Increased expression of pentraxin 3 after in vivo and in vitro stimulation with gonadotropins in porcine oocyte-cumulus complexes and granulosa cells

It has been previously shown that multimeric pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is a key component of the cumulus oophorus extracellular matrix (ECM) in mice. In response to the ovulatory LH surge, the cumulus cells assemble a unique ECM that envelopes the oocyte and cumulus cell complex. Importantly, cumuli from PTX3−/− mice were defective in their ECM organization and their fertility was impaired. It has been demonstrated that tumor necrosis factor alpha–induced protein 6 catalyzes the formation of heavy chains of (inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor) -hyaluronan complexes and these are then cross-linked via PTX3.

Source: Domestic Animal Endocrinology - February 18, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: E. Nagyova, J. Kalous, L. Nemcova Source Type: research