Food Restriction Induces Changes in Ovarian Folliculogenesis, Cell Proliferation, Apoptosis, and Production of Regulatory Peptides in Rabbits

The aim of this study is to examine the influence of food restriction on rabbit ovarian functions. A total of eight females were fed ad libitum (NF), while eight females were subjected to 50% food restriction (RF). One month later, all females were euthanized. Weights and lengths of ovaries and uter...

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Main Authors: Imane Hadjadj, Zuzana Fabova, María-Luz García, Iván Agea, Barbora Loncová, Martin Morovic, Peter Makovicky, María-José Argente, Alexander V. Sirotkin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/9/1282
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author Imane Hadjadj
Zuzana Fabova
María-Luz García
Iván Agea
Barbora Loncová
Martin Morovic
Peter Makovicky
María-José Argente
Alexander V. Sirotkin
author_facet Imane Hadjadj
Zuzana Fabova
María-Luz García
Iván Agea
Barbora Loncová
Martin Morovic
Peter Makovicky
María-José Argente
Alexander V. Sirotkin
author_sort Imane Hadjadj
collection DOAJ
description The aim of this study is to examine the influence of food restriction on rabbit ovarian functions. A total of eight females were fed ad libitum (NF), while eight females were subjected to 50% food restriction (RF). One month later, all females were euthanized. Weights and lengths of ovaries and uterine horns were measured. Representative parts of the ovaries were subjected to histomorphometry analysis of folliculogenesis. Granulosa cells were isolated and cell viability, proliferation (accumulation of PCNA, cyclin B1, and BrdU-positive cells), apoptosis (accumulation of bax, caspase 3, and DNA fragmentation) were evaluated. Granulosa cells were subjected to proteomic analysis by using the nano HPLC-Chip-MS/MS method. Estradiol and progesterone release by ovarian and granulosa cells was assessed by ELISA. Ovarian and uterine horn weights were lower in RF than NF. The diameter of follicles and oocytes and the thickness of the theca and granulosa cells were higher in RF than NF. RF showed a lower percentage of cells containing bax and caspase 3, occurrence of DNA fragmented cells, and estradiol and progesterone. RF had higher incorporation of BrdU, a higher proportion of cells containing PCNA and cyclin B1, and a lower percentage of viable cells. RF produced more specific proteins than NF, including peptides involved in cell differentiation, proliferation/division, mitotic cell cycle, and GTP-ase activity. In conclusion, food restriction can activate reproduction by (1) selection of the growing primordial follicles, (2) better transformation of secondary to preovulatory follicles, (3) increasing growth of oocytes, (4) increasing proliferation and decreasing apoptosis in granulosa cells, (5) changes in ovarian secretory activity, and (6) changes in the number of peptides.
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spelling doaj-art-c01e493ce2c549fc9905921e6076dded2025-08-20T03:52:56ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-04-01159128210.3390/ani15091282Food Restriction Induces Changes in Ovarian Folliculogenesis, Cell Proliferation, Apoptosis, and Production of Regulatory Peptides in RabbitsImane Hadjadj0Zuzana Fabova1María-Luz García2Iván Agea3Barbora Loncová4Martin Morovic5Peter Makovicky6María-José Argente7Alexander V. Sirotkin8Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentario y Agroambiental (CIAGRO), Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Ctra de Beniel Km 3.2, 03312 Orihuela, SpainDepartment of Zoology and Anthropology, Constantine the Philosopher University, Tr. A 14 Hlinku 1, 949 74 Nitra, SlovakiaInstituto de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentario y Agroambiental (CIAGRO), Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Ctra de Beniel Km 3.2, 03312 Orihuela, SpainInstituto de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentario y Agroambiental (CIAGRO), Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Ctra de Beniel Km 3.2, 03312 Orihuela, SpainDepartment of Zoology and Anthropology, Constantine the Philosopher University, Tr. A 14 Hlinku 1, 949 74 Nitra, SlovakiaDepartment of Zoology and Anthropology, Constantine the Philosopher University, Tr. A 14 Hlinku 1, 949 74 Nitra, SlovakiaDepartment of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Dvořákova 138/7, 701 03 Ostrava, Czech RepublicInstituto de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentario y Agroambiental (CIAGRO), Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Ctra de Beniel Km 3.2, 03312 Orihuela, SpainDepartment of Zoology and Anthropology, Constantine the Philosopher University, Tr. A 14 Hlinku 1, 949 74 Nitra, SlovakiaThe aim of this study is to examine the influence of food restriction on rabbit ovarian functions. A total of eight females were fed ad libitum (NF), while eight females were subjected to 50% food restriction (RF). One month later, all females were euthanized. Weights and lengths of ovaries and uterine horns were measured. Representative parts of the ovaries were subjected to histomorphometry analysis of folliculogenesis. Granulosa cells were isolated and cell viability, proliferation (accumulation of PCNA, cyclin B1, and BrdU-positive cells), apoptosis (accumulation of bax, caspase 3, and DNA fragmentation) were evaluated. Granulosa cells were subjected to proteomic analysis by using the nano HPLC-Chip-MS/MS method. Estradiol and progesterone release by ovarian and granulosa cells was assessed by ELISA. Ovarian and uterine horn weights were lower in RF than NF. The diameter of follicles and oocytes and the thickness of the theca and granulosa cells were higher in RF than NF. RF showed a lower percentage of cells containing bax and caspase 3, occurrence of DNA fragmented cells, and estradiol and progesterone. RF had higher incorporation of BrdU, a higher proportion of cells containing PCNA and cyclin B1, and a lower percentage of viable cells. RF produced more specific proteins than NF, including peptides involved in cell differentiation, proliferation/division, mitotic cell cycle, and GTP-ase activity. In conclusion, food restriction can activate reproduction by (1) selection of the growing primordial follicles, (2) better transformation of secondary to preovulatory follicles, (3) increasing growth of oocytes, (4) increasing proliferation and decreasing apoptosis in granulosa cells, (5) changes in ovarian secretory activity, and (6) changes in the number of peptides.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/9/1282apoptosisfood restrictionhormoneovarian folliclerabbit
spellingShingle Imane Hadjadj
Zuzana Fabova
María-Luz García
Iván Agea
Barbora Loncová
Martin Morovic
Peter Makovicky
María-José Argente
Alexander V. Sirotkin
Food Restriction Induces Changes in Ovarian Folliculogenesis, Cell Proliferation, Apoptosis, and Production of Regulatory Peptides in Rabbits
Animals
apoptosis
food restriction
hormone
ovarian follicle
rabbit
title Food Restriction Induces Changes in Ovarian Folliculogenesis, Cell Proliferation, Apoptosis, and Production of Regulatory Peptides in Rabbits
title_full Food Restriction Induces Changes in Ovarian Folliculogenesis, Cell Proliferation, Apoptosis, and Production of Regulatory Peptides in Rabbits
title_fullStr Food Restriction Induces Changes in Ovarian Folliculogenesis, Cell Proliferation, Apoptosis, and Production of Regulatory Peptides in Rabbits
title_full_unstemmed Food Restriction Induces Changes in Ovarian Folliculogenesis, Cell Proliferation, Apoptosis, and Production of Regulatory Peptides in Rabbits
title_short Food Restriction Induces Changes in Ovarian Folliculogenesis, Cell Proliferation, Apoptosis, and Production of Regulatory Peptides in Rabbits
title_sort food restriction induces changes in ovarian folliculogenesis cell proliferation apoptosis and production of regulatory peptides in rabbits
topic apoptosis
food restriction
hormone
ovarian follicle
rabbit
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/9/1282
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