Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar os efeitos da artrite encefalite caprina (CAE) sobre a expressÃo de BMP-15, BMPR-IB e GDF-9 em folÃculos ovarianos, bem como os efeitos de fitohemaglutinina (PHA) e EGF na sobrevivÃncia e ativaÃÃo de folÃculos primordiais, e na expressÃo de genes para o sistema de TNF-α no tecido ovariano cultivado caprino. Os nÃveis de BMP-15, BMPR-IB e GDF-9 em folÃculos primordiais/primÃrios e secundÃrios, bem como em CCOs e parede folicular de folÃculos antrais foram avaliados por PCR em tempo real (experimento 1). Para os estudos in vitro, fragmentos de tecido ovariano foram cultivados por seis dias em α-MEM sozinho ou suplementado com EGF (100ug), PHA (10μg/mL) ou ambos (experimento 2). Antes e depois do cultivo, o tecido ovariano foi processado para anÃlise morfolÃgica ou armazenado para avaliar a expressÃo de RNAm para TNF-α e seus receptores. Os resultados mostraram que a expressÃo de BMP-15 e GDF-9 em folÃculos primordiais/primÃrios de cabras infectadas foram significativamente maiores do que em animais saudÃveis, mas a expressÃo de GDF-9 em folÃculos secundÃrios de cabras infectadas foi significativamente menor. AlÃm disso, a expressÃo de RNAm para BMP-15 na parede folicular de folÃculos antrais de cabras infectadas foi significativamente maior do que em cabras saudÃveis. ApÃs o cultivo dos fragmentos ovarianos em todos os meios testados, observou-se a reduÃÃo nos percentuais de folÃculos primordiais, e aumento de folÃculos em desenvolvimento quando comparado ao grupo controle nÃo cultivado. AlÃm disso, houve um aumento significativo no diÃmetro folicular apÃs cultivo em meio suplementado com EGF. ApÃs o cultivo de tecido ovariano de cabras infectadas em meio suplementado com PHA, os folÃculos primordiais apresentavam diÃmetros maiores do que os de animais saudÃveis. AlÃm disso, observou-se um aumento nos nÃveis de RNAm para TNF-α apÃs cultivo de tecido ovariano na presenÃa de ambos EGF e PHA em animais saudÃveis, mas este mesmo tratamento proporcionou uma reduÃÃo de RNAm para TNF-α e aumento dos transcritos de TNFR-II em animais infectados. Pode-se concluir que a CAE influencia a expressÃo de RNAm para BMP-15 e GDF-9 em folÃculos ovarianos caprinos e a PHA e o EGF diferencialmente regulam a expressÃo de TNF-α e TNFR-II em tecidos ovarianos. / This study aims to investigate the effects of caprine arthritis encephalitis (CAE) on the expression of BMP-15, BMPR-IB and GDF-9 in ovarian follicles, as well as the effects of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and EGF on the survival and activation of primordial follicles, and on expression of mRNA for TNF-α and its receptors in cultured goat ovarian tissue. The levels of BMP-15, BMPR-IB and GDF-9 in primordial/primary and secondary follicles, as well as in COCs and follicular walls from antral follicles were evacuated by real-time PCR (experiment 1). Ovarian tissues were cultured for six days in α-MEM+ alone or supplemented with EGF (100Âg/mL), PHA (10Âg/mL) or both (experiment 2). Before and after culture, ovarian fragments were processed for morphological analysis or stored to evaluate the expression of mRNA for TNFα and its receptors. The results showed that the expression of BMP-15 and GDF-9 in primordial/primary follicles from infected goats was significantly higher than in health animals, but the expression of GDF-9 in secondary follicles from infected goats was significantly lower. Additionally, the expression of mRNA for BMP-15 in follicular wall of antral follicles from infected goats was significantly higher than in healthy goats. After culturing ovarian fragments in all tested media, reduced percentages of primordial follicles, and increased of developing follicles was observed when compared to uncultured control. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in follicular diameter after culture in medium supplemented with EGF. Ovarian tissue from infected goats cultured in medium supplemented with PHA had primordial follicles with higher diameters than those from healthy animals. An increase in the levels of mRNAs for TNF-α was observed after culturing ovarian tissue in presence of both EGF and PHA in healthy animals, but this same treatment promoted a reduction of mRNAs for TNF-α and and increase of TNFR-II transcripts in infected animals. In conclusion, CAE influences the expression of mRNA for BMP-15 and GDF-9 in goat ovarian follicles and PHA and EGF differentially regulate the expression of TNFα and TNFR-II in cultured ovarian tissue.

O zebrafish (Danio rerio) tem se destacado na pesquisa biomédica por sua homologia fisiológica e genética aos humanos. No entanto, há poucos relatos sobre a criopreservação ovariana desta espécie. Assim, pesquisamos a utilização de um recipiente de metal na vitrificação de tecido ovariano de zebrafish. O objetivo foi avaliar a sobrevivência e o desenvolvimento in vitro de folículos de zebrafish após a vitrificação de fragmentos ou ovários inteiros usando a cápsula de metal. Primeiro, testamos quatro soluções de vitrificação (VS1 – 1,5 M metanol + 4,5 M propilenoglicol; VS2 – 1,5 M metanol + 5,5 M Me2SO; VS3 – 1,5 M metanol + 4,5 M propilenoglicol + 0,5 M sacarose; VS4 – 1,5 M metanol + 5,5 M Me2SO + 0,5 M sacarose) e cinco estágios de desenvolvimento folicular utilizando o teste de coloração supravital iodeto de propídio combinado com diacetato de fluoresceína. Estes resultados mostraram que os folículos em estágio I, imaturos, apresentaram as maiores taxas de sobrevivência celular e que VS1 foi a melhor solução em termos de viabiidade. No Experimento 2, utilizou-se VS1 para vitrificar o tecido ovariano em diferentes dimensões (fragmentos ou ovários inteiros) e em dois diferentes recipientes (palheta de plástico ou cápsula de metal). Para avaliar a sobrevivência e o crescimento folicular dos folículos em estádio I, o diâmetro dos folículos foi mensurado antes e depois de cultivo in vitro por 24 horas. A morfologia folicular foi analisada por microscopia de luz após vitrificação utilizando a cápsula de metal. Os dados mostraram que a morfologia de folículos imaturos foi bem preservada após a criopreservação. A taxa de sobrevivência folicular foi maior (P <0,05) em fragmentos vitrificados, quando comparados com a vitrificação de ovários inteiros. Não houve diferenças significativas na sobrevivência e crescimento folicular entre os dois recipientes de vitrificação, palheta de plástico ou cápsula de metal. No entanto, a cápsula de metal diminui os riscos de contaminação, pois é hermeticamente fechada evitando contato com nitrogênio líquido e poder ser esterilizada, em vista que é manufaturada em aço inoxidável. Por essas razões, acreditamos que a cápsula de metal tem um uso potencial em reprodução humana para a vitrificação em grau clínico de tecido ovariano. / Zebrafish (Danio rerio) has excelled in biomedical research for its physiological and genetic homology to humans. However, there are few reports on ovarian cryopreservation of this specie. Thus, we studied the use of a metal capsule to vitrify zebrafish ovarian tissue. The aim of this study was to assess the survival and in vitro development of zebrafish follicles after vitrification of fragmented or whole ovaries using the metal capsule. First, we tested four vitrification solutions (VS1 - 1.5 M methanol + 4.5 M propylene glycol; VS2 - 1.5 M methanol + 5.5 M Me2SO; VS3 - 1.5 M methanol + 4.5 M propylene glycol + 0.5 M sucrose; VS4 - 1.5 M methanol + 5.5 M Me2SO + 0.5 M sucrose) and five follicular developmental stages using fluorescein diacetate and propidium iodide supravital staining test. These results showed that immature follicles, stage one, presented the highest survival rates and VS1 the best vitrification solution in terms of viability. In Experiment 2, we used VS1 to vitrify ovarian tissue in different dimensions (fragments or whole ovaries) and tested two different carriers (plastic straw or metal capsule). To evaluate follicular survival and growth of stage I, we measured follicle diameter before and after twenty-four-hour in vitro culture. The follicular morphology was analyzed by light microscopy after vitrification using the metal capsule. Data showed that the immature follicles morphology was well preserved after cryopreservation. Follicular survival rate was higher (P<0.05) on vitrified fragments, when compared to whole ovaries. There were no significant differences on follicular survival and growth between the two vitrification devices, plastic straw or metal capsule. However, the metal capsule being tightly sealed and manufactured in stainless steel avoids contact with liquid nitrogen and can be sterilized reducing contamination risk. These reasons lead us to believe that the metal capsule has a potential use in human reproduction for the clinical grade vitrification of ovarian tissue.

Submitted by (edna.saturno@ufrpe.br) on 2016-08-24T15:24:25Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Edivaldo Rosas Santos Junior.pdf: 600124 bytes, checksum: b586f72fa1aa6d9040b988d57db4cab4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-24T15:24:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Edivaldo Rosas Santos Junior.pdf: 600124 bytes, checksum: b586f72fa1aa6d9040b988d57db4cab4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-02-24 / This study aimed to determine the Effect of heat stress during maturation of oocytes and in vitro production of embryos in goats and sheep. Ovaries were collected in a slaughterhouse and transported to the Laboratory of Biotechnical Reproduction of UFRPE. The cumulus oophorus complexes (COCs) were collected by the technique of "slicing" of the follicles from 2 to 6 mm in diameter and selected based on morphological classification and placed on the basic stages. In 10 replicates the COCs were submitted to the caloric heat stress at 41 ° C for 0 (the thermoneutral 39° C), 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours of maturation in vitro. The percentage of oocytes was determined in the maturation, fertilization, cleaved (D-3), stage of 8-16 cells (D-4), morale (D-5), blastocyst(D-8) after fertilization and blastocyst positive for apoptosis by TUNEL assay. Significant difference (P < 0.05) in all time periods of heat stress in ripening. In sheeps the fertilization, D-3,D-4, D-5 and D-8 was not significantly different (P > 0.05) between the times of 18 vs 24 hours in blastocyst TUNEL positive at 0 vs 3, 3 vs 6, 12 vs 18 and 18 vs 24 h of heat stress. The results in goats showed on maturation, fertilization, D-3, D-4, D-5. The D-8 was not significantly different (P > 0.05) between the periods of 3 vs 6 to 18 vs 24 h and the blastocyst TUNEL positive at 0 vs 3, 3 vs 6, 12 vs 18 and 18 vs 24 h of heat stress. Under the conditions observed in this study, the results indicate that the time in which the oocyte is exposed to heat stress during maturation in vitro is essential to define the embryonic development and their level of apoptotic cells. / Esse estudo teve como objetivo determinar o efeito do estresse térmico durante a maturação de oócitos e seu reflexo na produção in vitro de embriões nas espécies caprina e ovina. Os ovários foram coletados em abatedouro e transportados ao Laboratório de Biotécnicas da Reprodução da UFRPE. Os complexos cumulus oophorus (CCOs) foram coletados pela técnica de “slicing” dos folículos entre 2 a 6 mm de diâmetro, selecionados com base na morfologia e colocados em meio básico de maturação. Nas 10 repetições, os CCOs foram submetidos aos tratamentos de estresse térmico calórico a 41°C por 0 (termoneutralidade a 39°C), 3, 6, 12, 18 e 24 horas de maturação in vitro. Os dados foram avaliados na maturação, fecundação, clivagem (D-3), estádio de 8-16 células (D-4), mórula (D-5), blastocisto (D-8) após fecundação e blastocistos positivos para apoptose através do ensaio de TUNEL. Foi observada diferença significativa (P < 0,05) em todos os tempos estudados de estresse térmico na maturação em ambas espécies. Em caprinos, houve diferença significativa (P < 0,05) também na fecundação, D-3, D-4, D-5. No D-8 não foi observada diferença significativa (P > 0,05) entre os tempos de 3 vs 6 e 18 vs 24 h e nos blastocistos TUNEL positivos nos tempos de 0 vs 3, 3 vs 6, 12 vs 18 e 18 vs 24 h de estresse térmico. Em ovinos, não foi observada diferença significativa (P > 0,05) na fecundação, D-3, D-4, D-5 e D-8 entre os tempos de 18 vs 24h e nos blastocistos TUNEL positivos nos tempos de 0 vs 3, 3 vs 6, 12 vs 18 e 18 vs 24h de estresse térmico. Nas condições observadas neste estudo, os resultados permitem concluir que o tempo em que o oócito é exposto ao estresse térmico durante a maturação in vitro é fundamental para definir o desenvolvimento embrionário e o nível apoptótico de suas células.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Este trabalho tem como objetivo 1) avaliar o efeito da BMP-15 e do FSH, sozinhos ou em diferentes associaÃÃes sobre o crescimento, sobrevivÃncia e formaÃÃo de antro em folÃculos secundÃrios bovinos e 2) avaliar os nÃveis de expressÃo do RNAm para os receptores de BMP-15 (BMPR-IB e BMPR-II) em folÃculos crescidos in vitro. Com relaÃÃo ao cultivo, folÃculos secundÃrios foram microdissecados e cultivados por doze dias em &#945;-MEM+ sozinho, ou suplementado com BMP-15 e/ou FSH, sozinhos ou em diferentes associaÃÃes. ApÃs o cultivo, foram avaliados o diÃmetro folicular, a viabilidade e a taxa de formaÃÃo de antro. A anÃlise de expressÃo gÃnica foi realizada por PCR em tempo real, utilizando folÃculos cultivados nos diferentes tratamentos, para comparaÃÃes dos nÃveis de RNAm. ApÃs o perÃodo de cultivo verificou-se que a utilizaÃÃo da BMP+FSH (0-12) estimulou um aumento significativo no diÃmetro folicular em relaÃÃo aos demais tratamentos (p<0,05), bem como estimulou a formaÃÃo da cavidade antral de forma mais efetiva que o controle (MEM) e a BMP-15 sozinha (p<0,05). No entanto, em relaÃÃo à sobrevivÃncia, apÃs12 dias o tratamento BMP+FSH (0-12) reduziu significativamente a viabilidade folicular em relaÃÃo aos demais tratamentos (p<0,05). Os resultados mostraram que os nÃveis de RNAm para o receptor de BMP-15 do tipo I (BMPR-IB) foram significativamente maiores nos folÃculos cultivados com MEM quando comparado aos demais tratamentos, enquanto que os nÃveis de RNAm para o receptor do tipo II (BMPR-II) nÃo diferiram entre os tratamentos. Os maiores nÃveis de RNAm para o receptor de FSH foram detectados em folÃculos cultivados com BMP-15 sozinha. Em conclusÃo, este estudo demonstrou que a combinaÃÃo de BMP-15 + FSH durante todo o perÃodo de cultivo (D0-D12) acelera o crescimento de folÃculos prÃ-antrais bovinos cultivados por 12 dias, mas este efeito reduz a viabilidade folicular, afetando a integridade ultra- estrutural dos folÃculos. AlÃm disso, a adiÃÃo de BMP isoladamente aumentou os nÃveis de expressÃo de RNAm para FSHR apÃs 12 dias de cultivo,mostrando que BMP-15 e FSH podem contribuir significativamente para o desenvolvimento in vitro de folÃculos prÃ-antrais cultivados por 12 dias nesta espÃcie. / This study aims to 1) evaluate the effect of BMP-15 and FSH, alone or in different combinations on the in vitro development, survival and antrum formation of bovine secondary follicles and 2) quantify the levels of mRNA expression for BMP-15 receptors (BMPR-IB and BMPR-II), FSH receptor and Kit Ligand in follicles grown in vivo and in vitro. With regard to culture, secondary follicles were microdissected and cultured for twelve days in &#945;- MEM+ alone, or supplemented with BMP-15 and/or FSH, alone or in various associations. After culture, follicular diameter were evaluated, viability and rate of antrum formation. For the analyzes gene expression, by real time PCR, were used follicles cultured in the different treatments for comparisons of the levels of mRNA. After the culture period it was found that the association of BMP+FSH (0-12) stimulated a significant increase in follicular diameter in relation to other treatments (p<0.05), as well as stimulated the formation of antral cavity more effectively the control (MEM) and BMP-15 alone (p<0.05). However, for survival, after 12 days treatment BMP+FSH (0-12) significantly reduced follicular viability when compared to other treatments (p<0.05). The results showed that the levels of mRNA for BMP receptor type I (BMPR-IB) were significantly higher in follicles cultured with MEM when compared to other treatments, while levels of mRNA for the receptor type II (BMPR-II) did not differ between treatments. The highest levels of mRNA for the FSH receptor were detected in follicles cultured with BMP-15 alone. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that combination of BMP-15+FSH (D0-D12) accelerates the growth of bovine preantral follicles cultured for 12 days, but this effect reduces the follicular viability, affecting the ultrastructural integrity of the follicles. Furthermore, the addition of BMP alone increased expression levels of RNAm for FSHR after 12 days of culture , showing that BMP-15 and FSH may contribute significantly to the in vitro development of preantral follicles cultured for 12 days in this specie.

Alopecia areata (AA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of hair follicles manifesting as patchy areas of hair loss on the scalp and body. Development of AA is associated with pen- and intra-follicular inflammation of anagen stage hair follicles, primarily by CD4+ and CD8+ cells. We hypothesized that if cell-mediated cytotoxicy against hair follicles is to be a component of the hair loss disease mechanism, increased expression of genes and products typical of cytotoxic cells, as well as increased apoptosis activity within affected hair follicles, would be expected to occur in the lesional skin compared to the normal skin. Furthermore, we studied gene expression levels of multiple cytokines and characteristic chemokines, using the C3FI/HeJ mouse model of AA. mRNA expression levels of granzyme A, granzyme B, perform Fas, Fas ligand, TNF-cL, TNF-aRl and R2, TRAIL, TRAILR, TRAMP, Thi-, Th2-, and Th17-associated cytokines, as well as multiple chemokines were compared between the skin, draining lymph nodes, thymus and spleens of normal and AA-affected mice using quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR. FasL, granzyme A, granzyme B, pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were all highly up-regulated in the skin of AA-affected mice. Immunohistochemical studies of the skin revealed that, although greater numbers of granzyme B and FasL expressing cells were present in AA affected skin, the cells were morphologically diffusely distributed and not exclusively located within the focal pen- and intrafollicular infiltrate. The majority of these cells were further characterized as mast cells, which were also found in substantially greater numbers in the skin of mice with AA compared to their normal haired controls. Almost no perform expressing cells were identified in AA affected mouse skin and TUNEL staining suggested relatively limited apoptosis activity in hair follicle keratinocytes. In conclusion, while granzymes and FasL may play important roles in disease development, the profiles and patterns of expression are not consistent with direct cell-mediated cytotoxic action against the follicular epithelium in chronic mouse AA. Potentially, hair growth inhibiting cytokines may play a more dominant role in AA development than previously thought. Furthermore, mast cells, with their increased presence around hair follicles in the AA affected mouse skin and their ability to express granzyme B and FasL, are suggested as potential key players in the pathogenesis of AA. / Medicine, Faculty of / Medicine, Department of / Experimental Medicine, Division of / Graduate

Some plasticizers are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that cause reproductive toxicity in both males and females. Several chemicals already approved by the Food and Drug Administration have been proposed as substitutes for some of these plasticizers, one example is acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC). However, no studies have tested whether ATBC causes direct toxicity to the ovary. Ovarian antral follicles are essential for female fertility because they are the major producers of ovarian steroids and are the only follicle type that can ovulate in response to gonadotropin stimulation. Previous studies have used in-vitro ovarian follicle culture as a screening tool to demonstrate that EDCs can cause direct ovarian toxicity. Therefore, we designed this study to test whether exposure to in vitro treatment with ATBC causes ovarian toxicity in CD-1 mice. We mechanically isolated antral follicles from the ovaries of adult CD-1 mice (35-39 days old) and individually exposed them (n=5 cultures with n≥8 follicles per treatment) to supplemented media alone (NT), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, vehicle for ATBC), and ATBC (0.001-100 µg/mL) for 24-72 h. Follicle growth and survival were monitored by measuring follicle diameter and cytotoxicity (compromised membrane integrity; CellTox Green) every 24 h, and assessing number of metabolically active cells (ATP concentration; Promega CellTiterGlo) at the end time point. The DNA synthesis inhibitor hydroxyurea (HU, 100 mM) was used as a positive control for the viability assays. Exposure to ATBC did not affect the ability of antral follicles to increase their diameter over time at all concentrations tested. When stratified by growth pattern, there was not a significant difference in the proportion of follicles growing normally, growing slowly, or not growing following ATBC exposure at all concentrations tested. ATBC treatment did not cause compromised membrane integrity and did not inhibit ATP production at any of the concentrations tested. The positive control, HU, inhibited follicle growth (24-72 h), decreased follicle cell membrane integrity (72 h), and inhibited ATP production (24-72 h). The purpose of this experiment is to evaluate the effects of oral exposure to ATBC in female CD-1 mice. For the in vivo experiments, the female mice (n=22; PND 81) were randomly divided into treatment groups and dosed according to daily body weight with one of the following treatments: corn oil (vehicle, n=7), 5 mg/kg/day ATBC (n=8), or 10 mg/kg/day (n=7) ATBC for 15 consecutive days. Vaginal smears were performed and analyzed daily to measure any change in estrous cyclicity. After the 15th day of dosing the female mice were introduced into an individually housed proven breeder male’s cage. Daily body weight measurements continued and plug checks were performed every morning. Pregnancy and time to conception data did not statistically differ from the vehicle (oil) for all ATBC treatments (days to conception: vehicle 2.43 ± 0.65, 5 mg/kg/day ATBC 2 ± 0.33, 10 mg/kg/day ATBC 2.5 ± 0.22; gestation length: vehicle 19.71 ± 0.18, 5 mg/kg/day ATBC 20 ± 0.19, 10 mg/kg/day ATBC 20 ± 0.00). On the day of parturition the dams and pups were sacrificed; organ weight and gross morphology data was collected for: uterus, kidneys, adrenals, spleen, liver, and ovaries. The data analyzed includes: estrous cyclicity, pre-dosing body weight % gain, dosing body weight % gain, pregnant body weight % gain, organ weight, gestation length, litter size (live vs. dead), litter weight, implantation sites, time to conception, and pup sex ratio. Interestingly, there was an increase in spleen weight at the 5 mg/kg/day treatment when compared to vehicle control-treated spleen weights (spleen weight, Oil: n=7; 5 mg/kg ATBC: n= 8). Treatment with 5 mg/kg/day ATBC caused a significant decrease in average estrous cycle length in days compared to the pre-dosing average estrous cycle length. Animals exposed orally to 10 mg/kg/day ATBC showed a significant decrease in total follicle number (10 mg/kg/day ATBC, 313 ± 20.37) when compared to vehicle (oil) treated mice (vehicle, 433.71 ± 34.85). Also treatment with 10 mg/kg/day ATBC resulted in significant reduction in secondary (101.67 ± 5.7) and late antral (4.17 ± 1.45) follicle numbers when compared to the vehicle-treated mice (secondary follicles: 141.14 ± 14.79, late antral follicles: 7.00 ± 1.54). ATBC treatment with 10 mg/kg/day showed a significantly decreased mean body weight percent gain during pregnancy on days 3, 5, and 14 when compared to animals treated with vehicle (oil), while animals treated with 5 mg/kg/day ATBC showed a significant decrease in weight gained on only day 13 when compared to the vehicle (oil). These novel findings show that ATBC could disrupt ovarian function in mice when exposed to low-dose ATBC.

Ovulatory follicle development and associated oocyte maturation involve complex coordinated molecular and cellular mechanisms not fully understood. This study addresses, for the first time in any species, the relationships among diameter, vascularization, follicular-fluid factors, and gene expression for follicle growth, steroidogenesis, angiogenesis and apoptosis in granulosa/cumulus cells and oocytes during different stages from the beginning of largest/ovulatory follicle to impending ovulation. Follicle dynamics was tracked and follicle-wall blood flow evaluated daily through transrectal ultrasonography in mares. The largest follicle of the ovulatory wave was distributed in six diameter groups (predeviation, deviation, postdeviation, early preovulatory, preovulatory, and impending ovulation) according to the targeted diameter for complete aspiration and cell harvesting. The most remarkable findings were (i) positive association between follicle development, blood flow, intrafollicular FSH, LH, estradiol, progesterone, and mRNA expression for FSHR and LHCGR in granulosa cells of largest/ovulatory follicle; (ii) plateau/decrease in follicle diameter, blood flow, and granulosa cell mRNA for FSHR, LHCGR, IGF1R, VEGFR2, CYP19A1, and CASP3 at the preovulatory stage; (iii) higher StAR and BCL2 and lower CASP3 mRNA in granulosa cells at impending ovulation; (iv) greater IGF1R mRNA in the granulosa cells at the predeviation stage; and (v) lower FSHR, LHCGR, IGF1R, and VEGFR2 mRNA in cumulus cells, and greater LHCGR and IGF1R mRNA in oocytes at the ovulatory stage. This study is a critical advance in the understanding of molecular mechanisms of follicle development and oocyte maturation and is expected to be vital for future studies targeting potential markers for follicle selection, development, and ovulation.

Hair disorders cause significant distress. The main, but limited, treatment for hair loss is minoxidil, an ATP-­sensitive potassium (KATP) channel opener whose mechanism of stimulation is unclear. The regulatory component of KATP channels has three forms: SUR1, SUR2A and SUR2B which all respond to different molecules. Minoxidil only opens SUR2B channels, though SUR1 and SUR2B are present in human hair follicles. To expand our understanding, the red deer hair follicle model was used initially. Deer follicles expressed the same KATP channel genes as human follicles when growing (anagen), but no channels were detected in resting follicles. This reinforces the importance of KATP channels in active hair growth and the usefulness of the deer model. To assess whether SUR1 KATP channels are actually involved in human hair growth, the effects of a selective SUR1 channel opener, NNC55-­9216, on scalp follicle growth in organ culture was examined. NNC55-­9216 stimulated anagen; its effect was augmented by minoxidil. This creates the potential for more effective pharmaceuticals to treat hair loss via SUR1 channels, either alone or in combination with minoxidil. The dermal papilla plays a crucial regulatory role in hair follicle activity determining the type of hair produced. Minoxidil had no effect on dermal papilla cell proliferation, but altered the profile of proteins produced when assessed by proteomics. Further research into the roles of KATP channels and greater understanding of the significance of these protein changes should enhance our knowledge of hair biology and help the development of new, improved therapies for hair pathologies.

Androgens are the main regulators of human hair growth stimulating larger, terminal hair development e.g. beard and causing scalp balding, androgenetic alopecia. Hair disorders cause psychological distress but are poorly controlled. Androgens probably act by altering regulatory paracrine factors produced by the mesenchyme-derived dermal papilla. This study aimed to investigate paracrine factors involved in androgen-regulated alopecia, particularly hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) family members, by investigating their in vivo status. Balding and non-balding scalp hair follicles and their component tissues were isolated and analysed by molecular biological methods (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), quantitative PCR and DNA microarray analysis), cell culture and immunohistochemistry. Scalp follicles expressed a range of paracrine messenger genes. The dermal papilla, cultured dermal papilla cells and dermal sheath expressed several HGF family genes, while matrix cells only produced the receptor RON suggesting autocrine roles for HGF and MSP, but a paracrine route only for MSP. Comparing balding and non-balding follicles from the same individuals revealed the expected reduction in several keratin and keratin-related protein genes supporting this approach's validity. There were also significant differences in paracrine factors previously implicated in androgen action by in vitro studies. Several factors believed to increase during androgen stimulation of larger, darker follicles, e.g. IGF-I and SCF, were lowered in balding follicles, while putative inhibitory factors, e.g. TGFß-1, were increased. HGF and MSP and their receptors, c-Met and RON, were significantly reduced. These results increase our understanding of androgen action in human hair follicles; this could lead to better treatments for hair disorders. / Saudi government

Transcriptome studies disentangle functional mechanisms of gene expression regulation and may lend key insights into disease mechanisms. However, the cost of RNA-sequencing and types of tissues currently assayed pose major limitations to study expansion and disease-relevant discovery. This thesis develops methods for sampling noninvasive biospecimens for transcriptome studies, investigating their technical and biological characteristics, and assessing the feasibility of using noninvasive samples in transcriptomic and clinical applications. Chapter 1 explores the technical and biological features of four potential noninvasive sample types (buccal swabs, hair follicles, saliva, and urine cell pellets) in a pilot study of 19 individuals whereby four separate collections of each tissue were performed (i.e. 76 samples/tissue, 304 samples in total). From this data, consistency of library preparation, cell type content, replication of GTEx cis-eQTLs, and disease applications were assessed. In all, hair follicles and urine cell pellets were found to be most promising for future applications. Chapter 2 investigates the scaling potential of noninvasive sampling in SPIROMICS, a COPD clinical cohort. To do so, 140 hair follicle and 110 buccal swab samples were collected from seven different clinical sites. Consistency of sample quality was observed to be high for hair follicles, and hair cell type abundance estimates were consistent within SPIROMICS and compared to the 19 subject pilot study. Mapping of cis-eQTLs in hair revealed 339 associations not identified in any prior study. These cis-eQTLs show higher replication in GTEx tissues that share cell types with hair follicles, indicating hair follicles may indeed capture gene expression regulatory mechanisms found in more invasive tissue types of the body. This thesis suggests future use of noninvasive sampling will facilitate discovery by increasing sample sizes in more diverse populations and in tissues with greater cell type diversity and biological relatedness to disease mechanisms. Moreover, the nature of noninvasive sampling enables complex, longitudinal study designs with greater ability to capture context-dependent mechanisms of genetic regulation not currently able to be interrogated.