Roles of vitamin D and its receptor in the proliferation and apoptosis of luteinised granulosa cells in the goat

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the dose-dependent effect of 1α,25-(OH)2VD3 (Vit D3) on invitro proliferation of goat luteinised granulosa cells (LGCs) and to determine the underlying mechanisms of its action by overexpressing and silencing vitamin D receptor (VDR) in LGCs. Results showed that VDR was prominently localised in GCs and theca cells (TCs) and its expression increased with follicle diameter, but was lower in atretic follicles than in healthy follicles. The proliferation rate of LGCs was significantly higher in the Vit D3-treated groups than in the control group, with the highest proliferation rate observed in the 10nM group; this was accompanied by changes in the expression of cell cycle-related genes. These data indicate that Vit D3 affects LGC proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Contrary to the VDR knockdown effects, its overexpression upregulated and downregulated cell cycle- and apoptosis-related genes respectively; moreover, supplementation with 10nM of Vit D3 significantly enhanced these effects. These results suggest that changes in VDR expression patterns in LGCs may be associated with follicular development by regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis. These findings will enhance the understanding of the roles of Vit D3 and VDR in goat ovarian follicular development.