Stem cell factor promotes in vitro ovarian follicle development in the domestic cat by upregulating c-kit mRNA expression and stimulating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT pathway
Thuwanut, Paweena, Comizzoli, Pierre, Wildt, David E., Keefer, Carol L., and Songsasen, Nucharin. 2017. "Stem cell factor promotes in vitro ovarian follicle development in the domestic cat by upregulating c-kit mRNA expression and stimulating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT pathway." Reproduction Fertility and Development, 29, (7) 1356–1368. https://doi.org/10.1071/RD16071.
In the present study we examined the effects of stem cell factor (SCF; 50 vs 100 ngmL(-1)) alone or in combination with epidermal growth factor (EGF; 100 ngmL(-1)) on: (1) the in vitro viability and growth of cat follicles within ovarian cortices; (2) phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation; and (3) c-kit and FSH receptor (FSHr) mRNAexpression. At 100 ngmL(-1), SCF increased (P <= 0.05) the percentage and size of secondary follicles after 14 days of in vitro culture and sustained AKT phosphorylation after 3 days incubation. EGF suppressed this beneficial effect and reduced (P <= 0.05) the percentage of structurally normal follicles and FSHr expression when combined with 100 ngmL(-1) SCF. Expression of c-kit mRNA was higher (P <= 0.05) in the presence of 100 ngmL(-1) SCF compared with fresh follicles and cohorts cultured under other conditions. A c-kit inhibitor suppressed follicle growth and reduced AKT phosphorylation. Collectively, the results demonstrate that SCF promotes cat follicle development by upregulating c-kit mRNA expression and AKT phosphorylation. EGF suppresses the stimulating effect of SCF, leading to downregulation of FSHr expression.
