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Effects of aging on gene expression and mitochondrial DNA in the equine oocyte and follicle cells.
Abstract: We hypothesised that advanced mare age is associated with follicle and oocyte gene alterations. The aims of the study were to examine quantitative and temporal differences in mRNA for LH receptor (LHR), amphiregulin (AREG) and epiregulin (EREG) in granulosa cells, phosphodiesterase (PDE) 4D in cumulus cells and PDE3A, G-protein-coupled receptor 3 (GPR3), growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9), bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) and mitochondrial (mt) DNA in oocytes. Samples were collected from dominant follicles of Young (3-12 years) and Old (≥20 years) mares at 0, 6, 9 and 12h after administration of equine recombinant LH. LHR mRNA declined after 0h in Young mares, with no time effect in Old mares. For both ages, gene expression of AREG was elevated at 6 and 9h and EREG was expression was elevated at 9h, with higher expression in Old than Young mares. Cumulus cell PDE4D expression increased by 6h (Old) and 12h (Young). Oocyte GPR3 expression peaked at 9 and 12h in Young and Old mares, respectively. Expression of PDE3A increased at 6h, with the increase greater in oocytes from Old than Young mares at 6 and 9h. Mean GDF9 and BMP15 transcripts were higher in Young than Old, with a peak at 6h. Copy numbers of mtDNA did not vary over time in oocytes from Young mares, but a temporal decrease was observed in oocytes from Old mares. The results support an age-associated asynchrony in the expression of genes that are essential for follicular and oocyte maturation before ovulation.
Publication Date: 2015-03-20 PubMed ID: 25786490DOI: 10.1071/RD14472Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article investigates the impact of advanced age in horses on gene expression and mitochondrial DNA in the horse oocyte and follicle cells. The study finds that the expression of genes crucial for the maturation of follicles and oocytes before ovulation is asynchronous in older horses.
Objective and Hypothesis of the Study
- The primary goal of the study was to examine the influence of advanced age on quantitative and temporal variations in mRNA for various genes in the oocyte and follicle cells of mares.
- The research hypothesized that with an increased mare age, alterations are likely to occur in the follicle and oocyte genes.
Methodology
- The research was performed on samples taken from the dominant follicles of young (3-12 years) and old (≥20 years) mares at different time intervals (0, 6, 9 and 12 hours) after the administration of equine recombinant LH.
- Quantitative examination was conducted on mRNA for LH receptor (LHR), amphiregulin (AREG), epiregulin (EREG) in granulosa cells, phosphodiesterase (PDE) 4D in cumulus cells. Additionally, PDE3A, G-protein-coupled receptor 3 (GPR3), growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9), bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15), and mitochondrial (mt) DNA in oocytes were likewise scrutinized.
Key Findings
- The mRNA for LHR declined after 0 hours in young mares, while it did not vary with time in older mares.
- The gene expression of AREG increased notably at 6 and 9 hours while EREG’s expression rose at 9 hours, higher in old mares than young ones.
- Gene expression of PDE4D (in cumulus cells) increased by 6 hours in old mares and by 12 hours in young mares.
- The expression of two oocyte genes, GPR3 and PDE3A, exhibited distinct patterns; GPR3 expression peaked at 9 and 12 hours in young and old mares while PDE3A increased at 6 hours, with a more significant increase in old mares at 6 and 9 hours.
- Transcripts of GDF9 and BMP15 were more in young mares than old ones, peaking at 6 hours.
- There was no time-dependent variation in the numbers of mitochondrial DNA in the oocytes from young mares. Still, a temporal decrease was discerned in oocytes from old mares.
- The research attests an age-related asynchrony in vital gene expression for follicular and oocyte maturation before ovulation.
Cite This Article
APA
Campos-Chillon F, Farmerie TA, Bouma GJ, Clay CM, Carnevale EM.
(2015).
Effects of aging on gene expression and mitochondrial DNA in the equine oocyte and follicle cells.
Reprod Fertil Dev, 27(6), 925-933.
https://doi.org/10.1071/RD14472 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- California Polytechnic State University, 1 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA.
- Washington State University, PO Box 647520, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.
- Colorado State University, 1693 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
- Colorado State University, 1693 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
- Colorado State University, 1693 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Aging / genetics
- Aging / metabolism
- Amphiregulin / genetics
- Amphiregulin / metabolism
- Animals
- Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15 / genetics
- Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15 / metabolism
- Cumulus Cells / metabolism
- Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 4 / genetics
- Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 4 / metabolism
- DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics
- DNA, Mitochondrial / metabolism
- Epiregulin / genetics
- Epiregulin / metabolism
- Female
- Gene Expression
- Growth Differentiation Factor 9 / genetics
- Growth Differentiation Factor 9 / metabolism
- Horses
- Oocytes / metabolism
- Ovarian Follicle / metabolism
- Receptors, LH / genetics
- Receptors, LH / metabolism
- Transcriptome
Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Gebremedhn S, Gad A, Ishak GM, Menjivar NG, Gastal MO, Feugang JM, Prochazka R, Tesfaye D, Gastal EL. Dynamics of extracellular vesicle-coupled microRNAs in equine follicular fluid associated with follicle selection and ovulation. Mol Hum Reprod 2023 Apr 3;29(4).
- Derisoud E, Jouneau L, Dubois C, Archilla C, Jaszczyszyn Y, Legendre R, Daniel N, Peynot N, Dahirel M, Auclair-Ronzaud J, Wimel L, Duranthon V, Chavatte-Palmer P. Maternal age affects equine day 8 embryo gene expression both in trophoblast and inner cell mass. BMC Genomics 2022 Jun 15;23(1):443.
- Benammar A, Derisoud E, Vialard F, Palmer E, Ayoubi JM, Poulain M, Chavatte-Palmer P. The Mare: A Pertinent Model for Human Assisted Reproductive Technologies?. Animals (Basel) 2021 Aug 4;11(8).
- Catandi GD, Obeidat YM, Broeckling CD, Chen TW, Chicco AJ, Carnevale EM. Equine maternal aging affects oocyte lipid content, metabolic function and developmental potential. Reproduction 2021 Apr;161(4):399-409.
- Elkahloun AG, Saavedra JM. Candesartan Neuroprotection in Rat Primary Neurons Negatively Correlates with Aging and Senescence: a Transcriptomic Analysis. Mol Neurobiol 2020 Mar;57(3):1656-1673.
- Martinez de Andino EV, Brom-de-Luna JG, Canesin HS, Rader K, Resende HL, Ripley AM, Love CC, Hinrichs K. Intrafollicular oocyte transfer in the horse: effect of autologous vs. allogeneic transfer and time of administration of ovulatory stimulus before transfer. J Assist Reprod Genet 2019 Jun;36(6):1237-1250.
- Velie BD, Fegraeus KJ, Solé M, Rosengren MK, Røed KH, Ihler CF, Strand E, Lindgren G. A genome-wide association study for harness racing success in the Norwegian-Swedish coldblooded trotter reveals genes for learning and energy metabolism. BMC Genet 2018 Aug 29;19(1):80.
- Yang F, Wang M, Zhang B, Xiang W, Zhang K, Chu M, Wang P. Identification of new progestogen-associated networks in mammalian ovulation using bioinformatics. BMC Syst Biol 2018 Apr 3;12(1):36.
- Scarlet D, Schuler G, Malama E, Bollwein H, Bocci C, Colleoni S, Lazzari G, Galli C, Kowalewski MP. Endocrine profile and OPU-ICSI outcomes in mares: a comparative study. Reprod Fertil 2025 Jul 1;6(3).
- Khan IU, Khairullah AR, Khan AY, Rehman AU, Mustofa I. Strategic approaches to improve equine breeding and stud farm outcomes. Vet World 2025 Feb;18(2):311-328.
- Aboelmaaty AM, Elgharieb AEA, El-Debaky HA, Alkhadrawy JMH, Abou-Ahmed MM, Ghallab AM. Fluctuations of antimüllerian hormone, ovarian follicular reserve, and antioxidant status throughout the estrous cycle in aged mares. Open Vet J 2024 Nov;14(11):3132-3143.
- Bresnahan DR, Catandi GD, Peters SO, Maclellan LJ, Broeckling CD, Carnevale EM. Maturation and culture affect the metabolomic profile of oocytes and follicular cells in young and old mares. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023;11:1280998.
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