Vol. 10, Special Issue 5 (2021)

Author(s):
K Sravani Pragna, AVN Siva Kumar, Deepa Pathipati, B Rambabu Naik, B Punya Kumari and LSS Varaprasad Reddy

Abstract:
Leptin receptor (LepR) protein expression in sheep was studied through Immunohistochemistry from: (i) In vivo grown preantral (PFs’), early antral, antral, large antral follicles and COCs obtained from large antral follicles subjected to 24hrs of in vitro maturation and (ii) Preantral follicles exposed to TCM199B, TCM199B+Leptin and standard medium+Leptin for 3min, two, four or six days and subsequently matured in vitro for 24hrs. LepR immunolocalization was observed at all stages of ovarian follicles with highest intensity of protein expression in the oocytes but mild to moderate expression was observed in cumulus cells. From our study it is concluded that culture of preantral follicles in medium containing Leptin concomitantly supplemented with other growth factors and hormones stimulated the protein expression better than in other groups therefore indicating the additive effects of Leptin with other growth factors and hormones in promoting the preantral follicular development towards ovulatory phase.