Influence of luteinizing hormone support on granulosa cells transcriptome in cattle

In cows, the use of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to stimulate follicular growth followed by a short period of FSH withdrawal has been shown to be beneficial for oocyte developmental competence. Although this treatment represents a useful optimization to generate highly competent oocytes, the underlying physiological process is not completely understood. The goal of this study was to investigate the role of luteinizing hormone (LH) action during FSH withdrawal before ovulation. To accomplish this, LH release was pharmacologically inhibited during the coasting period with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists. Granulosa cells samples were obtained from cows stimulated with FSH during 3 days followed by a coasting period of 68 h and treated with a GnRH antagonist (cetrorelix group) or not (control). A significant reduction in the number of follicles at >10 mm diameter was observed with the cetrorelix group and gene expression of granulosa cells reveals that 747 transcripts are potentially regulated by LH. Further analysis indicates how the absence of LH may trigger early atresia, the upregulation of atretic agent as tumor protein P53 and transforming growth factor β1 and the inhibition of growth support. This work allows identification of genes that are associated with maintained follicular growth and conversely the ones leading to atresia in dominant pre-ovulatory follicles.