Expression Of MRNA For Brain-derived Neuotrophic Factor In Reproductive Organs And Oocytes From Sows

The reproductive cycle of female animals is regulated by complicated mechanisms including circulatory regulation through hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis and local regulation in ovaries. Lots of cytokines or growth factors are documented in regulating the development and function of female reproductive tussues. Brain-derived neuotrophic factor(BDNF) is a member of the neurotrophic factor(NTF), which plays an important role in growth, conservation, and restoration of nerve cells. In recent years, studies in women and mouse have shown that BDNF were also expressed in the ovaries and might affect the evelopment and maturation of oocytes. These findings make the BDNF as new member of growth factors involved in regulation of reproduction process. The purpose of the present study was to determine the expression of mRNA for BDNF in repoductive organs at follicular phase and luteal phase, and in immature and in vitro matured oocytes from sows.The expression levels of mRNA for BDNF in ovaries, oviducts, and uterus from sows at follicular phase and luteal phase were quantitated by using Real-time Fluorescent Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-FQ-PCR). The results showed that mRNA for BDNF were expressed in all of the tissues at each phase, with higher levels in oviduct and uterus that in ovary. The expression level in luteal phase ovary trended to be higher than that in follicular phase ovary, and similar but more significant change occurred in oviduct. However, the expression in uterus were opposite to that, ie., higher level of mRNA for BDNF were found in follicular phase uterus than in luteal phase utrus. These results imply that BDNF may play different roles in lutea formation, sperm capacitation, fertilization, and early embryo development.RT-FQ-PCR were also used to determine quantity of the mRNA for BDNF in GV oocytes and in vitro matured(MII) oocytes. The result showed that there was a higher level in GV oocytes than in MII oocytes, suggesting that BDNF may play a role in promoting the development and maturation of oocytes but the role decreases after oocyte maturation.