Effect of growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF-9) on in vitro development of collared peccary preantral follicles in ovarian tissues

• Published in: Animal reproduction science Vol. 226; p. 106717
• Main Authors: Campos, Lívia B., Silva, Andreia M., Praxedes, Érica C.G., Bezerra, Luana G.P., Freitas, Jeferson L.S., Melo, Luciana M., Pereira, Alexsandra F., Figueiredo, José R., Silva, Alexandre R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.03.2021
• Subjects: Biobanking; Folliculogenesis; In vitro culture; Wildlife; Biobanking; In vitro culture; Folliculogenesis; Wildlife
• ISSN: 0378-4320; 1873-2232
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2021.106717

•We provide novel data regarding the GDF-9 role on peccary follicles development.•We suggest GDF-9 at 200 ng/mL concentration for in vitro culture of peccary follicles.•PCR analysis confirmed the expression of GDF-9 receptors in peccary ovary. The aims were to identify the effects of growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF-9) on the in vitro development of ovarian preantral follicles (PAFs) of collared peccaries. Ovarian fragments were in vitro cultured for 1 or 7 days without or with inclusion of GDF-9 in the medium (0, 50, 100, or 200 ng/mL). The non-cultured (control) and cultured fragments were evaluated for PAF viability, activation, and cell proliferation. Although there were no differences in the percentage of morphologically normal follicles, the percentage of growing follicles was greater compared to the control in all treatment groups, especially those cultured with 200 ng/mL GDF-9 for 7 days (P < 0.05). The inclusion of GDF-9 in the medium did not interfere with PAF viability (P> 0.05); however, treatment with 200 ng/mL GDF-9 resulted in greater (P < 0.05) cell proliferation in PAFs cultured for 1 or 7 days (∼2.5 nucleolar organizing regions – NORs) compared to the follicles of the control group (2.0 NORs). In addition, peccary ovarian cortexes were subjected to PCR analysis and there was detection of the mRNA GDF-9 receptor transcripts of the BMPR2 (type I receptor) and ALK-5 (type II receptor) types. In conclusion, GDF-9, especially at a 200 ng/mL inclusion in the culture medium, was actively involved in the in vitro development of collared peccary PAFs.