Crosstalk between the oocyte and surrounding cumulus cells (CCs) is essential for the production of competent oocytes. Previous studies have analysed the relative transcript abundance in oocytes derived from small (SF: <3 mm diameter)‐ and medium‐sized (MF: 3–6 mm diameter) follicles to determine the potential use of SF‐derived oocytes in assisted reproductive technologies (ART). The aim of this study was to examine the relative transcript abundance of CCs obtained from cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) derived from SF and MF. Nine genes were selected according to their importance for developmental competence: AT‐rich interaction domain 1B (ARID1B), bone morphogenic protein receptor 2 (BMPR2), CD44, follicle‐stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), follistatin (FST), inhibin beta‐A (INHBA), luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR), nuclear receptor subfamily 2 group F member 6 (NR2F6) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA). The expression of these genes was analysed by RT‐qPCR. The results pointed to significant differences in five genes, and the relative transcript abundance of SF‐derived CCs was lower in the case of INHBA, but higher in FSHR, FST, LHR and NR2F6 compared with MF‐derived CCs. We provide information of gene activity in the porcine CCs from different sized follicles, thus improving our understanding of oocyte biology and providing new markers that identify viable and competent oocytes.

中文翻译：

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从不同大小的卵泡收集的猪卵丘细胞中相对转录本的丰度

卵母细胞与周围卵丘细胞（CC）之间的串扰对于感受态卵母细胞的生产至关重要。先前的研究已经分析了小卵泡（SF：<3 mm直径）和中卵泡（MF：3–6 mm直径）卵母细胞的相对转录本丰度，以确定在辅助生殖技术中SF衍生卵母细胞的潜在用途（艺术）。这项研究的目的是检查从SF和MF衍生的卵-卵母细胞复合体（COC）获得的CC的相对转录丰度。根据其对发育能力的重要性选择了9个基因：富含AT的相互作用域1B（ARID1B），骨形态发生蛋白受体2（BMPR2），CD44，促卵泡激素受体（FSHR），促卵泡抑素（FST），抑制素β-黄体生成素受体（LHR）核受体亚家族2组F成员6（NR2F6）和血管内皮生长因子A（VEGFA）。通过RT-qPCR分析这些基因的表达。结果表明五个基因存在显着差异，与MF来源的CC相比，INHBA情况下SF来源的CC的相对转录丰度较低，但FSHR，FST，LHR和NR2F6的相对转录丰度更高。我们提供了来自不同大小卵泡的猪CC中基因活性的信息，从而增进了我们对卵母细胞生物学的理解，并提供了新的标记来鉴定有活力和有能力的卵母细胞。与MF来源的CC相比，INHBA情况下SF来源的CC的相对转录丰度较低，但FSHR，FST，LHR和NR2F6的相对转录丰度更高。我们提供了来自不同大小卵泡的猪CC中基因活性的信息，从而增进了我们对卵母细胞生物学的理解，并提供了新的标记来鉴定有活力和有能力的卵母细胞。与MF来源的CC相比，INHBA情况下SF来源的CC的相对转录丰度较低，但FSHR，FST，LHR和NR2F6的相对转录丰度更高。我们提供了来自不同大小卵泡的猪CC中基因活性的信息，从而提高了我们对卵母细胞生物学的理解，并提供了新的标记来鉴定有活力和有能力的卵母细胞。