Bone morphogenetic protein 15 intrafollicular injection inhibits ovulation in cattle

• Published in: Theriogenology Vol. 182; pp. 148 - 154
• Main Authors: Haas, Cristina S., Oliveira, Fernando C., Rovani, Monique T., Ferst, Juliana G., Vargas Jr, Sergio Farias, Vieira, Arnaldo D., Mondadori, Rafael Gianella, Pegoraro, Lígia M.C., Gonçalves, Paulo B.D., Bordignon, Vilceu, Ferreira, Rogério, Gasperin, Bernardo G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-04-2022
• Subjects: Animals; BMP15; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15 - metabolism; Cattle; Female; Follicular growth; Granulosa Cells - metabolism; Luteinized cysts; Ovarian Follicle - physiology; Ovulation; Progesterone - pharmacology; Luteinized cysts; Follicular growth; Cattle; Ovulation; BMP15
• ISSN: 0093-691X; 1879-3231
• DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.02.010

Oocyte-derived bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) is one of the main local regulators of ovarian physiology, but its role in the regulation of preovulatory follicles and ovulation is not well established. Therefore, this study was conceived to determine the effect of intrafollicular injection (IFI) of BMP15 on final follicular growth, ovulation and luteinization in cattle. Initially, it was observed that relative mRNA abundance of the BMP15 receptor BMPR1B in granulosa cells was regulated by GnRH treatment, and it was negatively correlated (R2 = 0.5; P < 0.001) to progesterone concentration in follicular fluid (FF) from preovulatory follicles. The IFI of recombinant human BMP15 tended to inhibit the growth of dominant follicles, as evidenced by an average increase of only 7.7% in the follicular diameter (from 8.8 mm to 9.1 mm) at 36 h post injection compared to 36.4% increase (from 8.9 mm to 14 mm) in the control group. Injection of BMP15 into preovulatory follicles (12–14 mm), simultaneously to im GnRH treatment, inhibited ovulation compared to control group, but did not prevent luteinization and progesterone production. Most of preovulatory follicles injected with BMP15 became luteinized cysts. Collectively, these findings indicate a suppressive role of BMP15 on later follicular development and ovulation in cattle, but not on luteogenesis and progesterone secretion.
•GnRH treatment decreases relative mRNA abundance of BMPR1B in granulosa cells.•BMP15 intrafollicular injection tended to inhibit follicle growth.•BMP15 intrafollicular injection inhibits GnRH-induced ovulation, but not luteinization.•The intrafollicular treatment with BMP15 induces cyst formation.