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Lebedeva I.Yu., Mityashova O.S., Smekalova A.A., Aleynikova O.V., Montvila E.K. The functional activity of cells from preovulatory follicles of hens (Gallus domesticus L.) under influence of triiodothyronine in vitro. Sel'skokhozyaistvennaya Biologiya [Agricultural Biology], 2024, Vol. 59, № 4, p. 749-758.
(how to cite this article)

doi: 10.15389/agrobiology.2024.4.749eng

UDC: 636.5:591.1:612.6

Acknowledgements:
Supported financially by the Russian Science Foundation, project 22-16-00149

 

THE FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY OF CELLS FROM PREOVULATORY FOLLICLES OF HENS (Gallus domesticus L.) UNDER INFLUENCE OF TRIIODOTHYRONINE in vitro

I.Yu. Lebedeva ✉, O.S. Mityashova, A.A. Smekalova, O.V. Aleynikova, E.K. Montvila

Ernst Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry, 60, pos. Dubrovitsy, Podolsk District, Moscow Province, 142132 Russia, e-mail irledv@mai.ru (✉ corresponding author), mityashova_o@mail.ru, araksia86@mail.ru, 68ovk@mail.ru, montvila94@bk.ru

ORCID:
Lebedeva I.Yu. orcid.org/0000-0002-7815-7900
Aleynikova O.V. orcid.org/0000-0003-2583-0492
Mityashova O.S. orcid.org/0000-0002-0401-5088
Mntvila E.K. orcid.org/0000-0002-4341-2019
Smekalova A.A. orcid.org/0009-0005-4243-1719

Final revision received December 14, 2023

Accepted May 20, 2024  

 

Thyroid hormones have pleiotropic effects in vertebrates, regulating the growth, development and function of many organs, including those belonging to the reproductive system. Thyroid hormones may also be involved in regulating early ovarian aging and maintaining the supply of ovarian follicles. In the ovarian follicles of birds, including chickens, components of the thyroid system were found that ensure the implementation of the regulatory effects of thyroid hormones on the target cells. We performed for the first time a comparative analysis of the proliferative and steroidogenic activity of cultured granulosa and theca cells from the two most mature preovulatory follicles in Hisex White laying hens of different ages and reproductive statuses under the influence of triiodothyronine (T3), the most biologically active thyroid hormone. The purpose of the work was to examine in vitro the effect of T3 on the functional activity of cells from preovulatory follicles of the domestic hen (Gallus domesticus L.) in connection with the process of reproductive aging. Young hens aged 27-34 weeks with a long laying cycle (n = 6) and reproductively aged birds aged 74-94 weeks with a short laying cycle (n = 6) were used in the experiments. Granulosa and theca cells were isolated from the two largest yellow follicles F1 and F2. The follicular cells were cultured in medium containing 3 % fetal bovine serum for 48 h (granulosa) or 96 h (theca) in the absence (control) or presence of T3 at various concentrations (0.5-8.0 ng/ml). After culturing in the media, the concentration of sex steroid hormones was determined by ELISA or the proliferative activity of the cells was assessed by the photocolorimetric method using the CCK-8 reagent. In young hens, T3 at a concentration of 1.0-8.0 ng/ml increased 1.1-1.2 times (p < 0.05) the proliferative activity of granulosa cells from F1 follicles. On the contrary, in the case of F2 follicles, the hormone reduced this activity by 1.2-1.3 times (p < 0.01-0.05) at a content in the medium of 1.0-2.0 ng/ml. Furthermore, T3 at a concentration of 0.5-1.0 ng/ml stimulated in vitro the proliferation of theca cells from F2 follicles by 1.2-1.3 times (p < 0.01). In birds with an age-related decrease in the egg production, a 1.2-1.4-fold (p < 0.001-0.05) stimulating effect of T3 (1.0-4.0 ng/ml) on the growth of granulosa and theca cells from F1 follicles in culture was found. This hormone at a concentration of 0.5 ng/ml also increased 1.4 times (p < 0.05) the proliferative activity of thecal cells from F2 follicles. In young hens, T3 inhibited 1.1-1.3 times (p < 0.01-0.05) the progesterone production by cultured granulosa cells in the case of F1 follicles at a concentration of 2.0-8.0 ng/ml, and in the case of F2 follicles — at a concentration of 0.5-1.0 ng/ml. At the same time, in reproductively aged birds, T3 (0.5 ng/ml) inhibited 1.1 times (p < 0.05) the secretion of progesterone by granulosa cells from F1 follicles. Concurrently, thyroid hormone at a concentration of 8.0 ng/ml suppressed the secretion of testosterone by theca cells from F2 follicles (1.9 times, p < 0.01) and increased the production of estradiol-17β by theca cells from F1 follicles (1.8 times, p < 0.05). Thus, T3 in a physiological concentration was able to exert a regulatory effect on the proliferative and steroidogenic activity of follicular cells, depending on their type and the maturity degree of preovulatory follicles in laying hens. Meanwhile, the sensitivity of granulosa and thecal cells to the hormone changed during the reproductive aging of birds.

Keywords: laying hens, triiodothyronine, preovulatory follicles, granulosa cells, theca cells, proliferation, steroidogenesis.

 

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