Korean J Reprod Med.  2009 Dec;36(4):265-274.

Profiles of microRNAs in Mice Follicles According to Gonadotropins during in vitro Culture

• Kim YJ
• Ku SY
• Kim YY
• Oh SK
• Kim SH
• Choi YM
• Moon SY

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
MicroRNAs (miR) are known to repress target genes at post-transcriptional level and play important roles in development and maturation of cell. However, the expression profiles of miR during ovarian follicle maturation have not been fully elucidated. Here, we designed this study to investigate the expression profiles of miR in oocytes and granulose cells (G-cells) after in vitro culture according to gonadotropins and adding hCG.
METHODS
Ovaries from 12-day-old mice (C57BL6) were removed and preantral follicles were isolated and cultured in 20 micronL-drop of culture media with supplementation of either rFSH, rLH, or rFSH + rLH. After their full maturation, follicles were incubated with rhCG and rEGF. RNA was isolated from oocytes and G-cells, and real-time PCR were performed with primers of miR known to be expressed in the mouse ovary (mmu-miR-16, -miR-27a, -miR-126, -miR-721).
RESULTS
FSH + LH group showed the highest ovulation and MII rates among gonadotropin groups. The profiles of miRs in oocytes and G-cells differed according to gonadotropin groups and adding hCG. The profiles of miRs showed divergent changes between oocytes and G-cells.
CONCLUSION
miR expression profiles are altered by gonadotropins and supplementation of hCG during in vitro maturation of murine follicles. Target gene study must be necessary to validate these findings.

Keyword

MicroRNAs; Gonadotropins; In vitro culture; Mouse

MeSH Terms

Animals
Culture Media
Female
Gonadotropins
Mice
MicroRNAs
Oocytes
Ovarian Follicle
Ovary
Ovulation
Polysaccharides
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
RNA
Culture Media
Gonadotropins
MicroRNAs
Polysaccharides
RNA