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Testosterone induces activation of porcine primordial follicles in vitro

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Reproductive Medicine and Biology

Abstract

Purpose

The mechanism underlying primordial follicle activation is poorly understood. In this study, in-vitro culture and subsequent xenotransplantation were conducted to determine whether testosterone promotes the activation of porcine primordial follicles.

Methods

Prepubertal porcine ovarian cortical strips containing primordial follicles were cultured in the presence of testosterone for 7 days, and subsequently transplanted to immunodeficient mice for 2 months. After culture and transplantation, development of follicles was examined histologically. The presence of androgen receptors in oocytes was assessed by use of western blot and immunohistochemical analyses.

Results

Testosterone at 10−6 M induced the primordial follicle transition to the intermediate (19 ± 4%) and primary (3 ± 1%) stages after 7-day culture, while 56 ± 5% of primordial follicles remained in the initial pool. Higher concentrations, above 10−5 M, or lower concentrations, below 10−6 M, did not induce follicle transition to the primary stage. After 7-day culture with 10−6 M testosterone, ovarian cortical strips were transplanted to immunodeficient mice. Some of the follicles developed to the secondary (15 ± 3%) and antral (10 ± 3%) stages, whereas 44 ± 7% of primordial follicles remained in the initial pool. In the culture experiment, estradiol-17β (10−7–10−5 M) had no significant effect on follicle activation. The androgen receptor antagonist, cyproterone acetate, inhibited the stimulatory effect of testosterone on primordial follicle activation, suggesting an androgen receptor-mediated action of testosterone. Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that androgen receptors were present in the oocytes of primordial follicles.

Conclusions

These results suggest that testosterone at 10−6 M promotes the activation of porcine primordial follicles in vitro through the androgen receptors in the oocytes.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the staff of the Kobe Meat Inspection Office for supplying pig ovaries. This study was supported in part by the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science to TM and MM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Reproductive Biology and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan

    Manjula P. S. Magamage, Mai Zengyo, Mohammad Moniruzzaman & Takashi Miyano

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  1. Manjula P. S. Magamage
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  2. Mai Zengyo
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  3. Mohammad Moniruzzaman
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  4. Takashi Miyano
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Correspondence to Manjula P. S. Magamage.

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Magamage, M.P.S., Zengyo, M., Moniruzzaman, M. et al. Testosterone induces activation of porcine primordial follicles in vitro. Reprod Med Biol 10, 21–30 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12522-010-0068-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12522-010-0068-z

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