A potential role for SMAD9 in goose follicular selection through regulation of mRNA levels of luteinizing hormone receptor

Daolun Yu, Li Zhang, Hejian Wang, Fanghui Chen, Jie Chen, Zongmeng Zhang, Jie Li, Chaofeng Xing, Honglin Li, Jun Li, Yafei Cai

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

The egg production of poultry depends on follicular development and selection. Nonetheless, the mechanism underlying the priority of selecting of hierarchical follicles is completely unknown. SMAD9 is one of the important transcription factors in the BMP/SMAD pathway and is involved in goose follicular initiation. To identify its potential role in determination of the goose follicle hierarchy, we used BMP type I receptor inhibitor LDN-193189 both in vivo and in vitro and found that SMAD9 mRNA expression decreased in the presence of LDN-193189. While the level of SMAD9 mRNA decreased after treatment with LDN-193189, we found that the egg production (7.08 eggs per bird per year) of the animals increased, estradiol (E2) levels significantly increased, but the levels of progesterone (P4) remained unchanged. We also detected a significant increase in luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) mRNA expression, but no change in follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) mRNA amounts. The in vitro experimental results indicated that SMAD9 knockdown by RNA interference noticeably reduced E2 and P4 biosynthesis and FSHR and LHR mRNA expression in goose granulosa cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay of goose granulosa cells revealed that phospho-SMAD9 bound to the LHR promoter and possibly regulated its transcriptional activity. These findings revealed that SMAD9 is differentially expressed in goose follicles, and acts as a key player in the control over goose follicular selection.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)204-212
Number of pages9
JournalTheriogenology
Volume135
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2019

Keywords

  • Follicular hierarchy development
  • Goose
  • Granulosa cells
  • Ovulation
  • SMAD9 gene

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Small Animals
  • Food Animals
  • Animal Science and Zoology
  • Equine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A potential role for SMAD9 in goose follicular selection through regulation of mRNA levels of luteinizing hormone receptor'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this