Expression and regulation of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF1) and chemokine CXC motif receptor 4 (CXCR4) in equine and bovine preovulatory follicles

• Published in: Molecular and cellular endocrinology 2014-06, Vol.391 (1-2), p.10-21
• Main Authors: Sayasith, Khampoun, Sirois, Jean
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activation; Amino Acid Sequence; And ovulation-related genes; Animals; Cattle; Cells, Cultured; Cellular; Chemokine CXCL12 - genetics; Chemokine CXCL12 - metabolism; Chemokine receptor; Chlorides; Chorionic Gonadotropin - administration & dosage; Cobalt - pharmacology; Colforsin - pharmacology; Control; Epidermal Growth Factor - pharmacology; Estrus - physiology; Female; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation; Genes; Gonadotropin; Granulosa Cells - cytology; Granulosa Cells - drug effects; Granulosa Cells - metabolism; Horses; Humans; Inhibitors; Mifepristone - pharmacology; Molecular Sequence Data; Ovulation - physiology; Ovulatory process; Preovulatory follicles; Primary granulosa cells; Protein Kinase Inhibitors - pharmacology; Receptors; Receptors, CXCR4 - agonists; Receptors, CXCR4 - antagonists & inhibitors; Receptors, CXCR4 - genetics; Receptors, CXCR4 - metabolism; RNA, Messenger - agonists; RNA, Messenger - antagonists & inhibitors; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Signal Transduction; Theca Cells - cytology; Theca Cells - drug effects; Theca Cells - metabolism
• ISSN: 0303-7207; 1872-8057
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2014.04.009

•hCG induces CXCR4 expression in equine and bovine preovulatory follicles.•The hCG-dependent induction of CXCR4 occurs in both granulosa and theca cells.•Forskolin induces CXCR4 expression in bovine granulosa cell cultures.•Numerous signaling pathways are involved in follicular CXCR4 expression.•SDF1/CXCR4 activation increases the expression of ovulation-regulated genes. The interaction between stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF1) and chemokine CXC motif receptor 4 (CXCR4) has been implicated in leukocyte attraction, tissue remodeling and angiogenesis. The objective of the present study was to characterize the expression and regulation of SDF1 and CXCR4 in equine follicles during the ovulatory process. Equine preovulatory follicles were isolated during estrus 0–39h after hCG treatment. Follicle wall preparations (theca interna with attached granulosa cells) and isolated preparations of granulosa cells and theca interna were obtained, and total RNA extracts were analyzed by RT-PCR/Southern blot. Results showed that levels of CXCR4 transcripts were induced by hCG in follicles at 36h post-hCG (P