China Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine ›› 2022, Vol. 49 ›› Issue (12): 4725-4733.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2022.12.022

• Genetics and Breeding • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Research Progress on Effects of Granulosa Cell Apoptosis on Follicle Atresia in Poultry

ZHANG Ying1,2, LI Xianqiang1,2, LI Yana1,2, WANG Jiaxiang1, WU Yan2, PI Jinsong2, CHEN Lin1,2   

  1. 1. College of Animal Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434000, China;
    2. Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Embryonic Engineering and Molecular Breeding, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, China
  • Received:2022-06-07 Online:2022-12-05 Published:2022-12-01

Abstract: Ovary is an important reproductive organ of poultry, which can produce a large number of follicles, and follicles may be atresia in each stage of growth and development due to the regulation of different factors, resulting in the decline of reproductive performance.Granulosa cells have been proved to play an important role in regulating follicular growth and development, and their apoptosis can induce follicular atresia.There are many regulatory factors that induce apoptosis in granulosa cells, including hormones, cytokines, oxidative stress, mitochondria and other external factors.Granulosa cell apoptosis is mainly caused by the mitochondrial pathway, which involves the Caspase family, the release of cytochrome C (Cyt-C) when mitochondria cleaved, then the formation of apoptotic body activated Caspase-3 and Caspase-8, finally, Caspase-9 was activated to induce apoptosis of granulosa cells.When granulosa cells apoptosis occurs, follicles in poultry lose biological function and imbalances in regulation between cells within the follicle promotes the apoptosis of oocytes and membrane cells in follicles, and finally leads to follicle atresia.The growth factors, gonadal steroids and cytokines secreted by granulosa cells in the survival state can help oocytes reduce oxidative damage and prevent mitochondrial DNA damage caused by excessive intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), thus avoiding apoptosis of granulosa cells caused by mitochondrial dysfunction.In order to provide theoretical basis for reducing follicular atresia and improving reproductive performance of poultry, this paper discussed the apoptosis of granulosa cells and its influencing factors, the relationship between apoptosis of granulosa cells and follicular atresia, and the effect of apoptosis of granulosa cells on follicular atresia.

Key words: poultry; follicular atresia; apoptosis of granulosa cells

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