scholarly journals Gonadotrophin-responsiveness of granulosa cells from bone morphogenetic protein 15 heterozygous mutant sheep

Reproduction ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 138 (3) ◽  
pp. 545-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth P McNatty ◽  
Derek A Heath ◽  
Norma L Hudson ◽  
Stan Lun ◽  
Jennifer L Juengel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Morphogenetic Protein ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Antral Follicle ◽  
Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin ◽  
Ovulation Rate ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Binding Characteristics ◽  
Enhanced Sensitivity ◽  
Morphogenetic Protein ◽  
Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the higher ovulation-rate in ewes heterozygous for a mutation in bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15; FecXI; otherwise known as Inverdale or I+ ewes) is due to granulosa cells developing an earlier responsiveness to LH, but not FSH. To address this hypothesis, granulosa cells were recovered from every individual nonatretic antral follicle (>2.5 mm diameter) from I+ and wild-type (++) ewes during anoestrus and the luteal and follicular phases and tested for their responsiveness to FSH and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG; a surrogate for LH). For the FSH receptor (FSHR) binding study, granulosa cells were harvested in three separate batches from all antral follicles (≥2.5 mm diameter) from I+ and ++ ewes. Using a highly-purified ovine FSH preparation, no evidence was found to suggest that I+ ewes have a higher ovulation-rate due to enhanced sensitivity of granulosa cells to FSH with respect to cAMP responsiveness or to their FSHR binding characteristics (equilibrium Kd or Bmax). By contrast, a significantly higher proportion of follicles from I+ ewes contained granulosa cells responsive to hCG. The higher proportion was due to cells from more small follicles (i.e. >2.5–4.5 mm diameter) developing a response to hCG. It is concluded that the mutation in the BMP15 gene in I+ ewes leads to an earlier acquisition of LH responsiveness by granulosa cells in a greater proportion of follicles and this accounts for the small but significantly higher ovulation-rate in these animals.

scholarly journals Effects of immunizing ewes against bone morphogenetic protein 15 on their responses to exogenous gonadotrophins to induce multiple ovulations

Reproduction ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 142 (4) ◽  
pp. 565-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L Juengel ◽  
Laurel D Quirke ◽  
Stan Lun ◽  
Derek A Heath ◽  
Peter D Johnstone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Morphogenetic Protein ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Ovulation Rate ◽  
Keyhole Limpet Haemocyanin ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Morphogenetic Protein ◽  
Water Based ◽  
Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15 ◽  
And Control ◽  
Inactivating Mutation

Sheep with a heterozygous inactivating mutation in the bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) gene experience an increased ovulation rate during either a natural oestrous cycle or a cycle in which exogenous FSH and eCG (gonadotrophins) are given to induce multiple ovulations. The primary aim of these studies was to determine whether ewes immunised against BMP15 would also show an improved superovulation rate following exogenous gonadotrophin treatment. A secondary aim was to determine the effects of BMP15 immunisation on ovarian follicular characteristics. In most ewes (i.e. >75%) immunised with a BMP15-keyhole limpet haemocyanin peptide in an oil-based adjuvant in order to completely neutralise BMP15 bioactivity, there was no superovulation response to exogenous gonadotrophins. In ewes treated with exogenous gonadotrophins following a BMP15-BSA peptide immunisation in a water-based adjuvant to partially neutralise BMP15 bioactivity, the ovulation rate response was similar to the control superovulation treatment groups. Characterisation of follicular function revealed that the water-based BMP15-immunised animals had fewer non-atretic follicles 2.5–3.5 or >4.5 mm in diameter compared with controls. Basal concentrations of cAMP were higher in granulosa cells from animals immunised against BMP15 than control animals. There were no significant differences in the concentrations of cAMP between granulosa cells from BMP15- and control-immunised animals when given FSH or hCG, although there were differences in the proportions of follicles in different size classes that responded to FSH or hCG. Thus, immunisation against BMP15 may have been causing premature luteinisation and thereby limiting the numbers of follicles recruited for ovulation following treatment with exogenous gonadotrophins.

scholarly journals A Covalently Dimerized Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-15 Variant Identifies Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor Type 1B as a Key Cell Surface Receptor on Ovarian Granulosa Cells

Endocrinology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 153 (3) ◽  
pp. 1509-1518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minna M. Pulkki ◽  
David G. Mottershead ◽  
Arja H. Pasternack ◽  
Pranuthi Muggalla ◽  
Helen Ludlow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Surface ◽  
Bone Morphogenetic Protein ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Female Fertility ◽  
Inhibin B ◽  
Cell Surface Receptor ◽  
Morphogenetic Protein ◽  
Surface Receptor ◽  
Covalent Dimer ◽  
Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15

Genetic studies have identified bone morphogenetic protein-15 (BMP15) as an essential regulator of female fertility in humans and in sheep. Oocyte-derived BMP15 is a noncovalently linked dimeric growth factor mediating its effects to ovarian somatic cells in a paracrine manner. Although receptor ectodomains capable of binding BMP15 have previously been reported, no cell surface receptor complex involved in BMP15 signaling has previously been characterized. Here we have expressed and purified recombinant human BMP15 noncovalent and covalent dimer variants. The biological effects of these BMP15 variants were assessed in cultured human granulosa-luteal cells or COV434 granulosa cell tumor cells using BMP-responsive transcriptional reporter assays and an inhibin B ELISA. Biochemical characterization of ligand-receptor interactions was performed with affinity-labeling experiments using [125I]iodinated BMP15 variants. Both ligand variants were shown to form homodimers and to stimulate Smad1/5/8 signaling and inhibin B production in human granulosa cells in a similar manner. [125I]Iodination of both ligands was achieved, but only the covalent dimer variant retained receptor binding capacity. The [125I]BMP15S356C variant bound preferentially to endogenous BMP receptor 1B (BMPR1B) and BMPR2 receptors on COV434 cells. Binding experiments in COS cells with overexpression of these receptors confirmed that the [125I]BMP15S356C variant binds to BMPR1B and BMPR2 forming the BMP15 signaling complex. The results provide the first direct evidence in any species on the identification of specific cell surface receptors for a member of the GDF9/BMP15 subfamily of oocyte growth factors. The fact that BMP15 uses preferentially BMPR1B as its type I receptor suggests an important role for the BMPR1B receptor in human female fertility. The result is well in line with the demonstration of ovarian failure in a recently reported human subject with a homozygous BMPR1B loss-of-function mutant.

scholarly journals Effects of active immunization against growth differentiation factor 9 and/or bone morphogenetic protein 15 on ovarian function in cattle

Reproduction ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 138 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L Juengel ◽  
Norma L Hudson ◽  
Martin Berg ◽  
Keith Hamel ◽  
Peter Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Morphogenetic Protein ◽  
Ovarian Function ◽  
Follicular Development ◽  
Active Immunization ◽  
Ovulation Rate ◽  
Differentiation Factor ◽  
Morphogenetic Protein ◽  
Growth Differentiation Factor 9 ◽  
Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15 ◽  
Ovarian Follicular Development

Growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) are essential for ovarian follicular growth in sheep, whereas only GDF9 is essential in mice suggesting that the roles of these oocyte-derived growth factors differ among species. At present, however, there is only limited information on the action of BMP15 and GDF9 in other species. Thus, the aim of this experiment was to determine the effect of neutralizing GDF9 and/or BMP15in vivoon ovarian follicular development and ovulation rate in cattle through active immunization using the mature regions of the proteins or peptides from the N-terminal area of mature regions. Immunization with the BMP15 peptide, with or without GDF9 peptide, significantly altered (increased or decreased) ovulation rate. In some animals, there were no functional corpora lutea (CL), whereas in others up to four CL were observed. From morphometric examination of the ovaries, immunization with GDF9 and/or BMP15 reduced the level of ovarian follicular development as assessed by a reduced proportion of the ovarian section occupied by antral follicles. In addition, immunization against GDF9 and/or BMP15 peptides reduced follicular size to <25% of that in the controls. In conclusion, immunization against GDF9 and BMP15, alone or together, altered follicular development and ovulation rate in cattle. Thus, as has been observed in sheep, both GDF9 and BMP15 appear to be key regulators of normal follicular development and ovulation rate in cattle.

scholarly journals A Novel Mutation in the Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15 Gene Causing Defective Protein Secretion Is Associated with Both Increased Ovulation Rate and Sterility in Lacaune Sheep

Endocrinology ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 148 (1) ◽  
pp. 393-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loys Bodin ◽  
Elisa Di Pasquale ◽  
Stéphane Fabre ◽  
Martine Bontoux ◽  
Philippe Monget ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Morphogenetic Protein ◽  
Novel Mutation ◽  
Ovarian Follicle ◽  
Ovulation Rate ◽  
Receptor Type ◽  
Female Sterility ◽  
Mature Peptide ◽  
Bmp Receptor ◽  
Morphogenetic Protein ◽  
Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15

Genetic mutations with major effects on ovulation rate and litter size in sheep were recently identified in three genes belonging to the TGFβ superfamily pathway: the bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15, also known as GDF9b), growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9), and BMP receptor type IB (also known as activin-like kinase 6). Homozygous BMP15 or GDF9 mutations raise female sterility due to a failure of normal ovarian follicle development, whereas heterozygous animals for BMP15 or GDF9 as well as heterozygous and homozygous animals for BMP receptor type IB show increased ovulation rates. In the present work, a new naturally occurring mutation in the BMP15 gene in the high prolific Lacaune sheep breed is described. The identified variant is a C53Y missense nonconservative substitution leading to the aminoacidic change of a cysteine with a tyrosine in the mature peptide of the protein. As for other mutations found in the same gene, this is associated with an increased ovulation rate and sterility in heterozygous and homozygous animals, respectively. Further in vitro studies showed that the C53Y mutation was responsible for the impairment of the maturation process of the BMP15 protein, resulting in a defective secretion of both the precursor and mature peptide. Overall, our findings confirm the essential role of the BMP15 factor in the ovarian folliculogenesis and control of ovulation rate in sheep.

scholarly journals Bone morphogenetic protein 15 and growth differentiation factor 9 co-operate to regulate granulosa cell function in ruminants

Reproduction ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 129 (4) ◽  
pp. 481-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth P McNatty ◽  
Jennifer L Juengel ◽  
Karen L Reader ◽  
Stan Lun ◽  
Samu Myllymaa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factors ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Bone Morphogenetic Protein ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Progesterone Production ◽  
Differentiation Factor ◽  
Morphogenetic Protein ◽  
Growth Differentiation Factor 9 ◽  
Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15

The oocyte-secreted polypeptide growth factors, growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15, also known as GDF9B) have both been shown to be essential for ovarian follicular development and ovulation rate. In addition, it is known from both in vivo and in vitro studies that these factors co-operate in some manner. To date, most studies examining the in vitro effects of these growth factors have used the rodent model. However, the evidence suggests that these growth factors have somewhat different roles between rodents and ruminants. Therefore, the objectives of these studies were to examine the effects of GDF9 and BMP15, alone and together, on the functions of ovine and bovine granulosa cells under in vitro conditions. Ovine (o)BMP15 given together with murine (m)GDF9 or oGDF9 was more potent in stimulating 3H-thymidine incorporation by ovine granulosa cells compared with each growth factor alone. For bovine granulosa cells, there appeared to be little or no co-operativity between oBMP15 and oGDF9 as oBMP15 alone was as potent as any combination of the two growth factors in stimulating 3H-thymidine uptake. The species of origin of GDF9 affected the progesterone response in ovine granulosa cells with mGDF9 stimulating and oGDF9 inhibiting progesterone production. Ovine BMP15 alone had no effect on progesterone production by ovine granulosa cells and these growth factors did not appear to co-operate. FSH-stimulated progesterone production by bovine granulosa cells was most potently inhibited when oBMP15 and murine or ovine GDF9 were administered together. As was observed for progesterone, the species of origin of GDF9 affected inhibin production by ovine granulosa cells where mGDF9 inhibited while oGDF9 stimulated production. Murine GDF9 also inhibited inhibin production from bovine granulosa cells. For both ovine and bovine granulosa cells, BMP15 alone had no effect on inhibin production and there did not appear to be any co-operation between GDF9 and BMP15. These results indicate that the effects of BMP15 and GDF9 varied with respect to the species of origin of the growth factor. Moreover, the effects of GDF9 and BMP15 together were often co-operative and not always the same as those observed for these growth factors alone.

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