Full Length Research Paper

Effect of over expression of inhibin α (1–32) fragment on subsequent maturation of bovine preantral follicles

Khairy M. A. Zoheir^1,2* and Allam A. A.^3,4

¹King Saud University, College of Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Toxicology department, Riyadh, Saudia Arabia
²National Research Centre, Cell Biology Department, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
³Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Beni-suef University, Egypt
⁴Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudia Arabia

*Corresponding Author E-mail: kzoheir@KSU.EDU.SA, khma25@gmail.com; Tel.: +966544265061

Accepted April 19, 2013

Abstract

The present study aimed to detect the effect of inhibin α (1–32) on the growth and apoptosis of the bovine preantral follicles. Also, on the expression of genes of follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR), insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R) and Activin genes. To enhance expression of the inhibin α (1–32) fragment, different types of preantral follicles were transfected with pEGISI (Figure 1) then in vitro cultured for 25 days (D). The inhibin DNA vaccine was constructed with inhibin α (1–32) fragment inserted into the C terminus of HBsAg-S. Transfection increased the growth and development of all types of preantral follicles till D10 but occurred to followed by sharp decreasing at D15. The incidence of apoptosis was higher (P < 0.01) in transfected preantral follicles than in controls at D15 and increased further (P < 0.01) by D25. The levels of gene expression in transfected follicles were increased by the first 10 days of culture then dramatically decreased in the remaining times of culture period to reach to the minimum level of expression. In conclusion, overexpression of inhibin α (1–32) fragment induce preantral follicle growth, just till D10 of in vitro culture but occurred significant decreasing in the growth due to apoptosis and decreased gene expression.

Keywords: Preantral follicle, bovine, inhibin, activin, ovulation.