Leptin enhances porcine oocyte nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation via the MAP kinase pathway.

摘要

Recent studies have suggested leptin plays a role in female reproduction, including ovarian function. The leptin receptor (Ob-R) has six isoforms and can signal through either the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) or the janus-activated kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signal transduction pathway, depending on the isoform. Expression of Ob-R has been reported in human and mouse oocytes; however the physiological role of leptin during oocyte growth and maturation is unknown. Expression of Ob-R during oocyte growth and maturation was investigated in porcine oocytes isolated from small, medium and large follicles, and in germinal vesicle, germinal vesicle break down (GVBD), and metaphase II (MII) oocytes. The proportion of oocytes expressing Ob-R was maximal in oocytes from medium follicles and at the GVBD stage, while expression of Ob-Rb was found to be consistently low throughout growth and maturation. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)