Concentrations of bone morphogenetic protein-15 (BMP-15) and growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) in follicular cysts, mono - and polyoocyte follicles in gilts

Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine the concentration of BMP-15 and GDF-9 in the fl uid of follicular cysts and ovarian follicles, and to compare their concentrations in mono- and polyoocyte follicles in gilts. The study involved two experiments conducted on the ovaries collected post-slaughter from gilts (7-8 months old). The fi rst experiment covered 31 follicular single cyst gilts (15-25 mm in diameter) and 41 gilts without cysts. Follicular fl uid from follicles of 8-10 mm in diameter (n=41) and 5-8 mm in diameter (n=41), and cystic fl uid (n=31) were collected for analysis. The second experiment involved collecting follicular fl uid from poly- (n=19) and monooocyte (n=22) follicles. The concentration of BMP-15 and GDF-9 was then determined in the samples using specimen-specifi c ELISA kits. The differences in the concentration of these factors were calculated by means of analysis of variance and a posthoc test. Duncan’s multiple range test was used to verify the signifi cance of differences at P<0.05 and P<0.01. In addition, correlations between the factors were calculated. BMP-15 and GDF-9 levels in the cystic fl uid were signifi cantly higher than those in the follicular fl uid (P<0.01). However, no differences were observed between various size follicles or between mono- and polyoocyte follicles. BMP-15 and GDF-9 concentrations were found to be positively correlated (P<0.01). Differences in BMP-15 and GDF-9 concentrations in ovarian follicles and follicular cysts, as evidenced by our study, indicate that these factors may be related to folliculogenesis disorders in gilts. What is more, the number of oocytes in ovarian follicles does not infl uence the intrafollicular concentration of BMP-15 and GDF-9.

Cilj studije je bio da se odredi koncentracija BMP-15 i GDF-9 u tečnosti folikularnih cista i folikula ovarijuma kao i da se uporede njihove koncentracije kod mono i poliovocitnih folikula kod nazimica. Studija je obuhvatala dva eksperimenta koji su obavljeni na ovarijumima sakupljenim na liniji klanja od nazimica (starosti 7-8 meseci). Prvi eksperiment je obuhvatao ispitivanje 31 nazimice sa po jednom folikularnom cistom (15-25 mm u prečniku) i 45 nazimica bez cista. Sakupljene su i analizirane folikularne tečnosti iz folikula prečnika 8-10 mm (n=41) i 5-8 mm u prečniku (n=41) kao i tečnost cista (n=31). Drugi eksperiment je uključivao sakupljanje folikularne tečnosti od poli (n=19) i od monoovocitnih (n=22) folikula. Koncentracije BMP-15 i GDF-9 su određivane u uzorcima tečnosti korišćenjem ELISA kitova specifičnih za vrstu. Razlike u koncentracijama ovih faktora su izračunavane pomoću analize varijanse i posthok testom. U cilju određivanja statističke značajnosti razlika, upotrebljen je Duncan-ov višestrani test i to za P<0,05 i P<0,01. Korelacije između navedenih faktora su takođe izračunavane. Koncentracije BMP-15 i GDF-9 u tečnostima cista su bile značajno veće u odnosu na one u folikularnoj tečnosti (P<0,01). Međutim, nije ustanovljena razlika između folikula različitih veličina kao i između mono i poliovocitnih folikula. BMP-15 i GDF-9 koncentracije su bile u pozitivnoj korelaciji (P<0,01). Razlike u BMP15 i GDF-9 koncentracijama u folikulima ovarijuma i folikularnim cistama, kako je to prikazano studijom, ukazuju da ovi faktori mogu biti povezani sa poremećajima folikulogeneze kod nazimica. Štaviše, broj ovocita u folikulima ovarijuma ne utiče na intrafolikularnu koncentraciju BMP-15 i GDF-9.