Estrogen Regulates Ca<sup>2+</sup> to Promote Mitochondrial Function Through G-Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptors During Oocyte Maturation
Estrogen is a steroid hormone that plays a key role in regulating many physiological processes, such as follicle activation and development and oocyte maturation in mammals. Ca<sup>2+</sup> is crucial in oogenesis, oocyte maturation, ovulation, and fertilization. However, the mechanism b...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Biomolecules |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/14/11/1430 |
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| Summary: | Estrogen is a steroid hormone that plays a key role in regulating many physiological processes, such as follicle activation and development and oocyte maturation in mammals. Ca<sup>2+</sup> is crucial in oogenesis, oocyte maturation, ovulation, and fertilization. However, the mechanism by which estrogen regulates Ca<sup>2+</sup> during oocyte maturation in mice has not been reported. This study revealed that Ca<sup>2+</sup> levels in oocytes significantly increase during the 4–12 h period in vitro. Oocytes treated with 0.1 µM estrogen and 1 µM G1, a G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) agonist, showed significantly increased Ca<sup>2+</sup> levels, while treatment with 1 µM G15, an antagonist of GPER, significantly decreased Ca<sup>2+</sup> levels. Notably, estrogen regulates Ca<sup>2+</sup> in oocytes through the GPER pathway and promotes the expression of the Ca<sup>2+</sup>-producing protein EPAC1. In addition, estrogen alleviates the inhibitory effect of the Ca<sup>2+</sup> chelator BAPTA-AM during oocyte maturation by promoting Ca<sup>2+</sup> production. Furthermore, estrogen can promote the expression of the mitochondrial generation-associated protein SIRT1 through the GPER pathway, alleviate mitochondrial oxidative damage caused by BAPTA-AM, and restore the mitochondrial membrane potential level. Collectively, this study demonstrates that estrogen can regulate Ca<sup>2+</sup> through the GPER-EPAC1 pathway and promote the expression of SIRT1, which promotes oocyte mitochondrial function during oocyte maturation. |
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| ISSN: | 2218-273X |