Gene expression profiling of bovine ovarian follicular and luteal cells provides insight into cellular identities and functions

Authors

Sarah Romereim, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Adam F. Summers, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
William E. Pohlmeier, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Pan Zhang, University of Nebraska Medical CenterFollow
Xiaoying Hou, University of Nebraska Medical CenterFollow
Heather A. Talbott, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Robert A. Cushman, USDA, Agricultural Research ServiceFollow
Jennifer R. Wood, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
John S. Davis, University of Nebraska Medical CenterFollow
Andrea S. Cupp, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2017

Citation

Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2017 January 05; 439: 379–394.

Comments

HHS Public Access

doi:10.1016/j.mce.2016.09.029

Abstract

After ovulation, somatic cells of the ovarian follicle (theca and granulosa cells) become the small and large luteal cells of the corpus luteum. Aside from known cell type-specific receptors and steroidogenic enzymes, little is known about the differences in the gene expression profiles of these four cell types. Analysis of the RNA present in each bovine cell type using Affymetrix microarrays yielded new cell-specific genetic markers, functional insight into the behavior of each cell type via Gene Ontology Annotations and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, and evidence of small and large luteal cell lineages using Principle Component Analysis. Enriched expression of select genes for each cell type was validated by qPCR. This expression analysis offers insight into cell-specific behaviors and the differentiation process that transforms somatic follicular cells into luteal cells.