Effects of the Luteinizing hormone on Markers of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in GCs of Pre-ovulatory Follicles

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Published Jun 24, 2025
https://doi.org/10.70436/nuijb.v3i04.354
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Vol. 3 No. 04 (2024): December

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Ahmad Farid Rawan
Nangarhar University
Abdul Wajid Ismailzai
Nangarhar University
Saeed Mohammad Weqar
Nangarhar University
Mohammad Bayer Dermal
Nangarhar University
Abdeen Ahmed
Benha University

Abstract

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a complex process in which epithelial cells lose their adhesive properties, gain the ability to migrate, and undergo structural, molecular, and biochemical changes. This transition is initiated and regulated by transcriptional repressors from the Snail, ZEB, and TWIST families, which bind to E-box sequences. Granulosa cells (GCs) are a type of epithelial cell characterized by polarity. During ovarian follicle development, CDH1, an epithelial marker, is found in oocytes, while N-cadherin (CDH2), a mesenchymal marker, is present in granulosa cells. The LH surge triggers ovulation and converts the granulosa cells to luteinization to form the corpus luteum (CL). The expression of epithelial and mesenchymal markers in bovine GCs of preovulatory follicles remained unknown. In this study, the expression of mesenchymal markers in uncultured GCs from pre- and postovulatory follicles, as well as in luteal cells at different stages of the CL were examined, ranging from early to regressed phases. Additionally, the effect of luteinizing hormone (LH) on mesenchymal marker expression in cultured GCs from preovulatory follicles were investigated. The mRNA expression of CDH1 gradually declined from preovulatory follicles to regressed CL. In contrast, the mRNA levels of Snail2 and Zeb-1 increased throughout this transition. Notably, treatment with LH (5 and 50 ng/ml) significantly reduced CDH1 mRNA expression in GCs from preovulatory follicles. Furthermore, LH (5 and 50 ng/ml) upregulated Snail2 expression, while a higher concentration of LH (50 ng/ml) specifically elevated Zeb-1 mRNA expression in GCs. These results indicates that LH is actively involved in the initiation of EMT in GCs conversion to luteal cells.

Keywords

Follicle, Granulosa cell, IGF-1, Steroidogenic enzymes, PCNA

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Author Biographies

Ahmad Farid Rawan, Nangarhar University

Department of Pre-clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Nangarhar University, Nangarhar, Afghanistan

Abdul Wajid Ismailzai, Nangarhar University

Department of Pre-clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Nangarhar University, Nangarhar, Afghanistan

Mohammad Bayer Dermal, Nangarhar University

Department of Clini, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Nangarhar University, Nangarhar, Afghanistan

Abdeen Ahmed, Benha University

Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Toukh 13736, Egypt

How to Cite
Rawan, A. F., Ismailzai, A. W., Weqar, S. M., Dermal, M. B., & Ahmed, A. (2025). Effects of the Luteinizing hormone on Markers of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in GCs of Pre-ovulatory Follicles. Nangarhar University International Journal of Biosciences, 3(04), 07–14. https://doi.org/10.70436/nuijb.v3i04.354

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