Principal Investigator: Liu Honglin

Funding Received: 2,600,000 RMB

Sponsored by: National Natural Science Foundation of China

Project Period: January, 2017─December, 2021

Brief Introduction to the Project:

  Many previous researches have proved that apoptosis of granulosa cells in antral follicles and follicular atresia can be induced by artificial oxidative stress. However, the factors underlying follicular atresia when antral follicles are in the natural state of oxidative stress is still not clear. Follicular fluid provides a micro-environment for granulosa cell growth and development, but whether the hormones and growth factors in follicular fluid will affect the response of granulosa cell to oxidative stress requires further exploration. Based on the early signal of follicular atresia, follicles of different sizes, different stages and diameters, redox states, and levels of hormones and growth factors in follicular fluids, the correlations among these indicators will be analyzed to determine the occurrence of oxidative stress under natural state, and their influence on the oxidation of antral follicular granulosa cell apoptosis. Subsequently, combined with follicle and granulosa cell culture in vitro, the roles of the factors in follicular fluids on cellular oxidative stress tolerance and their mechanisms will be investigated. In terms of molecular mechanisms underlying the oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in porcine granulosa cells, the research will be focused on the regulatory roles of the JNK/14-3-3/FoxO1 signaling pathway. Finally, the influence of dietary antioxidants on follicular oxidative status and reproductive performance will be illustrated. The results would be helpful for improvement in breeding animals, raising pig fertility, and treating human reproductive diseases.