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Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Separation of Avian Preovulatory Follicle Granulosa and Theca Cell Layers for Downstream Applications
Published on: October 25, 2024
Modulation of sterol regulatory element binding protein-2 in response to rapid follicle development in chickens
Hyang Sook Seol1, Kan Sato, Yusuke Matsubara
1Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, 981-8555, Japan.
Abstract:
We investigated the expression profiles of sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs) and their related genes in chicken developing follicle membranes, from the small white follicle (SWF) stage to the Follicle 1 (F1) stage. Expression of SREBP-2 was significantly increased in the rapid stages of follicle development, however, no significant change in SREBP-1 mRNA expression was observed during follicle development. Immunoreactive SREBP-2 protein levels isolated from nuclear extracts in rapid growth stages, particularly in Follicle 2, were higher than those in SWF and small yellow follicle (SYF). In contrast, SREBP-1 immunoreactive protein levels were only slightly changed over all stage of follicle development. 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase (HMGR) mRNA levels significantly increased in the rapid stages of follicle development, suggesting that SREBP-2 controls the biosynthesis of cholesterol in follicles. LDL receptor and LDL receptor related protein 1 mRNA also tended to increase with follicular development, however, expression of LDL receptor relative with eight ligand binding repeats (LR8) was only slightly affected by SREBP-2. Liver X receptor alpha (LXR alpha) was expressed in chicken follicles; its expression patterns corresponded with SREBP-2 gene expression. These results suggest that SREBP-2, which might be regulated by LXRalpha, is involved in the rapid growth stages of follicle development in avian species.
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