Effects of asprosin on steroidogeneses of bovine granulosa cells

Abstract

Asprosin is a novel hormone associated with disorders, such as insulin resistance andpolycystic ovarian syndrome. Understanding ovarian steroidogenesis is imperative to understand how health and fertility could be managed. Although, asprosin impacts steroidogenesis of ovarian theca cells, its impacts on granulosa cells (GC) remains to be unveiled. Hence, the objective of this study was to investigate asprosin impacts on GC steroidogenesis. Bovine GC from small follicles of ovaries were used to investigate cell proliferation, estradiol production, and mRNA abundance of steroidogenic enzymes such as steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1), and aromatase (CYP19A1). Asprosin enhanced FSH-induced GC production of estradiol, but diminished IGF1-induced estradiol synthesis in comparison to IGF-1 alone. Asprosin decreased GC proliferation induced by IGF-1 alone or in combination with FSH. Asprosin increased CYP11A1 mRNA abundance when combined with FSHtreated or IGF-1-treated GC. Taken together, the present findings indicate that asprosin regulates GC steroidogenesis and proliferation and suggests that asprosin is a promising ovarian steroidogenic and folliculogenesis regulator. Further studies are required to unveil how asprosin affects GC function and its importance to fertility and health.