Characterization of cumulus expansion-inhibiting factor (CEIF) in goat follicles

Studies suggest that oocyte cumulus expansion is regulated by both cumulus expansion-enabling factor (CEEF) and cumulus expansion-inhibiting factors (CEIF). Many reports on CEEF have appeared, but CEIF has rarely been studied. By cumulus expansion assays using mouse cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) and oocytectomized complexes, the present study demonstrated that whereas follicular fluid (FF) from medium (diameter, 2-4 mm) goat follicles contained both CEEF and CEIF activities, FF from large (diameter, 5-6 mm) abattoir or large (diameter, 5-7 mm) follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-stimulated follicles contained neither. FF from (diameter, 5-7 mm) human chorionic gonadotropin-stimulated follicles showed CEEF but not CEIF activity. Whereas medium conditioned with cumulus or mural granulosa cells from medium goat follicles contained only CEEF activity, theca cell-conditioned medium (CM) showed both CEEF and CEIF activities. Whereas 0.01 mg/ml of heparin efficiently inhibited cumulus expansion of mouse COCs in vitro, FF from large follicles that showed no CEIF activity contained much higher concentrations (0.23-0.25 mg/ml) of heparin. None of the glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) tested inhibited cumulus expansion of goat COCs. Among the follicles observed, only FF from medium goat follicles contained a linoleic acid (LA) level sufficient to inhibit cumulus expansion of both mouse and goat COCs in vitro. CM contained some amount of GAGs but no LA. Taken together, the results suggest that 1) the FSH and luteinizing hormone (LH) surges before ovulation promote cumulus expansion by down-regulating CEIF and up-regulating CEEF activity, respectively; 2) GAGs are not the CEIF in goat follicles; and 3) LA has CEIF activity but additional factors must be involved, because CM that showed high CEIF activity contained no LA.