DOI - 10.1111/rda.12736
Subject(s) - timp1 , folliculogenesis , antral follicle , mmp1 , mmp3 , endocrinology , medicine , matrix metalloproteinase , biology , mmp2 , follicle , antrum , andrology , mmp9 , ovary , gene expression , microbiology and biotechnology , downregulation and upregulation , gene , embryogenesis , embryo , stomach , biochemistry
Contents Matrix metalloproteinase ( MMP ) has been implicated as having roles in ovarian folliculogenesis. Here, we determined the expression pattern of six MMP s ( MMP 1, MMP 2, MMP 3, MMP 7, MMP 9 and MMP 13) and their endogenous tissue inhibitor, TIMP 1, during cat follicle growth. Different developmental stage follicles were mechanically isolated and gene expression analysed by real‐time qPCR while MMP 1, 2, 9 and 13 localization was determined by immunohistochemistry. With the exception of MMP 13 , the amount of MMP mRNA was lowest in primordial follicles and increased thereafter. Peak levels were detected in early antral follicles for MMP 1 (72.2‐fold increase above primordial follicle amount), MMP 2 (10‐fold), MMP 3 (57‐fold) and MMP 9 (2.8‐fold). MMP 7 transcripts increased 2‐fold by the primary follicle stage and then plateaued. MMP 13 mRNA peaked in primary follicles (2.5‐fold) and was lower in more advanced counterparts. TIMP 1 sharply increased (6‐fold) in secondary follicles and gradually declined in the later stages. MMP 1 and MMP 9 expression were expressed in the granulosa cells of all follicle stages. MMP 2 was immunoreactive in early and antral follicles, especially at granulosa cells adjacent to the antral cavity. By contrast, the MMP 13 was weakly detected in primary follicles onward. In summary, there are distinctive and consistent changes in MMP s and TIMP 1 expression during follicle development, suggesting that these enzymes play one or more roles in cat folliculogenesis. In particular, high mRNA and protein expression levels of MMP 1 and MMP 2, especially at the antral stage, indicate that these enzymes likely are involved in antrum formation and expansion.