Molecular characterization and regulation of the angiotensin-converting enzyme type 2/Angiotensin-(1-7)/MAS receptor axis during the ovulation process in cattle

• Published in: Journal of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system Vol. 13; no. 1; pp. 91 - 98
• Main Authors: Tonellotto dos Santos, Joabel, Ferreira, Rogério, Gasperin, Bernardo Garziera, Siqueira, Lucas Carvalho, de Oliveira, João Francisco, Santos, Robson AS, Reis, Adelina M, Gonçalves, Paulo Bayard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.03.2012
• Subjects: Angiotensin I - genetics; Angiotensin I - metabolism; Animals; Cattle; Female; Follicular Fluid - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation; Granulosa Cells - metabolism; Models, Animal; Neprilysin - genetics; Neprilysin - metabolism; Ovariectomy; Ovulation - genetics; Peptide Fragments - genetics; Peptide Fragments - metabolism; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A - genetics; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A - metabolism; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - genetics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - metabolism; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled - genetics; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled - metabolism; Reproducibility of Results; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Serine Endopeptidases - genetics; Serine Endopeptidases - metabolism; Signal Transduction - genetics; Theca Cells - metabolism; ACE2; MAS receptor; angiotensin-(1-7); bovine; ovulation
• ISSN: 1470-3203; 1752-8976
• DOI: 10.1177/1470320311417273

The objective of this study was to characterize the profiles of Ang-(1-7), MAS receptor, ACE2, NEP and PEP during the ovulatory process in cattle. For this study, 40 synchronized cows with follicular diameter ≥ 12 mm were ovariectomized at different time-points (0, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h) after i.m. application of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) to induce a luteinizing hormone surge. Follicular fluid was collected for measuring Ang-(1-7) by radioimmunoassay. Theca and granulosa cells were isolated from the preovulatory follicles to evaluate the gene expression of MAS receptor, ACE2, NEP and PEP by qRT-PCR assay. Cross-contamination between theca and granulosa cells was tested by RT-PCR to detect cytochrome P450 aromatase (CYP19A1) and 17α-hydroxylase (CYP17A1) mRNA. Ang-(1-7) levels were constant until 12 h and then increased (p < 0.05) at 24 h after GnRH. Messenger RNA expression of MAS, ACE2, NEP and PEP was detected in theca and granulosa cells at all time-points after GnRH. In granulosa cells, ACE2, NEP and PEP were differentially expressed after GnRH treatment (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the Ang-(1-7), MAS receptor, ACE2, NEP and PEP profiles in preovulatory follicles indicate that Ang-(1-7) plays a role in the regulation of the ovulatory process in cattle.