Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40289073›Full record

ArticleBMC veterinary research2025

Roles of GDF9 and BMP15 in equine follicular development: in vivo content and in vitro effects of IGF1 and cortisol on granulosa cells.

Kosar Abbasi Samie, Mariusz P Kowalewski, Gerhard Schuler, Gustavo D A Gastal, Heinrich Bollwein, Dragos Scarlet

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Article in BMC veterinary research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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  3. Review
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  5. Novel Silent Mutations in theAnimals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Kosar Abbasi SamieInstitute of Veterinary Anatomy, Vetsuisse Faculty Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland.
Mariusz P KowalewskiInstitute of Veterinary Anatomy, Vetsuisse Faculty Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland.
Gerhard SchulerVeterinary Clinic for Reproductive Medicine and Neonatology, Justus-Liebig-University, Frankfurter Strasse 106, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
Gustavo D A GastalInstituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria INIA, Estacion Experimental La Estanzela, Ruta 50 km 11, Cologne, Colonia, 39173, Uruguay.
Heinrich BollweinClinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland.
Dragos ScarletInstitute of Veterinary Anatomy, Vetsuisse Faculty Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland. dragos.scarlet@uzh.ch.

Funding

Universität Zürich FK-21-059
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn horses, the mechanisms behind ovarian follicle growth and oocyte maturation remain largely unknown. In other species, oocyte-secreted factors growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) have been related to the acquisition of developmental competence and to interaction with granulosa cells for the regulation of follicle development. This study assessed the expression and localization of GDF9 in the equine ovary, and its possible relationship with granulosa cell function.

resultsUsing custom-made antibodies, GDF9 protein was localized in oocytes from the primary follicle stage onwards. Together with BMP15, its intrafollicular concentration was higher in small antral follicles compared to larger ones (P < 0.05). Negative correlations were observed between intrafollicular BMP15 concentration and estradiol sulfate (E2S) (r = -0.36, P = 0.048), as well as between BMP15 and E2S/P4 ratio (r = -0.37, P = 0.046). In vivo, equine granulosa cells showed increasing mRNA expression of genes involved in steroidogenesis (STAR and HSD3B2) and cell proliferation (KI67) with increasing follicle size, while expression of GDF9 and of apoptosis-related genes (BCL2 and CASP3) were not affected by follicle size. Simultaneous stimulation of granulosa cells in vitro with IGF1 and cortisol significantly increased HSD3B2 and CYP19A1 transcriptional levels, as well as E2 concentration in culture media, while IGF1-induced P4 secretion was suppressed in the presence of cortisol. Blocking the stimulatory effect of IGF1 on E2, E2S and P4 by H89 was associated with increased GDF9 mRNA levels and reduced STAR, PCNA, KI67 and BCL2 mRNA expression. Significant negative correlations of GDF9 with STAR and PCNA mRNA, respectively, were seen in vivo and in vitro.

conclusionsTogether, our results show GDF9 localization and expression in the equine ovary and a temporal relationship with steroidogenesis and cell proliferation within the surrounding granulosa cells. Moreover, results of the in vitro study suggest a supporting role of cortisol during follicle maturation. Our study sheds light on possible mechanisms for the regulation of ovarian function in horses using GDF9.

Indexed as

Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15Granulosa CellsGrowth Differentiation Factor 9HydrocortisoneInsulin-Like Growth Factor IOvarian FollicleAnimalsEstradiolFemaleHorsesBone Morphogenetic Protein 15EstradiolGrowth Differentiation Factor 9HydrocortisoneInsulin-Like Growth Factor IApoptosisBMP15Cell proliferationCortisolGDF9Oocyte-derived factorsSteroidogenesis

Identifiers

PMID40289073
PMCPMC12034142

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.