Endothelin-3 Suppresses Luteinizing Hormone Receptor Expression by Regulating the cAMP-PKA Pathway in Hen Granulosa Cells

Abstract

Previous research identified the expression of EDN3 in granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles in chickens. Notably, the expression level of EDN3 in Silky Fowl with low egg-laying performance was significantly higher than that in high-yield laying breed White Leghorn. Given the crucial role of granulosa cells in follicular development and maturation, it is very important to study the effect of EDN3 on the biological function of granular cells. In this study, an EDN3 overexpression plasmid was constructed and transfected into granular cells. The viability of these cells was detected using quantiative (qPCR), Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8), and 5-Ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays. Gonadal hormone synthesis was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques. Finally, transcriptome sequencing was employed to identify differentially expressed genes. Result showed thatoverexpression of EDN3 was observed to promote cell viability. In addition, it significantly inhibits the expressions of LHR and cAMP-PKA signaling pathways. Cell transcriptome sequencing data displayed that EDN3 can upregulate energy metabolism and immune-related signaling pathways, whereas follicle maturation and the GnRH signaling pathway were downregulated. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that EDN3 can enhance granulosa cell viability and inhibit the expression of LHCGR, a process likely mediated through the cAMP-PKA signaling pathway. However, further evidence is required to substantiate the regulatory relationship between EDN3 and the cAMP-PKA signaling pathway.