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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
07:03
A Modified Co-Culture System for Understanding Granulosa-Theca Cell Interactions in the Bovine Ovary
Published on: September 19, 2025
A decrease in glucose supply promotes cell death in bovine corpus luteum
Aoi Jimbo1, Hiroki Hasegawa2, Masamichi Yamashita3
1Field Science Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Tottori 680-8553, Japan.
The Journal of Reproduction and Development
|July 20, 2026
Summary
Low glucose levels trigger apoptosis in bovine corpus luteum (CL) cells, a key event in luteolysis. This study reveals that reduced glucose supply increases the expression of FAS and CASP3, promoting cell death.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Cellular Metabolism
- Apoptosis Research
Background:
- Glucose (GLU) is vital for mammalian cell energy and survival.
- Depletion of glucose can trigger apoptosis, a programmed cell death pathway.
- Corpus luteum (CL) regression involves cell death, potentially linked to nutrient availability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if decreased glucose levels induce apoptotic cell death in bovine corpus luteum (CL) cells.
- To investigate the mechanisms by which low glucose levels cause luteal cell death.
- To examine the role of apoptosis-regulating factors in glucose-depleted CL cells.
Main Methods:
- Culturing bovine mid-luteal cells in glucose-free medium.
- Assessing cell viability with and without glucose supplementation.
- Measuring the expression of apoptosis-regulating factors (FAS, BAX, BCL2, CASP8, CASP3) via mRNA.
- Inhibiting glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) using cytochalasin B and STF-31.
Main Results:
- Glucose depletion induced significant cell death in bovine luteal cells.
- Cell viability was restored in a dose-dependent manner by glucose supplementation.
- Culturing without glucose led to increased expression of FAS and CASP3 mRNA.
- Inhibition of GLUT1 also resulted in cell death, even with glucose present.
Conclusions:
- Reduced glucose supply, as occurs during luteolysis due to decreased blood flow to the CL, likely promotes apoptosis.
- The upregulation of FAS and CASP3 expression is a key mechanism in glucose-induced luteal cell apoptosis.
- Glucose availability is critical for maintaining the viability of bovine corpus luteum cells.
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