The expression of proto-oncogene c-erbB₂ and its role in the initiation of primordial follicle growth in rat ovary.
- Author:
Liang-Quan XU
1
;
Ai-Xia XU
;
Jian HUANG
;
Wei-Yun CHEN
;
Yue-Hui ZHENG
Author Information
1. Department of Physiology Reproduction, Nanchang University Medical College, China.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Animals;
Animals, Newborn;
Female;
Organ Culture Techniques;
Ovarian Follicle;
growth & development;
RNA, Small Interfering;
Rats;
Receptor, ErbB-2;
physiology
- From:
Acta Physiologica Sinica
2009;61(5):424-430
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Little is known about the factors that control the initiation of growth of primordial follicles. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of c-erbB₂ on the onset of primordial follicle development, and whether c-erbB₂ mediates the effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in this process. We synthesized three pairs of siRNAs targeting the c-erbB₂ mRNA and transferred them into the newborn rat ovary cultured in vitro with Metafectene. After siRNAs transfection, the efficiency of siRNAs was tested by examining c-erbB₂ mRNA and protein levels. The level of c-erbB₂ mRNA was reduced by 49.6%, 46.7% and 82.6% respectively after transfecting siRNA1, siRNA2 and siRNA3, and the level of ErbB₂ protein also reduced remarkably after siRNA3 transfection. c-erbB₂ siRNA3 significantly inhibited the primordial follicle initiation and development; EGF augmented primordial follicles formation, but the effect was abolished by c-erbB₂ siRNA3. All of these results suggest that c-erbB₂ plays an important role in primordial follicle development and folliculogenesis initiation, and mediates the effect of EGF on primordial follicle development.
