Abstract：
The development of ovarian follicles in poultry is a key factor affecting the performance of egg production. Ovarian follicle development is regulated via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and β-catenin, encoded by CTNNB1, is a core component of this pathway. In this study, using ovary GCs from laying hens, we investigated the regulatory role of CTNNB1 in steroid synthesis. We found that CTNNB1 significantly regulates the expression of StAR and CYP11A1 (key genes related to progesterone synthesis) and the secretion of progesterone (P4). Furthermore, simultaneous overexpression of CTNNB1 and SF1 resulted in significantly higher levels of CYP11A1 and secretion of P4 than in cells overexpressing CTNNB1 or SF1 alone. We also found that in GCs overexpressing SF1, levels of CYP11A1 and secreted P4 were significantly greater than in controls. Silencing of CYP11A1 resulted in the inhibition of P4 secretion while overexpression of SF1 in CYP11A1-silenced cells restored P4 secretion to normal levels. Together, these results indicate that synergistic cooperation between the β-catenin and SF1 regulates progesterone synthesis in laying hen ovarian hierarchical granulosa cells to promote CYP11A1 expression.
摘要：
家禽卵泡发育是影响产蛋性能的关键因素。卵泡发育受Wnt/β-catenin信号通路调控,和β-连环蛋白，由CTNNB1编码，是该途径的核心组成部分。在这项研究中,使用蛋鸡的卵巢GC，我们研究了CTNNB1在类固醇合成中的调节作用。我们发现CTNNB1显著调节StAR和CYP11A1(与孕酮合成相关的关键基因)的表达和孕酮(P4)的分泌。此外，CTNNB1和SF1的同时过表达导致CYP11A1的水平和P4的分泌明显高于单独过表达CTNNB1或SF1的细胞。我们还发现，在过表达SF1的GC中，CYP11A1和分泌的P4的水平明显高于对照组。CYP11A1的沉默导致P4分泌的抑制，而在CYP11A1沉默的细胞中SF1的过表达将P4分泌恢复到正常水平。一起,这些结果表明，β-catenin和SF1之间的协同合作调节蛋鸡卵巢分级颗粒细胞中孕酮的合成，以促进CYP11A1的表达。
