Cultivo de folículos pré-antrais caprinos em meio suplementado com a lectina PHA de Phaseolus vulgaris

Abstract

Goats are considered important sources of meat, milk and skin, and therefore play an important economic role, especially in northeastern Brazil. Thus, the development of culture systems can optimize the reproductive potential of this species. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of lectin PHA of Phaseolus vulgaris on the development of caprine secondary follicles cultured in vitro. Secondary follicles (~0,2mm) were isolated from the cortex of caprine ovaries and individually cultured for six days in α-MEM+ supplemented with PHA at concentrations of 0, 1, 10, 50, 100 or 200µg/mL. The levels of mRNA for R-FSH, PCNA and NOS1 in these follicles were also evaluated. The results showed that, after culture, all treatments were capable of maintaining the follicular survival. Moreover, there was no significant difference among all treatments regarding follicular growth. However, PHA at concentrations of 10µg/mL increased the antrum formation rate when compared with control. In this concentration, there was a higher expression of mRNA for R-FSH and PCNA. In conclusion, PHA at concentration 10µg/mL showed a biological action in antro formation and stimulated an increase of levels of expression of RNAm in caprine ovarian follicles cultured for six days.