Follicle stimulating hormone and the nitric oxide pathway in the maturation of bovine oocytes

• Grant number: 08/09321-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2009
• End date: August 31, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Cláudia Lima Verde Leal
• Grantee: Cláudia Lima Verde Leal
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) is a chemical messenger generated by the activity of the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS), which has been detected in several organs including those of the reproductive system. The NOS/NO system seem to play an important role in oocyte maturation among other functions. However, despite the evidence, there are few studies on the role of this system in oocytes of the bovine species. NO is known to act through the guanylate cyclase (GC) pathway, stimulating the production of the nucleotide cGMP, which in turn can influence the levels of another nucleotide (cAMP) via phosphodiesterases (PDE). cAMP is an important element of the FSH signaling pathway in cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) and on the control of oocyte maturation. The aim of the present project is to investigate the influence of FSH on the NOS/NO pathway and its components in in vitro matured bovine oocytes. For the study, COCs will be matured in vitro for 24 h with or without FSH. In some analyses the COC will be separated into oocytes (OO) and their respective cumulus cells (CC). The samples will be assessed regarding: 1) NOS activity; 2) NO production; 3) cGMP levels ; 4) cAMP levels ; 5) relative abundance of mRNA for NOS2, NOS3, GC, PKG, AC, PKA, PDE3, PDE4 and PDE5 (OO and DO); 6) expression of proteins for NOS2, NOS3 and phosphorylated MAPK (OO and DO). (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

LANCELLOTTI SCHWARZ, KATIA R.; LISBOA PIRES, PEDRO R.; MESQUITA, LIGIA GARCIA; CHIARATTI, MARCOS R.; VERDE LEAL, CLAUDIA LIMA. Effect of nitric oxide on the cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway during meiosis resumption in bovine oocytes. Theriogenology, v. 81, n. 4, p. 556-564, MAR 1 2014. (08/09321-6)